The UK Fashion Manufacturing Industry Needs Migrant Workers

CEO of FashionCapital & Fashion Enter Jenny Holloway runs a garment factory in North London producing in-season ranges for ASOS.com, M&S and Finery London amongst others. “We have workers from Turkey, Eastern Europe and China and they are truly skilled in what they do,” says Jenny. “The reality is we lost that skill base when production went off-shore and now these workers are bringing these essential skills back to the UK as well as training the next generation. We employ over 100 people in total and over 75% are migrant workers. These individuals, mainly women, want to work and they’re very proud of their skills.”

Production workers at Fashion Enter’s Factory in North London skilled and proud

Jenny runs the Fashion Technology Academy alongside the factory, which gives students a unique, insider perspective into the complete garment cycle from design sketch to finished item.

In the wake of the Copenhagen Fashion Summit and the latest media furore over Beyoncé’s new clothing line, Ivy Park, being produced in sweatshop conditions in Sri Lanka, sustainability, ethical working conditions and environmental issues within the fashion supply chain have made plenty of headlines of late. Unfortunately the message of ‘female empowerment’ behind Beyoncé’s Ivy Park range has been somewhat diluted when reality exposed that (mainly) women thousands of miles away are slaving to produce the garments in conditions that would be considered inhumane by the majority of us.

Chasing the cheap needle has put profit over human life – yet it doesn’t have to be this way. These people are being undervalued and exploited and yet retailers and brands can afford to ensure that the workers producing their garments across the supply chain are paid a decent working wage in environments are ethical and safe.

“Whether garment workers are based in London, Turkey or Sri Lanka they should be respected and treated ethically for the work that they do,” continues Jenny. “Our SMETA approved factory in North London is totally transparent. We want our customers to have an open door policy and “pop-in” to see their production on our lines. Our factory is improving day by day, we value our floor team and the skills they use and share with the next generation of stitchers and production management. Without them the company wouldn’t be where it is today.”

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A Call for More Transparency in the Fashion Supply Chain

Made in Britain – Why Is It So Important?

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