Fashion Revolution Releases Fashion Transparency Index 2017
24-04-2017
The research reveals that even the highest scoring brands on the list still have a long way to go towards being transparent. The average score brands achieved was 49 out of 250, less than 20% of the total possible points, and none of the companies on the list scored above 50%.
The 100 brands were selected on the basis of three factors:
1 – An annual turnover of over $1.2 billion USD.
2 – Voluntarily agreed to take part after last year’s edition
3 – The selection represents a cross section of markets including; high street, luxury, sportswear, denim, accessories and footwear across the globe.
2017 Key Findings
- Brands disclose many policies and commitments but little information about their progress and impacts
- Information is hard to find
- More brands are now publishing supplier lists
- A long way to go towards paying living wages
- Transparency and FashionCapital / Fashion Enter
While brands are making lots of noise about their social and environmental efforts, which is welcome and necessary, there is still much crucial information about the practices of the fashion industry that remains concealed — particularly when it comes to brands’ tangible impact on the lives of workers in the supply chain and on the environment.
For those wanting to make an informed choice about what brands are doing and how they are performing on social and environmental issues, it is difficult — sometimes entirely impossible — to find this information. Without easy-to-find, trustworthy information how are people supposed to make informed decisions about what they buy?
The good news is that 32 of 100 brands in the Fashion Transparency Index 2017 are publishing supplier lists at the first tier — where our clothes are typically cut, sewn and trimmed. Only 14 brands are publishing their processing facilities where clothes are dyed, laundered, printed or treated. No brand is publishing its raw material suppliers.
Only 34 brands have made public commitments to paying living wages to workers in the supply chain, and very few brands are reporting on progress towards achieving this aim. This shows that much more needs to be done and faster by brands to ensure that workers, from farm to retail, are paid fairly.
Fashion Revolution believes in a fashion industry that values people, planet, creativity and profit in equal measure and that positive change starts with transparency, traceability and openness.
Transparent and proud – FashionCapital’s sister company Fashion Enter and its Factory workers support the #whomadeyourclothes campaign. Based in Haringey, North London the 7,500 m2 SMETA approved factory manufactures up to 7,500 units a week with a minimum order quantity of 300 units. Established in 2010 with funding from ASOS.com current clients include the likes of ASOS.com, M&S (Best of British), John Lewis and various independent designers.
FashionCapital & Fashion Enter CEO Jenny Holloway comments:
“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.”
Transparent and proud – Fashion Enter Factory production workers
You can encourage more public disclosure from brands by asking #whomademyclothes on social media. Find out what else you can do to push for greater transparency by reading the latest edition of the Fashion Transparency Index 2017.
Related articles:
The Factory Gets a Green Thumbs Up as a Supplier to ASOS.com
