Fix Fashion: Information is Power

Throughout the autumn we have continued to write to leading UK shoe brands – and major retailers - with our demands to publish names and addresses of their suppliers, and to stop using dangerous chemicals in shoe production.

An amazing 13,606 people signed our petition calling on brands to Step Up, showing brands and policymakers that there is a growing movement for change.Some brands have been more responsive than others. We’re really pleased that Clarks have now committed to publishing their supplier list. Other leading brands including Arcadia (Topshop), Next, New Look and Pentland Brands Ltd have also agreed to publish supply chain information. And retail giant ASOS have recently published their supplier list online. This is an important step forward for workers’ rights, and we’ll continue to work with brands and workers’ organisations to improve transparency and ensure fair and safe conditions for the people who make our shoes and clothes.

This autumn LBL activists have been out on the streets raising their voices for workers in the shoe industry. On 18 September, activists were at London Fashion Week calling for an end to Killer Heels. They want shoe brands to stop using toxic chemicals in leather tanning which cause lung cancer, blindness, asthma, skin ulcers, nose bleeds, fevers, headaches, and eczema, and pollute rivers and soil. So, they went to get the attention of the industry at their biggest event of the year, and ask them to put an end to toxic shoe production.

Watch our video and find out more at: labourbehindthelabel.org/watch-killer-heels-at-london-fashion-week

On 7 October, activists were out speaking to shoppers in Manchester, Bristol, London, and Exeter. 17 activists took action across these four cities, speaking to shoppers and asking them to sign our petition. Activists also went to speak to store managers in nine different stores (of Office, Harvey Nichols, Schuh and Sports Direct), asked them to pass their concerns about working conditions to head office and tell them we want to know who made our shoes. 

We are planning more events in November – passing along the names of all the thousands of people who signed our petition to a selected few brands who have not been responsive! More news to follow.

In addition, our campaign network Change Your Shoes will be publishing new reports on working conditions in India and on some initiatives we think are positive examples of better practice in the shoe industry.