Asos will host a meeting at the House of Lords today in an effort to identify and address sustainability issues like modern slavery in the fashion sector.
The event will be co-hosted by co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion, Baroness Lola Young, and is set to be attended by senior representatives from across the industry.
This follows the release of the online fashion retailer’s second Modern Slavery Statement, which has laid out its plans to tackle human rights issues in its own supply chain, alongside initiatives to drive a shift in the supply chains of its third-party brands.
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Baroness Young, Anti-Slavery International’s Klara Skrivankova, Asos’ chief executive Nick Beighton and River Island boss Ben Lewis are all confirmed to speak at the event.
They will be joined by guests from Missguided, Boohoo, New Look, French Connection, Lipsy, Perry Ellis, Jack Wills, Burberry, Selfridges and Debenhams.
“A lack of transparency in the supply chain can lead to issues like poor working conditions business and genuine business risk,” Beighton said.
“It’s only by working together, sharing experiences and committing to common goals that we can truly tackle modern slavery.”
Baroness Young added: “Exploitative, forced and child labour is bigger than any single company so it’s hugely encouraging to see competitive businesses recognising the role they can play in addressing the labour abuses that are sadly still so prevalent in fashion manufacturing around the world.”
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