How do you tell which clothes companies are ethical? Primark for example.

[BercowsFlamingoFlownSouth]

My dds love primark. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than step foot in there. They are telling me that despite clothes being cheap as chips they are ethically made. I'm not convinced. How would I find out?

I buy most of my clothes from eBay and a fair amounts of theirs too. I highly doubted primark would be ethical but try arguing that without concrete evidence with my dds.

Thanks again for the links.

Tell them that if you don't see a fair trade logo on it, it's not ethical.

Despite all the arsey comments on here I agree that it is difficult to know for sure if a company as large as Primark is ethical.

It's great that we have websites that let us know they deem something to be ethical, and I'm not saying they haven't researched it, but with huge companies that have everything made overseas it is really difficult to know for sure what is going on.

Places like new look and top shop use the same factories as primark, no difference in them.

No business is ever "ethical".

Employees are paid the minimum the company needs to pay to keep them coming into work.

All profits move up, not down. The people at the bottom will always be exploited by the people at the top.

I find it funny how people believe in the "ethical" business myth.

I feel that it's not only important to consider how ethical a company is , but also how you use clothing. For example if Primark is the best you can afford then that's fine , buy from them and wear that shirt until it falls to pieces.

If however , you shop at primark to add to the 27 shirts you already own and you only really love 6 of them then you have a problem. You are overbuying , and wasting money and resources. Realistically you could afford better clothing that you love , and have less of it.

Not sure any sort of cheap fashion is ethical.

Or indeed more expensive fashion where you just pay for the name.

I decided in September that I was not buying any more new clothes except underwear and running shoes when I need them. I have bought a couple of tops in charity shops and "new with tags" from ebay.

I did forget once and bought a new top in Seasalt (which may be more ethical than most, but I'd hesitate to say any of them are truly ethical) and so wrapped it and gave it to myself for Christmas.

Also - when you are considering ethics, don't just think of overseas manufacturers. Think of other aspects, eg these big companies' payment terms - do they pay their suppliers within a reasonable time? I was looking at a contract the other day for a big big company (not clothes) and their payment terms were more than 60 days. Imagine waiting that long for an invoice to be paid when you work for yourself or a small business. These businesses should be paying on receipt and certainly within the 30 days mandated by EU and indeed UK law, but there are loopholes.

berlinbabylon

The human rights charity Amnesty sells underwear and socks. amnestyshop.org.uk/clothing-accessories/clothing/underwear-socks-hosiery.html?p=1

@lilmisstoldyouso yes I agree!

Tell them to read Fashionopolis and report back to you. www.amazon.com/Fashionopolis-Price-Fashion-Future-Clothes-ebook/dp/B07MJZKKXJ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

It's not just the ethics of slave labour. There's a huge environmental cost too. Second hand all the way.

I’ve literally just heard on the tele that a pair of primark jeans this lady had on are made from sustainable cotton and primark teach their farmers to be more ethical.

All a bit vague but I thought I’d mention it as it was such a coincidence that I’d heard it as I read your thread title!

I know that topshop is notorious for awful working conditions on their production line so I don’t suppose it matters how much you spend on high street clothes, they’re probably all as bad as eachother!

@OddshoesOddsocks I have just seen that too.
I was surprised that a £13 priced pair of jeans could be ethical

Sustainable cotton is only one part of the chain. Not knocking that, but how closely was the production chain audited after that?

OP, have a look on YouTube for episodes of "Blood, Sweat and T Shirts" to show your children (it's where Stacey Dooley got her break) - it gives a good insight into the realities of life for those employed at various points in meeting our insane lust for masses of cheap clothing.

Fast fashion is generally low ethics, (the price is something of a give away) but there's no guarantees at the high end either, unfortunately.

Most high st brands aren’t ethical there isn’t any profit in it for them.
Check Labour Behind the Label.

I think, even with the best will in the world, truly ethical clothing just doesn't exist. Cotton production is incredibly hard on the environment, for example. There's no easy solution and we all have to compromise, somewhere. But to argue that cheap fashion is ethical in any way...nope. I realise that it's the only choice for many people though. Money brings privilege and the moneyed can make choices that those with low budgets just can't make. We just have to do the best we can, each of us.

If we're talking just about the human cost, using a small designer/dressmaker sole trader type business here in the UK and paying them fairly for their time is "ethical" but that only solves the labour cost ethics, and of course, it's not a pathway open to those with tight budgets.

Hi OP. The website/app Good on You will let you search for retailers and will determine how ethical the company is on five different levels. Check it out!