The economies across the world have been badly affected due to the ongoing pandemic. Simultaneously, various stores across the globe had been shut for weeks and consumers were observed spending on necessities, as opposed to fashion. However, several suppliers with respect to some popular “fast-fashion” brands have reported a huge growth in sales during the present situation.
These fashion brands are usually based on fast fashion model. These fast fashion model based establishments are a range of low-cost, swift and trend-driven apparel manufacturers with their extensive social media footprints, digitally-native operations, and associated to bunch of Instagram-famous endorsers. Majority of these brands constantly engage in rampant labour and wage abuses, all in the name of lightning-fast fashion, in order to cop up. Worst living conditions, disturbing workplace infrastructure accompanied by pay rates far below the minimum wages are some of the factors on which these brands built upon.
Thus inappropriate social distancing measures, and continued business operation amidst the current lockdown periods lead by the employer brands has become the heart of the problem. While these fashion brands showcase themselves as employee and environmental friendly, they often fail to comply with labour laws, workplace health and safety, and environmental regulations. According to recent report formed by Thomas Reuters Foundation (London), Britain is home to at least 100,000 modern slaves and 90% of victims may be going undetected.[1]
[1] Big Story, Thomas Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-slavery-trfn/uk-has-100000-modern-slaves-but-most-go-undetected-study-says-idUSKCN24E1IE 15/07/2020.