Supply chain transparency urged on anniversary of Rana Plaza disaster

Later this month, on 24 April 2015, people in 66 countries around the world will challenge global fashion brands to demonstrate commitment to transparency across the length of the value chain.

Dubbed Fashion Revolution Day, 24 April 2015, marks the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which killed 1133, and injured over 2500 people.

Led by some of the biggest names in fashion, Fashion Revolution Day will show that change is possible and celebrate those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion. Model Lily Cole, Blogger Susie Lau, a Eco Age Founder Livia Firth and writer, a broadcaster Lucy Siegle and the Fairtrade Foundation are expected take part in a mass global action asking brands #whomademyclothes.

Fashion lovers will take a selfie with the label in their clothing showing, send it to a brand via social media and share their reply.
Carry Somers, Fashion Revolution co-founder said: “When everything in the fashion industry is only focused on making a profit, human rights, the environment and worker’s rights get lost. This has got to stop and we plan to mobilise people around the world to ask questions.

“Buying is only the last step in a long journey involving hundreds of people: the invisible workforce behind the clothes we wear. We no longer know the people who made our clothes so therefore it is easy to turn a blind eye and as a result, millions of people are suffering.”

Campaigners will call on the textile value chain to engage in a demonstrable commitment to transparency by challenging brands to pledge to make their supply chains more transparent, as well as ask them to publish their first tier factories and work towards mapping out their entire supply chains.

Ahead of this second anniversary, the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and Social Accountability International (SAI) have urged Bangladeshi public and private partners to urgently make a contribution under the Rana Plaza Arrangement in order to complete the existing funding gap and fully compensate the victims.

The financial contribution of the Bangladeshi government and the local employers’ organisations will be essential for the Arrangement –agreed on November 2013 and highly praised by the above organisations– to fulfil its goal of providing financial support to victims, their families and dependants.

ETI director, Peter McAllister, said: “It is unacceptable that nearly two years after the Rana Plaza disaster, some victims and their families are still waiting for the compensation they are due. ”