Fashion Revolution reported in a 2021 update to its ‘Out of Sight: A Call for Openness from Field to Fabric’ report that supply chain transparency was improving, but at a pace that was both too sluggish and shallow.
Only two of the 63 big fashion labels surveyed by the organisation disclose a complete list of their textile production sites, an increase of just one from the previous year’s report. 49 firms are now providing the first-tier factories where their products are cut and sewed, and 29 are disclosing processing facilities like dye houses.
Furthermore, 44% of brands share some of their textile manufacturing facilities. Since previous year, the percentage has risen to 14%.
The lack of awareness of supply chains, according to the research, can allow exploitative, unhealthy working conditions and environmental degradation to continue while masking accountability for the problems. “Anyone, wherever should be able to find out how, where, by whom, and under what conditions their clothes are created,” the organisation claims.
Only G-Star Raw, OVS, Pentland, and VF Corp met or partially satisfied the nine needed transparency parameters stated by Fashion Revolution out of all the brands featured in the report. Authorized manufacturing units, processing facilities, and textile production sites were among the factors, with alternating levels.
Levi Strauss and Co., PVH Group, Zalando, Puma, and Asos were among the brands that came in second place, with only one of the nine disclosure reports missing. Inditex, Decathlon, Fashion Nova, JD Sports, and Ralph Lauren are among the brands and companies that are said to have provided no information at all.
