A message to all the big fashion brands, especially @Topshop, @Primark and @boohoo, from a small volunteer-run campaign group with its own T-shirt project and the worker-owned factory that makes them… your workers deserve better! (A thread)

When a health crisis hits and you are forced to close to save lives, you are responsible for the clothes you’ve already ordered. Your large profits might take a knock, but it is nothing like suffering you’ve caused by refusing to pay what you owe. We are looking at you @Topshop!

When the pandemic first hit Bangladesh, we spoke with our T-shirt suppliers and worked out what the safest course of action was, suspending production. And we paid what we owed in full, so the factory could furlough workers on full pay. If we can do it, so can you!

@boohoo… utilising sweatshops in Leicester to get around the closure of garment factories overseas is a poor move generally, but increasing production during a pandemic to maximize your profits without ensuring workers are safe, that's unforgivable.

Our partners Oporajeo have just re-opened their factory and our first question to them was "what safety measures do you have in place?" We worked 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 them to make sure our T-shirts could be made safely, and we published the steps taken. Maybe you could learn by this example?

And @Primark... agreeing to pay what you owe is great, but delaying payment for as long as you can is 𝗻𝗼𝘁. What's worse is 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 for forming a union! And allowing them to be 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 by hired thugs! Seriously?

It’s 2020, all garment workers should have a 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 in their workplace, they should be safe at work and paid a #LivingWage, and sick pay and holiday pay too.
They shouldn’t be struggling to survive while brands make millions – even billions! – off the back of their labour.

Next month we are publishing a full report on the conditions our T-shirts are made in, we call on all fashion brands to do the same. That's 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮.

We are a small, volunteer-run campaign group, working with a small factory that knows how to support its workers. If we can do these things, then you - @boohoo @Primark @Topshop and all the rest - with all your money and resources, can do the same... and so much more! Just try.