Is a well-established fast fashion brand becoming boring in Indian society? The new generation does not only reject traditional beliefs but also the traditional consumerism mindset.

Toffle, a streetwear brand established in 2019, is a well-celebrated homegrown brand in the world of fashion. It now designs clothes for Indian pop stars and elite Bollywood stars. “We have sold our designs to Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and even to Indian musicians Ravi Shankar, Honey Singh, Divine, and many more,” said&nbsp;Toffle co-founder Brij Kishore Sharma.

Toffle is marked as India’s first customised streetwear brand, including products ranging from wallets, belts, hoodies, jackets, and jeans, with each product having a story to tell. “Our brand is not just about customisation. Each of our products has something to express and a story to tell,” explained the Toffle co-founder.

“The traffic on the Toffle website engages up to four to five thousand visitors, with the average sale value ranging from Rs 7000 to Rs 8000,” stated Sharma.

Delhiwear, another leading homegrown brand&nbsp;in India, incorporates streetwear style into Indian traditional clothing, with a vision to curate timeless designs.

“My target customers are those who are above 25 and appreciate a good clothing piece with better cuts and finishing, which is not delivered by the current fast fashion brands, in my opinion,” said Harikrishan Alag, owner of Delhiwear.

Alag, not comfortable sharing the exact revenue, said, “As what is available on the internet about the average revenue of a homegrown brand, which is in a good month USD 59,616.15 (Rs 50 lakh), and in a bad month USD 35,769.69 (Rs 30 lakh), Delhiwear follows a similar graph.”

<h2>Streetwear is not a clothing style but an idea of self-expression</h2>

Streetwear is the casual clothing style, which was majorly prominent in the 1980s to 1990s, influenced by skateboarding and hip-hop culture, with its emphasis on comfort, individuality, and authenticity, generally attractive to the 17- to 25-year-old age group.

A loose-fit style that gives you the freedom to eat, sit, and relax without caring for any prejudice of society. The vibe and concept came from belonging to the African American community, who were often not invited into society and automatically assumed by authorities to be part of a substandard section of society, prone to committing crimes and causing violence.

To liberate themselves from this discriminatory treatment and societal judgment, the Black community chose music as their medium of self-expression and a way of putting their voice into words, which also gave birth to graffiti art as a means of expressing themselves.

In 1988, the NWA hip-hop group released an album called “F— Tha Police,” an anthem against police brutality.

“This revolt, this passion, helped them stay away from a life of crime. In the same neighbourhood where rap music started, graffiti also began. The idea of self-expression was applied to clothes as well,” said Sharma.

The idea of making bold gestures of what you believe, and not being fearful of societal obligations, is the most fascinating vibe for Gen Z.

<h2>Rise during COVID-19</h2>

In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, people had ample time but nothing to do with it, leading to the overconsumption of content. This resulted in a “Renaissance of fashion,” where Indians were introduced to streetwear, popular in the 1990s, a casual clothing style most prominent among rappers and the Black community.

The younger&nbsp;generation, with maximal exposure to social media and trends, acquainted with brands like Supreme, Off-White, and Nike, renowned names in streetwear, changed the idea of clothing.

People started leaning towards homegrown brands after COVID-19 due to growing awareness of good quality clothing and fabric, and appreciation of the authenticity and individuality of a design, which fast fashion brands failed to embrace.

After 2021, the culture of streetwear became popular among the youth. Brands like Mainstreet, Crepdog Crew, and Solesearch came into existence, providing streetwear brands a platform to sell. According to reports, the valuation of Mainstreet was $9.89 million&nbsp;on&nbsp;June 15, 2023, with other streetwear brands following similar growth patterns.

Previously, around 2018 to 2019, when streetwear was not evident in India, the FTC (For the culture) provided a platform for local brands to showcase their designs. They gave a chance to brands, including, Almost God, Toffle, and Jaywalking, keeping international and national brands together in 2019.

The first wave of streetwear brands to blow in India was through Jaywalking, Bomaach, and Bluorng, followed by Toffle.&nbsp;

<h2>Why does it appeal to Gen Z?&nbsp;</h2>

Streetwear is not just about clothing; it has become a part of the community for enthusiastic people about hip-hop music, skateboarding, attending car meets, and expressing their individuality. Each streetwear piece is a reflection of a story that has something to say and provides an opportunity for Gen Z to flaunt their eccentric personality.

Aadit Kumar Sharma, a creative director from Delhi, has enthusiasm for local artists and homegrown brands who appreciate authentic clothing pieces. He spends an average of around Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. “I have known Toffle for three years; it is one of the best customizations I can see. I want to support local artists. It is one of the best in India. I can purchase any fabric and ask them to make it, and they do it beautifully, which I don’t think high-end brands can do for me.”

“I do own expensive pieces from LV, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, but the feel I get from wearing Toffle products or any other local artist’s design is unmatched,” he added further.

The craze has exceeded to this length&nbsp;that every other Gen Z kid wants to own a homegrown brand, influenced by the culture and the profit that these brands can generate within two&nbsp;to five years. 
&nbsp;

Is a well-established fast fashion brand becoming boring in Indian society? The new generation does not only reject traditional beliefs but also the traditional consumerism mindset.

Is a well-established fast fashion brand becoming boring in Indian society? The new generation does not only reject traditional beliefs but also the traditional consumerism mindset. Toffle, a streetwear brand established in 2019, is a well-celebrated homegrown brand in the world of fashion. It now designs clothes for Indian pop stars and elite Bollywood stars. “We have sold our designs to Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and even to Indian musicians Ravi Shankar, Honey Singh, Divine, and many more,” said Toffle co-founder Brij Kishore Sharma. Toffle is marked as India’s first customised streetwear brand, including products ranging from wallets, belts, hoodies, jackets, and jeans, with each product having a story to tell. “Our brand is not just about customisation. Each of our products has something to express and a story to tell,” explained the Toffle co-founder. “The traffic on the Toffle website engages up to four to five thousand visitors, with the average sale value ranging from Rs 7000 to Rs 8000,” stated Sharma. Delhiwear, another leading homegrown brand in India, incorporates streetwear style into Indian traditional clothing, with a vision to curate timeless designs. “My target customers are those who are above 25 and appreciate a good clothing piece with better cuts and finishing, which is not delivered by the current fast fashion brands, in my opinion,” said Harikrishan Alag, owner of Delhiwear. Alag, not comfortable sharing the exact revenue, said, “As what is available on the internet about the average revenue of a homegrown brand, which is in a good month USD 59,616.15 (Rs 50 lakh), and in a bad month USD 35,769.69 (Rs 30 lakh), Delhiwear follows a similar graph.” Streetwear is not a clothing style but an idea of self-expression Streetwear is the casual clothing style, which was majorly prominent in the 1980s to 1990s, influenced by skateboarding and hip-hop culture, with its emphasis on comfort, individuality, and authenticity, generally attractive to the 17- to 25-year-old age group. A loose-fit style that gives you the freedom to eat, sit, and relax without caring for any prejudice of society. The vibe and concept came from belonging to the African American community, who were often not invited into society and automatically assumed by authorities to be part of a substandard section of society, prone to committing crimes and causing violence. To liberate themselves from this discriminatory treatment and societal judgment, the Black community chose music as their medium of self-expression and a way of putting their voice into words, which also gave birth to graffiti art as a means of expressing themselves. In 1988, the NWA hip-hop group released an album called “F— Tha Police,” an anthem against police brutality. “This revolt, this passion, helped them stay away from a life of crime. In the same neighbourhood where rap music started, graffiti also began. The idea of self-expression was applied to clothes as well,” said Sharma. The idea of making bold gestures of what you believe, and not being fearful of societal obligations, is the most fascinating vibe for Gen Z. Rise during COVID-19 In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, people had ample time but nothing to do with it, leading to the overconsumption of content. This resulted in a “Renaissance of fashion,” where Indians were introduced to streetwear, popular in the 1990s, a casual clothing style most prominent among rappers and the Black community. The younger generation, with maximal exposure to social media and trends, acquainted with brands like Supreme, Off-White, and Nike, renowned names in streetwear, changed the idea of clothing. People started leaning towards homegrown brands after COVID-19 due to growing awareness of good quality clothing and fabric, and appreciation of the authenticity and individuality of a design, which fast fashion brands failed to embrace. After 2021, the culture of streetwear became popular among the youth. Brands like Mainstreet, Crepdog Crew, and Solesearch came into existence, providing streetwear brands a platform to sell. According to reports, the valuation of Mainstreet was $9.89 million on June 15, 2023, with other streetwear brands following similar growth patterns. Previously, around 2018 to 2019, when streetwear was not evident in India, the FTC (For the culture) provided a platform for local brands to showcase their designs. They gave a chance to brands, including, Almost God, Toffle, and Jaywalking, keeping international and national brands together in 2019. The first wave of streetwear brands to blow in India was through Jaywalking, Bomaach, and Bluorng, followed by Toffle. Why does it appeal to Gen Z? Streetwear is not just about clothing; it has become a part of the community for enthusiastic people about hip-hop music, skateboarding, attending car meets, and expressing their individuality. Each streetwear piece is a reflection of a story that has something to say and provides an opportunity for Gen Z to flaunt their eccentric personality. Aadit Kumar Sharma, a creative director from Delhi, has enthusiasm for local artists and homegrown brands who appreciate authentic clothing pieces. He spends an average of around Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. “I have known Toffle for three years; it is one of the best customizations I can see. I want to support local artists. It is one of the best in India. I can purchase any fabric and ask them to make it, and they do it beautifully, which I don’t think high-end brands can do for me.” “I do own expensive pieces from LV, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, but the feel I get from wearing Toffle products or any other local artist’s design is unmatched,” he added further. The craze has exceeded to this length that every other Gen Z kid wants to own a homegrown brand, influenced by the culture and the profit that these brands can generate within two to five years.

Homegrown brands see a boom in India as Gen Z spurns fast fashion brands

Global fashion giant H&amp;M has swiftly withdrawn an advertisement following mounting complaints that the campaign in question fostered the inappropriate sexualization of underage girls.<o:p></o:p>

Launched in Australia, the ad prominently showcased two girls in gray H&amp;M pinafore dresses, accompanied by the slogan, "Make those heads turn in H&amp;M's Back to School fashion." <o:p></o:p>

Responding to the public outcry, an H&amp;M spokesperson stated on Monday, "We have removed this ad. We are deeply sorry for the offense this has caused, and we are looking into how we present campaigns going forward.”<o:p></o:p>

The controversial ad, seemingly endorsing the idea of making heads turn in a school context, triggered significant backlash, prompting H&amp;M to take immediate corrective action. <o:p></o:p>

The withdrawal of the advertisement comes amid a notable dip in H&amp;M's shares, which hit a two-month low, experiencing a 1.4 per cent decline by 1540 GMT, underperforming compared to its industry peers. <o:p></o:p>

H&amp;M's retraction adds to a growing list of instances where fashion brands have faced backlash due to misjudged advertising campaigns. <o:p></o:p>

In December, Zara faced severe criticism and calls for a boycott after unveiling a campaign featuring statues wrapped in white. <o:p></o:p>

The imagery prompted protests, with many drawing parallels between the visuals and the war in Gaza. <o:p></o:p>

Zara ultimately pulled the campaign in response to the public outcry.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

Global fashion giant H&M has swiftly withdrawn an advertisement following mounting complaints that the campaign in question fostered the inappropriate sexualization of underage girls.

Global fashion giant H&M has swiftly withdrawn an advertisement following mounting complaints that the campaign in question fostered the inappropriate sexualization of underage girls. Launched in Australia, the ad prominently showcased two girls in gray H&M pinafore dresses, accompanied by the slogan, "Make those heads turn in H&M's Back to School fashion." Responding to the public outcry, an H&M spokesperson stated on Monday, "We have removed this ad. We are deeply sorry for the offense this has caused, and we are looking into how we present campaigns going forward.” The controversial ad, seemingly endorsing the idea of making heads turn in a school context, triggered significant backlash, prompting H&M to take immediate corrective action. The withdrawal of the advertisement comes amid a notable dip in H&M's shares, which hit a two-month low, experiencing a 1.4 per cent decline by 1540 GMT, underperforming compared to its industry peers. H&M's retraction adds to a growing list of instances where fashion brands have faced backlash due to misjudged advertising campaigns. In December, Zara faced severe criticism and calls for a boycott after unveiling a campaign featuring statues wrapped in white. The imagery prompted protests, with many drawing parallels between the visuals and the war in Gaza. Zara ultimately pulled the campaign in response to the public outcry. (With inputs from Reuters)

H&M Retreats: Ad pulled amid criticism for sexualization of school girls

Livestreaming in China is undergoing a transformation as big brands seek greater control over the process and move away from relying solely on massive discounts and celebrity hosts to attract viewers, Reuters reported. Apple recently joined China's livestreaming frenzy, and despite not offering deep discounts or a celebrity host, the tech giant's show garnered impressive engagement, with 1.3 million viewers and 300,000 likes within an hour. This shift in the livestreaming strategy highlights the growing importance of quality content and storytelling to resonate with consumers and drive return sales. As livestreaming continues to thrive in China, the industry's resilience is evident, with sales generated through livestreaming projected to increase by 30 per cent this year, reaching $480 billion.

The Changing Landscape of Livestreaming

Livestreaming has experienced stellar growth, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the employment of over 1.23 million livestream hosts by 2020. Initially, livestreaming in China relied heavily on massive discounts and prominent hosts like Li Jiaqi, known as the 'lipstick brother', who offered viewers the best discounts on Alibaba's Tmall platform. However, brands are now moving away from this discount-focused strategy, turning their attention to building their own livestreaming channels and leveraging storytelling techniques.

The Shift to Content and Storytelling

Brands recognize that investing in content creation instead of simply offering discounts results in greater resonance with consumers and drives follow-up sales. Rather than paying hefty fees to celebrity hosts, brands are now collaborating with professional agencies to recruit and train livestreamers who align with their products and can authentically recommend them. This approach instills trust in consumers as they believe the hosts genuinely use and endorse the products, making the livestreaming experience more impactful.

Success Stories and Direct Communication

Livestreaming efforts have been successful for various brands, even those with higher price points that were initially deemed incompatible with bargain-heavy livestreaming. By utilizing livestream hosts recruited via agencies or smaller-scale influencers, brands have witnessed increased sales, even for full-priced products. Key to this success is the ability for audiences to directly communicate with hosts during livestreams, allowing immediate answers to questions about fit, color, and styling. This direct interaction enhances the consumer experience and builds trust between the brand and the audience.

Navigating Fragmentation and Regulatory Scrutiny

As livestreaming continues to evolve, brands must navigate the increasing fragmentation of platforms and hosts competing for viewers' attention. Traditional sales platforms like Alibaba's Tmall and JD.com face challenges from entertainment and information-led platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu. Additionally, regulatory scrutiny has impacted the livestreaming landscape, temporarily suspending super hosts like Li Jiaqi and Viya due to tax scandals and controversial broadcasts. This highlights the risks associated with relying solely on a few hosts, emphasizing the importance of diversifying livestreaming strategies.

The Future of Livestreaming

Despite the challenges and changes in the livestreaming landscape, brands remain optimistic about the potential of livestreaming as a sales and communication tool. Building solid livestreaming channels and engaging content will be crucial for brands to leverage livestreaming and connect with their target audience effectively. While super hosts may have a wide reach, targeting specific audiences with smaller live streamers who can convert effectively is also gaining recognition.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

Livestreaming in China is undergoing a transformation as big brands seek greater control over the process and move away from relying solely on massive discounts and celebrity hosts to attract viewers, Reuters reported.

Livestreaming in China is undergoing a transformation as big brands seek greater control over the process and move away from relying solely on massive discounts and celebrity hosts to attract viewers, Reuters reported. Apple recently joined China's livestreaming frenzy, and despite not offering deep discounts or a celebrity host, the tech giant's show garnered impressive engagement, with 1.3 million viewers and 300,000 likes within an hour. This shift in the livestreaming strategy highlights the growing importance of quality content and storytelling to resonate with consumers and drive return sales. As livestreaming continues to thrive in China, the industry's resilience is evident, with sales generated through livestreaming projected to increase by 30 per cent this year, reaching $480 billion. The Changing Landscape of Livestreaming Livestreaming has experienced stellar growth, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the employment of over 1.23 million livestream hosts by 2020. Initially, livestreaming in China relied heavily on massive discounts and prominent hosts like Li Jiaqi, known as the 'lipstick brother', who offered viewers the best discounts on Alibaba's Tmall platform. However, brands are now moving away from this discount-focused strategy, turning their attention to building their own livestreaming channels and leveraging storytelling techniques. The Shift to Content and Storytelling Brands recognize that investing in content creation instead of simply offering discounts results in greater resonance with consumers and drives follow-up sales. Rather than paying hefty fees to celebrity hosts, brands are now collaborating with professional agencies to recruit and train livestreamers who align with their products and can authentically recommend them. This approach instills trust in consumers as they believe the hosts genuinely use and endorse the products, making the livestreaming experience more impactful. Success Stories and Direct Communication Livestreaming efforts have been successful for various brands, even those with higher price points that were initially deemed incompatible with bargain-heavy livestreaming. By utilizing livestream hosts recruited via agencies or smaller-scale influencers, brands have witnessed increased sales, even for full-priced products. Key to this success is the ability for audiences to directly communicate with hosts during livestreams, allowing immediate answers to questions about fit, color, and styling. This direct interaction enhances the consumer experience and builds trust between the brand and the audience. Navigating Fragmentation and Regulatory Scrutiny As livestreaming continues to evolve, brands must navigate the increasing fragmentation of platforms and hosts competing for viewers' attention. Traditional sales platforms like Alibaba's Tmall and JD.com face challenges from entertainment and information-led platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu. Additionally, regulatory scrutiny has impacted the livestreaming landscape, temporarily suspending super hosts like Li Jiaqi and Viya due to tax scandals and controversial broadcasts. This highlights the risks associated with relying solely on a few hosts, emphasizing the importance of diversifying livestreaming strategies. The Future of Livestreaming Despite the challenges and changes in the livestreaming landscape, brands remain optimistic about the potential of livestreaming as a sales and communication tool. Building solid livestreaming channels and engaging content will be crucial for brands to leverage livestreaming and connect with their target audience effectively. While super hosts may have a wide reach, targeting specific audiences with smaller live streamers who can convert effectively is also gaining recognition. (With Inputs from Reuters)

Livestreaming craze in China: Brands ditch discounts for compelling content

Brands typically play a practical joke on their customers on the first day of April by launching bogus products, leading them astray into scams, or just reminding them not to be fools.

Brands typically play a practical joke on their customers on the first day of April by launching bogus products, leading them astray into scams, or just reminding them not to be fools. Brands did not disappoint this year either. They employed their unique strategies to make their customers laugh through their practical jokes. Here are a few humorous pranks that caught our eye and made us chuckle. Kerala Tourism has seemingly pulled off the biggest prank this year. They shared a picture of Tom Holland and Zendaya enjoying a walk in the hills of Munnar. Everyone initially believed that they had arrived to the Nita Mukesh Ambani Culture Center to attend its launch. Yet, nobody saw them there. A photo of the two taken in Munnar, Kerala's coffee plantations has now gone viral. But, are they really vacationing in Munnar or it this a mere prank? Only Kerala Tourism can answer. Guess who we spotted far away from home?#FarAwayHome #Munnar #KeralaTourism pic.twitter.com/yCRYATYO42 — Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) April 1, 2023 × Indian food delivery aggregator platform Swiggy sent out a strong message to free loaders on April fools'. Here's what it says. happy april fool’s day to people who believe “abhi khaane ka bil tu dede mai gpay karta hoon” — Swiggy (@Swiggy) April 1, 2023 × Ixigo, an online travel aggregation company, played a prank on its customers in the days leading up to April 1 by claiming to have entered the wearables market with the launch of "bhAI", an AI-powered headset. The company has released a hilarious trailer demonstrating the distinctive qualities of bhAI, which no other tech companies provide in the wearables market, however it turns out that the product launch is really an April 1st scam. × Manforce kept to its tradition of treating us with a hard-hitting joke. Here's what it said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manforce Condoms (@manforceindia) × McDonald's UK, which debuted its new Big McNugget Boot as "the most flavoursome shoe of SS23," joined in on the fun. 📣Calling all fashionistas 📣 We’ve got the must have drop of the season. Unveiling the Big McNugget Boot, the most flavoursome shoe of SS23. Releasing exclusively through the McDonald’s App this Monday. pic.twitter.com/1hjFuFZOfG — McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) April 1, 2023 × Durex India too pulled off a smooth joke. Here it is. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Durex India (@durex.india) × WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

April Fool's Day 2023: Brands get up to mischief with clever jokes

In the era of cancel culture, the audience continues to get offended at everything based on 'religious sentiments'. Whether it's Diwali or Holi - we have seen how the brands' creativity stir controversies. Watch this video to know how some brands invited outrage from the audience.

Brands that stirred controversies for their ads on festivals

During the pandemic, Lidl, Zara's owners Inditex, H&amp;M, and Next are alleged to have paid Bangladeshi apparel suppliers less than production costs, making it difficult for factories to meet the nation's minimum wage requirements. In a survey of 1,000 clothing manufacturers throughout the nation, 19% of Lidl suppliers, 11% of Inditex, 9% of H&amp;M, and 8% of Next stated that they supplied clothing to UK stores, as reported by the Guardian.&nbsp;

Nearly two years after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, the majority of suppliers to these four brands as well as Tesco and Aldi told researchers they were still getting paid at the same rates, despite growing raw material and manufacturing expenses in the nation.

In a study conducted by the University of Aberdeen and the UK-based fair trade campaign organisation Transform Trade, also known as Traidcraft Exchange earlier, over half of Primark's suppliers indicated they had not seen a rise in payment rates, and just over a third stated orders had been cancelled.

Also watch |&nbsp;UK probes Uranium package found in shipment at London's Heathrow Airport

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-probes-uranium-package-found-in-shipment-at-londons-heathrow-airport-551573/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to their study, which looked at the period from March 2020 to December 2021, larger companies that source from 15 or more factories had a higher likelihood of using unethical tactics, such as: payment delays or order cancellations, as opposed to smaller ones. These bigger businesses were participants in the UK's Ethical Trading Initiative, an association of businesses, NGOs, and unions established to enhance connections with suppliers.

Senior policy adviser at Transform Trade, Fiona Gooch, who spoke to the Guardian, advocated for a fashion watchdog to supervise relationships between suppliers and shops selling more than £1 billion worth of goods annually, just like the Grocery Supply Code of Practice does.

“This research is a wake-up call,” she said. “We need a fashion watchdog to stop unacceptable purchasing practices of the clothing retailers benefiting from large consumer markets, along the same lines as existing protections for food suppliers.

“Only when suppliers are able to plan ahead, with confidence that they will earn as expected, can they deliver good working conditions for their workers.”

In a statement&nbsp;within the report, Lidl said it had “committed itself to ensuring minimum wages in its supply chain and to ensuring the sustainable pre-planning of the production of textile goods”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/5-times-athiya-shetty-stole-clothes-from-beau-kl-rahuls-closet-550974">5 times Athiya Shetty stole clothes from beau KL Rahul's closet</a>

It added: “Lidl takes its responsibility towards workers in Bangladesh, and other countries where our suppliers produce, very seriously and is committed to ensuring that core social standards are complied with throughout the supply chain.”

Next said it “completely refutes the suggestion that its suppliers are being paid the same (or less) than before the pandemic”. The company said it had gone on record about rising supplier costs and its profit margins had remained stable while prices for customers had gone up, indicating it had paid suppliers more.

Inditex in its defence said that it has taken part in international initiatives to promote the garment sector, particularly manufacturing employees.

Primark acknowledged that it had been obliged to cancel certain orders when virtually all of its stores had to close for a while due to the pandemic, But,&nbsp;it claimed to have made an effort to help employees.&nbsp;“In April 2020, we established a wages fund in excess of £22m with the aim of supporting suppliers’ ability to pay their workers, and from which Bangladeshi suppliers with garment orders due to be handed over to us within 30 days of the cancellation would have received payment.”

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

During the pandemic, Lidl, Zara's owners Inditex, H&M, and Next are alleged to have paid Bangladeshi apparel suppliers less than production costs, making it difficult for factories to meet the nation's minimum wage requirements.

During the pandemic, Lidl, Zara's owners Inditex, H&M, and Next are alleged to have paid Bangladeshi apparel suppliers less than production costs, making it difficult for factories to meet the nation's minimum wage requirements. In a survey of 1,000 clothing manufacturers throughout the nation, 19% of Lidl suppliers, 11% of Inditex, 9% of H&M, and 8% of Next stated that they supplied clothing to UK stores, as reported by the Guardian. Nearly two years after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, the majority of suppliers to these four brands as well as Tesco and Aldi told researchers they were still getting paid at the same rates, despite growing raw material and manufacturing expenses in the nation. In a study conducted by the University of Aberdeen and the UK-based fair trade campaign organisation Transform Trade, also known as Traidcraft Exchange earlier, over half of Primark's suppliers indicated they had not seen a rise in payment rates, and just over a third stated orders had been cancelled. Also watch | UK probes Uranium package found in shipment at London's Heathrow Airport According to their study, which looked at the period from March 2020 to December 2021, larger companies that source from 15 or more factories had a higher likelihood of using unethical tactics, such as: payment delays or order cancellations, as opposed to smaller ones. These bigger businesses were participants in the UK's Ethical Trading Initiative, an association of businesses, NGOs, and unions established to enhance connections with suppliers. Senior policy adviser at Transform Trade, Fiona Gooch, who spoke to the Guardian, advocated for a fashion watchdog to supervise relationships between suppliers and shops selling more than £1 billion worth of goods annually, just like the Grocery Supply Code of Practice does. “This research is a wake-up call,” she said. “We need a fashion watchdog to stop unacceptable purchasing practices of the clothing retailers benefiting from large consumer markets, along the same lines as existing protections for food suppliers. “Only when suppliers are able to plan ahead, with confidence that they will earn as expected, can they deliver good working conditions for their workers.” In a statement within the report, Lidl said it had “committed itself to ensuring minimum wages in its supply chain and to ensuring the sustainable pre-planning of the production of textile goods”. Also read | 5 times Athiya Shetty stole clothes from beau KL Rahul's closet It added: “Lidl takes its responsibility towards workers in Bangladesh, and other countries where our suppliers produce, very seriously and is committed to ensuring that core social standards are complied with throughout the supply chain.” Next said it “completely refutes the suggestion that its suppliers are being paid the same (or less) than before the pandemic”. The company said it had gone on record about rising supplier costs and its profit margins had remained stable while prices for customers had gone up, indicating it had paid suppliers more. Inditex in its defence said that it has taken part in international initiatives to promote the garment sector, particularly manufacturing employees. Primark acknowledged that it had been obliged to cancel certain orders when virtually all of its stores had to close for a while due to the pandemic, But, it claimed to have made an effort to help employees. “In April 2020, we established a wages fund in excess of £22m with the aim of supporting suppliers’ ability to pay their workers, and from which Bangladeshi suppliers with garment orders due to be handed over to us within 30 days of the cancellation would have received payment.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

H&M, Zara among brands accused of treating Bangladesh suppliers unfairly, paying less than their cost

What does 'greenwashing' mean and why is it a problem? Why do big brands like Coca Cola engage in it? Greenwashing serves as a smokescreen which hides the continued exploitation of the planet and allows those responsible to get away with it. "The number of products labelled as sustainable or green has increased exponentially in recent years, with many household brands guilty of greenwashing. Yet, as businesses claim progress towards sustainability, emissions continue to rise, extraction increases, and overproduction spirals," says Changing Markets Foundation (CMF)

What is greenwashing, the practice major companies are accused of engaging in?

brands

Brands, News on Brands, stories on Brands, articles on Brands, Brands stories at Wion, Brands news, Brands latest news