Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), Canada's corporate watchdog on Tuesday (August 15)initiated a probe&nbsp;against Canadian unit of Ralph Lauren, the high-end fashion brand, over allegations that it made use of forced labour from China's Uyghur minority. The watchdog has already launched several similar probes against Nike Canada and Dynasty Gold, a mining firm.

The investigation has followed a complaint that says,&nbsp;"Ralph Lauren Canada has supply relationships with Chinese companies that use or benefit from the use of Uyghur forced labour." The complaint was filed last year by a coalition of 28 civil society organisations.

"I have decided that the Ralph Lauren complaint warrants an investigation," ombudsperson Sheri Meyerhoffer said in a statement.&nbsp;

Ralph Lauren's US parent company, she said, has disputed Canadian jurisdiction over this matter. It has argued that its subsidiary in Canada "is not responsible for decision-making" and that all of its operations are overseen from US headquarters.

The Ottawa-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project welcomed the investigation in a statement.&nbsp;

"There is credible evidence that Ralph Lauren is linked to numerous Chinese companies that use Uyghur forced labour in their supply chains," it said.&nbsp;

Rights groups have been saying that more than one million Uyghurs and individuals from other Muslim minorities have been sent by China in re-education camps. Uyghur Muslims population is mostly situated in China's western Xinjiang region. Rights groups have been alleging that minorities have been facing slew of abuses&nbsp;including forced labour.

China, though it denies these allegations, has faced a lot of flak from Western nations, including Canada. The Western countries have called the crackdown in Xinjiang a genocide. In addition to this, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has deemed treatment of Uyghurs a crime against humanity.&nbsp;

China claims that the re-education facilities are vocational centres which are designed to curb extremism.

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Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), Canada's corporate watchdog on Tuesday (August 15)initiated a probe against Canadian unit of Ralph Lauren, the high-end fashion brand, over allegations that it made use of forced labour from China's Uyghur minority.

Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), Canada's corporate watchdog on Tuesday (August 15)initiated a probe against Canadian unit of Ralph Lauren, the high-end fashion brand, over allegations that it made use of forced labour from China's Uyghur minority. The watchdog has already launched several similar probes against Nike Canada and Dynasty Gold, a mining firm. The investigation has followed a complaint that says, "Ralph Lauren Canada has supply relationships with Chinese companies that use or benefit from the use of Uyghur forced labour." The complaint was filed last year by a coalition of 28 civil society organisations. "I have decided that the Ralph Lauren complaint warrants an investigation," ombudsperson Sheri Meyerhoffer said in a statement. Ralph Lauren's US parent company, she said, has disputed Canadian jurisdiction over this matter. It has argued that its subsidiary in Canada "is not responsible for decision-making" and that all of its operations are overseen from US headquarters. The Ottawa-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project welcomed the investigation in a statement. "There is credible evidence that Ralph Lauren is linked to numerous Chinese companies that use Uyghur forced labour in their supply chains," it said. Rights groups have been saying that more than one million Uyghurs and individuals from other Muslim minorities have been sent by China in re-education camps. Uyghur Muslims population is mostly situated in China's western Xinjiang region. Rights groups have been alleging that minorities have been facing slew of abuses including forced labour. China, though it denies these allegations, has faced a lot of flak from Western nations, including Canada. The Western countries have called the crackdown in Xinjiang a genocide. In addition to this, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has deemed treatment of Uyghurs a crime against humanity. China claims that the re-education facilities are vocational centres which are designed to curb extremism. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Canada probes Ralph Lauren over claims of Uyghur forced labour

The head of a Mexican cultural affairs commission and wife of the country's president on Thursday accused the US fashion brand Ralph Lauren of plagiarizing Indigenous designs.

"Hey Ralph: we already realized that you really like Mexican designs," Beatriz Gutierrez wrote on social media.

"However, by copying these designs you're committing plagiarism, and as you know, plagiarism is illegal and immoral," added Gutierrez, who is married to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

She posted a picture of a Ralph Lauren labelled jacket whose design she said matched those of the Mexican communities of Contla and Saltillo.

"At least acknowledge it. And hopefully, you will compensate the original communities that do this work with love and not for million-dollar profit," added Gutierrez, a journalist and writer.

Mexico regularly denounces what it calls plagiarism by foreign designers of the motifs, embroidery and colours of its Indigenous communities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/brahmastra-ott-release-heres-when-and-where-the-fantasy-drama-can-be-seen-527298" hreflang="en">'Brahmastra' OTT release: Here's when and where the fantasy drama can be seen</a>

The Latin American nation has previously lodged complaints against major clothing brands including Zara, Mango and SHEIN.

It won an apology in 2020 from French designer Isabel Marant for the use of traditional patterns from an Indigenous community in western Mexico.

The head of a Mexican cultural affairs commission and wife of the country's president on Thursday accused the US fashion brand Ralph Lauren of plagiarizing Indigenous designs.

The head of a Mexican cultural affairs commission and wife of the country's president on Thursday accused the US fashion brand Ralph Lauren of plagiarizing Indigenous designs. "Hey Ralph: we already realized that you really like Mexican designs," Beatriz Gutierrez wrote on social media. "However, by copying these designs you're committing plagiarism, and as you know, plagiarism is illegal and immoral," added Gutierrez, who is married to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. She posted a picture of a Ralph Lauren labelled jacket whose design she said matched those of the Mexican communities of Contla and Saltillo. "At least acknowledge it. And hopefully, you will compensate the original communities that do this work with love and not for million-dollar profit," added Gutierrez, a journalist and writer. Mexico regularly denounces what it calls plagiarism by foreign designers of the motifs, embroidery and colours of its Indigenous communities. Also read: 'Brahmastra' OTT release: Here's when and where the fantasy drama can be seen The Latin American nation has previously lodged complaints against major clothing brands including Zara, Mango and SHEIN. It won an apology in 2020 from French designer Isabel Marant for the use of traditional patterns from an Indigenous community in western Mexico.

Ralph Lauren accused of copying Mexican Indigenous designs

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Canada probes Ralph Lauren over claims of Uyghur forced labour

Ralph Lauren accused of copying Mexican Indigenous designs