Australia’s retailers Cotton On and Target Australia have stopped buying cotton from China's Xinjiang province where persecuted Muslims are reportedly forced to work in textile factories. Cotton On used to source cotton from China’s Litai Textiles and Target Australia sourced cotton from a mill owned by the Huafu Fashion Co. Ltd.
United Nations experts and activists say at least a million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims are held in detention centres in Xinjiang. China describes them as 'training centres' helping to stamp out extremism and offer new skills to people.Australia's retailers Cotton On and Target Australia have completely stopped buying cotton from China's Xinjiang province where persecuted Muslims are reportedly forced to work in textile factories. Cotton On used to source cotton from China's Litai Textiles and Target Australia sourced cotton from a mill owned by the Huafu Fashion Co. Ltd.#
Cotton On confirmed that last year one of its staff member visited the Litai Textiles factory, which is located just six kilometres away from a massive re-education camp. The company said it no longer sourced from that Chinese subcontractor, being ‘absolutely committed to having an ethical supply chain’.
Target Australia also took the decision after sending employees to China investigate, according to an Australian media network.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)