Clothing brands score on sustainability despite COVID: Study

Fair Wear analysed 72 brand performance checks conducted in 2021. During the annual Performance Check, Fair Wear assesses how member brands have worked to improve labour conditions and publicly reports that progress. The 2021 edition of the checks turned out to be hugely complex due to the many challenges that COVID presented. The Performance Checks conducted in 2021 evaluated brand practices in 2020. The outcomes of the 2021 analysis of the Performance Checks can be found on the website of Fair Wear.

“Factories and clothing stores had to shut down during the pandemic, resulting in garment workers ending up on the street and left to fend for themselves,” Fair Wear’s Niki Janssen said.

During the pandemic, most members were able to show that positive change is possible, even in times of crises. In total, five leader brands were added and three placed in the good category, bringing the total number of leaders to 28. Many Fair Wear brands managed to limit the damage caused by the pandemic by being flexible and supportive towards the factories they work with.  

“From the beginning, we urged brands not to cancel orders that were ready to be shipped or were already in production, which understandably most members complied with. According to us, it is particularly interesting to look at brands that entered discussions with factories and actively enquired what the factories needed to survive. For example, Suit Supply did this at factories struggling with canceled orders from other buyers. The brand agreed with these factories that they would not fall below a certain minimum number of orders,” added Janssen.

The analysis also revealed that wages for garment workers remain a stumbling block for brands. In the 2021 Performance Checks members had to demonstrate that during lockdowns, garment workers were paid at least the minimum wage. “Otherwise, minus points were awarded for the minimum wage indicator in the Performance Check. That turned out to be the case with several brands. It is positive that we were able to find this out through critical surveys and asking further questions. Above all it means that more action is needed,” explained Janssen.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)