Zara Promises Sustainability, But What About Its Garment Workers?
Last week, Zara publicly announced that all of its clothes will be made from 100% sustainable fabrics by 2025. This is a media win for the brand, coming at a point where conscious consumerism is at a peak and environmental issues are creating headlines daily. However, what does this drive towards sustainability mean for Zara’s garment workers?
Zara is owned by Inditex, the third largest clothing company in the world. Inditexalso own seven other high street fashion brands including Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti and Berksha, although Zara accounts for 70% of its sales. This is a company with real power in the industry, and while its move towards sustainability is commendable, it does not go far enough. The global garment industry is built on the exploitation of both people and planet, therefore it is vital that the concept of sustainability also includes protecting the human rights of workers.
With sales at €26.1 billion last year, Inditex is a fashion giant, producing in 7210 supplier factories across the globe. The company has a responsibility towards its garment workers, yet still refuses to publicly disclose its supplier list. Supply chain transparency is of paramount importance as without it there is no way to verify companies claims about safe working conditions or to ensure labour rights are being upheld in…
