The highly-competitive fast fashion industry is one in which consumers expect instant access to the clothes of their choice, colour, style and price. And online shopping is making fast fashion even faster.
How can fast fashion companies keep pace with their competitors whilst also being ethical?
They’re having a tough job of it. Consumers often demand low-cost, high quality clothes, delivered quickly to keep pace with trends. They also expect trusted brands to uphold workers' rights, pay decent wages, and ensure safe working conditions. And to do so in increasingly complex supply chains across multiple countries.
Our speakers are experts in the fashion industry. They will explore current issues, illustrate the dilemmas and demonstrate best practice case studies. Come ready for a challenging debate and discussion over breakfast.
Our speakers
Chris Grayer, Head of Supply Chain Corporate Responsibility, NEXT Retail Plc
NEXT Retail Plc is an iconic high street brand, known for its fast fashion. They are also a long-standing member of ETI, taking their commitment to ethical trade very seriously. Chris will share his experience of how it can be possible to be responsible and ethical in the fast fashion industry and will talk about NEXT's approach in facing these challenges.
Jenny Holdcroft, Policy Director, IndustriALL Global Union
IndustriALL Global Union represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors and is a force in global solidarity taking up the fight for better working conditions and trade union rights around the world. Jenny will talk about IndustriALL Global Union’s work, illustrating the factors causing or contributing to labour rights violations in complex global supply chains and drawing lessons from campaigns to increase workers’ abilities to access and claim their rights.
Professor Nik Hammer, Lecturer in Work and Employment, University of Leicester
A member of the Centre for Sustainable Work and Employment Futures, Nik’s research focuses on global value chain restructuring, social standards and social compliance. He has worked on working conditions in apparel supply chains and is involved with ETI’s programme to support the sustainable development of the Leicester garment and textile industry. Nik will offer a perspective based on his research in this area and highlight key findings.