Boohoo, a prominent name in fast fashion, is facing backlash for reestablishing ties with a supplier previously let go due to a modern slavery scandal.
- The supplier, GN Euro, previously supplied Boohoo from a UK-based factory before a scandal involving low wages and poor conditions emerged.
- Having moved its operations to Morocco, the supplier now operates under a new name, Euro Touch, and resumes business with Boohoo.
- Boohoo has publicly stated that all current garments from this supplier are produced in Morocco’s Tangier-based facility.
- Despite removing over 400 suppliers in response to past scandals, critics argue Boohoo’s supply chain transparency remains superficial.
Boohoo, a leading fast fashion company, is at the centre of controversy as it renews business with GN Euro, a supplier previously cut off following allegations of modern slavery. The report, highlighted by The Telegraph, details Boohoo’s renewed purchasing of garments from the supplier, now operating under the name Euro Touch at a new facility in Morocco.
GN Euro came under scrutiny in 2020 when an undercover investigation by The Sunday Times reported workers being paid below minimum wage in their Leicester factory. This revelation prompted Boohoo to initially sever ties. However, GN Euro’s transition to a Morocco-based operation has allowed them to re-enter Boohoo’s supply chain under a different guise.
Boohoo insists that its relationship with suppliers is governed by strict ethical guidelines. A spokesperson for the retailer stated that only suppliers meeting their rigorous transparency standards and passing due diligence checks are onboarded. Each supplier signs a code of conduct and is subject to regular audits by Boohoo’s ethical teams.
While Boohoo claims comprehensive oversight of its supply chain, critics and campaigners argue otherwise. They assert that Boohoo’s efforts to publicise its supplier list and ethical commitments fall short of eliminating issues within its supply network. This sentiment is amplified by the fact that Boohoo has ended relationships with over 400 suppliers due to non-compliance.
Boohoo’s recent financial reports, revealing a threefold increase in losses, add pressure to its ongoing attempts to overhaul its supply practices. Despite publicised reforms, the resurrection of ties with a supplier previously associated with poor working conditions calls into question the efficacy of Boohoo’s ethical standards.
The re-engagement with the contentious supplier raises significant concerns about Boohoo’s commitment to ethical accountability.
