Fashion transparency still ‘too slow’; UK brands behind European ones

Transparency in the fashion supply chain is still ‘too slow’ among 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands, according to the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index released recently by Fashion Revolution. There wasn’t a single British brand or retailer within the top 10 brands in the index this year, even though the United Kingdom consumes the most clothes in Europe.

Fashion Revolution, a not-for-profit global movement, observed that British brands are ‘falling behind’ their European counterparts in terms of transparency.

The index from the global fashion activism movement, now in its sixth year, analysed and ranked 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and retailers based on their public disclosure of human rights and environmental policies, practices, and impacts in their operations and supply chains.

Italian brand OVS tops the global benchmark on transparency with a score of 78 per cent, an increase of 44 per cent from 2020, replacing Swedish fashion giant H&M, which came second with 68 per cent, followed by Timberland and The North Face at 66 per cent, and C&A and Vans at 65 per cent.

Other brands scoring above 55 per cent include Gildan, Esprit and United Colors of Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Van Heusen, Gucci, Target Australia, Kmart Australia and Patagonia.