In 2023, the Fashion Industry Shouldn’t Use Slave Labor
It’s long past time China ended its genocide against the Uyghurs
Today, in 2023, China has placed more than a million Uyghurs in Xinjiang labor camps. While you may not know it, products made with #UyghurForcedLabor probably are in your house right now. Uyghur workers process cotton, tomatoes, and sugar and produce a plethora of products used to make cars, computer chips, and most of the fashion we all wear.
Too many fashion brands rely on Uyghur forced labor to produce their products. Whether they are getting cotton processed using Uyghur forced labor or need other products produced in Xinjiang, it is unacceptable for the fashion industry to use Uyghur forced labor just as it was when the Confederacy relied on slave labor for the cotton processing before the American Civil War.
According to the United States Department of Labor:
Uyghurs detained in camps and forced to labor in factories must endure dreadful conditions. In one internment camp in Kashgar, Xinjiang, Uyghur detainees work as forced laborers to produce textiles. They receive little pay, are not allowed to leave, and have limited or no communication with family members. If family communication and visits are allowed, they are heavily monitored or cut short. When not working, the Uyghur workers must learn Mandarin and undergo ideological indoctrination.
The fashion show will include children dressed in traditional Uyghur clothing and educational programs about the situation now.
Help spread the word on social media!
We have graphics and sample posts for you to use:
1. Slides 1–7 deal with high-end brands’ use of forced Uyghur labor.
Sample post:
Some high-end fashion brands like @coach and @michaelkors were at the #NYFW this week highlighting their latest designs, NOT what’s behind the label.
Fashion brands will be hitting the runway in upcoming shows in London, Milan, and Paris. Speak up about #forcedlabourfashion during these fashion weeks. Demand ALL brands to stop profiting from forced labor. Fashion brands MUST take a stand against #forcedlabourfashion and #Uyghurforcedlabour.
2. Slides 8–9 deal with what’s behind the fashion industry’s use of forced labor.
Sample post:
Fashion brands are showcasing some of the year’s biggest fashion trends at NYC, London, Milan, and Paris BUT they won’t tell you if they’re using #Uyghurforcedlabour.
Make Uyghur forced labor a trending topic during #fashionweek. Call on fashion brands and designers to commit to ending Uyghur forced labor.
3. Slides 10–12 deal with wearing fashion products that reflect your values.
Fashion brands at NYC, London, Milan, and Paris won’t tell you #fashion is NOT just about how your clothes look. Fashion is about #WhoMadeYourClothes and under what conditions. #WearYourValues and call on associations, brands, and designers brands to end #forcedlabourfashion and #Uyghurforcedlabour.
4. Slides 13–15 state facts about forced labor fashion and ways to find out whether fashion brands are linked to Uyghur forced labor.
Sample post:
Most fashion brands at NYC, London, Milan, and Paris don’t want you to know that you probably have something made with #forcedlabour in your closet. 1 in 5 cotton garments in the global fashion industry are linked to #Uyghurforcedlabour. Find out if your favorite brands are #forcedlabourfashion and whether or not they have committed to #enduyghurforcedlabour.
Other great posts:
Fashion is NOT an excuse to profit from forced labor! @urbanoutfitters, will you stand against #forcedlabourfashion and #Uyghurforcedlabour?
Forced labor fashion is NOT my style! @urbanoutfitters, how are you going to #EndUyghurForcedLabour?
Hashtags
#nyfw #NYFW2023 #newyorkfashionweek #fashionweek
#dcfashionweek #londonfashionweek #milanfashionweek #parisfashionweek
#enduyghurforcedlabour #uyghurforcedlabour #forcedlabourfashion
Dictatorial regimes like to limit how many people know what they are actually doing. The Uyghurs cannot speak out so we have to speak out for them. Please join us on Saturday and help spread the word on your social media channels.
For More Information
- Forced Labour Fashion Report Cards
- Business and Human Rights Resource Center Outreach Company Responses
- Jewish World Watch Uyghur Forced Labor Database
- Human Rights Foundation Uyghur Forced Labour Checker
- Take these further actions! “Eight things you can do to help Uyghurs in a time of genocide,” Uyghur Human Rights Project
- End #ForcedLabourFashion Now — campaign website
Have questions? Email me!