Une Boutique Très Chic

Primark is a clothing store that originates from Ireland, but now primarily operates in the United Kingdom. There are roughly 125 stores in the UK employing nearly 26,000 people (it is easily comparable to Target in the USA). UK consumers are now demanding what is known as ’fast fashion’. In other words, once luxury designers have runway shows, consumers expect the lower cost high street shops to stock similar mock items. Stores such has H&M, Topshop, and Primark (to name a few) are in a race with each other to get the items made and delivered to the stores for immediate purchase by consumers.

Last night the BBC had a program called Primark: On The Rack. Recently there have been major concerns and criticism against the company in regards to its supply chain in India. This BBC program was aired yesterday to expose Primark and tell the public the truth about who is actually supplying the company’s clothing. It is important to note that in every Primark store there are signs throughout stating that all of the clothing is creating using completely ethical and fair trade/labor practices.

Undercover reporters found that there was unethical labor and child labor practices in three of Primark’s subcontracted factories in India. Not just that, in the slums of India, outside the factories children were hand sewing clothing in unsightly working conditions such has in streets, basements and kitchens of homes. The footage was very disturbing and the BBC let Primark know about their findings in which Primark’s response was “Under no circumstances would Primark ever knowingly permit such activities”. Primark has since claimed to have halted business with those suppliers.

Here is the video of last nights program: