Looking for the perfect designer kaftan? Discover the fantastic collection of women's designer tunics and kaftans online at Farfetch. Find fantastic styles from high end designers such as Marni, Rick Owens and Missoni. Check out the latest on-trend designs such as Proenza Schouler’s cool oriental printed silk top, Chloe’s striking shirt dress and Victoria Beckham’s bold colour block women’s tunic.
TUNIC & KAFTAN
TUNIC & KAFTAN
Looking for the perfect designer kaftan? Discover the fantastic collection of women's designer tunics and kaftans online at Farfetch. Find fantastic styles from high end designers such as Marni, Rick Owens and Missoni. Check out the latest on-trend designs such as Proenza Schouler’s cool oriental printed silk top, Chloe’s striking shirt dress and Victoria Beckham’s bold colour block women’s tunic.
Looking for the perfect designer kaftan? Discover the fantastic collection of women's designer tunics and kaftans online at Farfetch. Find fantastic styles from high end designers such as Marni, Rick Owens and Missoni. Check out the latest on-trend designs such as Proenza Schouler’s cool oriental printed silk top, Chloe’s striking shirt dress and Victoria Beckham’s bold colour block women’s tunic.
Cat’s Basement aids students in need of clothing
A community effort in Harrisonville is keeping kids warm this winter from the frigid temperatures and snow that has graced the Midwest in recent months.
The new Cat’s Basement within the Harrisonville School District is a place where students in search of clothing, shoes, winter coats, or school supplies can have their needs fulfilled.
This year, the district has been able to assist by providing 71 students with winter coats and clothing for 195 students.
Located in the basement of the district’s alternative school, the Cat’s Basement is set up like a store with shelves and racks fitted with clean clothing for students unable to afford even the most basic of necessities.
“I’ve brought kids down here and they’ve picked out their own stuff, or if they didn’t have time, I would come down, grab a few things and take them back (to the school),” Harrisonville Middle School Counselor Valerie Holmes said.
The closet utilizes a variety clothing sizes to fit a variety of students -- from the very young children to older teens, who are in need of adult-sized clothing.
Harrisonville Communications and Community Relations Director Jill Filer said the idea for the Cat’s Basement was spurred last winter.
“A few years prior, the middle school had come up with an idea to have something like this -- a clothing place at their building,” Filer said.
Filer felt inspired to make a similar resource available on a district level with the launch of the Bright Futures Harrisonville initiative in 2012.
Students who had outgrown their clothing, didn’t have things like a set of gym clothes, or those couldn’t afford buying new belongings, could go up to the storage room, which had been given the name of the “Cat’s Closet,” with a staff person, and pick out the item they needed.
“The concept was great, and when Bright Futures got going, we started to think of a central location where we could have it,” Filer said.
Filer identified a vacant space in the basement of the alternative school that would work for what she had envisioned.
Through the generosity of the Harrisonville United Methodist Church, Elks Lodge, Rotary Club, and several other local businesses, the district was able to remodel the basement to include shelving, clothing racks, a shower, and a clothing washer and dryer.
“We’ve had a lot of volunteers in here getting this stuff ready,” Filer said. “We never asked for clothing, but people started hearing that we were going to have this and clothing kept on getting dropped off.”
The Cat’s Basement was ready by summer in time for Bright Future’s Back-To-School event.
“Families were able to come during the Back-to-School Fair and pick out three outfits and they all got a new pair of shoes,” Filer said. “It’s been a great community effort and we’re so excited about being able to have this for our kids,” Filer said.
Throughout the school year, students have been able to utilize the basement as their needs continued -- especially as kids grow taller and outgrow their pants, or as their shoes deteriorated or became too small.
“Their toes are popping out and there are holes in the soles of their feet,” Holmes said. “It’s almost daily that I get a call from a teacher or another adult in our building to check on a kid.”
During the winter months, there has also been a demand on winter apparel.
Due to the proximity of the basement, students attending the alternative school have also been given the opportunity to gain job skills.
“We wanted this to be a place where our alternative school students could also get some work skills,” Filer said.
Students are receiving experience in learning how to stock shelves and keep inventory.
“(The basement) was a great place for this to be so that these kids could benefit, and then other kids could benefit, too,” Filer said.
Harrisonville Middle School students taking home economics or life skills courses have also received hands-on experience as part of their studies in laundering the clothing donations that come in to the Cat’s Basement.
“It’s been a great project so far in getting the community, kids, and staff involved,” Filer said. “This is what Bright Futures is about...it’s a community partnership. There were so many people involved in getting it up and going.”
In addition to the basement, the middle school has continued to keep their Cat’s Closet open this year.
“We check ours first, and if we don’t have it, we come here,” Holmes said. “It works really well for us. It’s fun to bring (students) over here and (see them) light up and pick out whatever they want. “
Holmes said students have been receptive of the initiative. She said 5-7 students, on average, use the closet on a daily basis.
“They know about the closet and they’re never afraid to ask anyone,” Holmes said. “They know it’s there and that it’s accessible.”
The Cat’s Basement is currently low in inventory of girls and boys pants, sizes 5-10, and men-sized pants for middle school and high school boys.
Pant donations may be dropped off at the Harrisonville Alternative School, 402 Eastwood Rd., between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on normal school days.
The new Cat’s Basement within the Harrisonville School District is a place where students in search of clothing, shoes, winter coats, or school supplies can have their needs fulfilled.
This year, the district has been able to assist by providing 71 students with winter coats and clothing for 195 students.
Located in the basement of the district’s alternative school, the Cat’s Basement is set up like a store with shelves and racks fitted with clean clothing for students unable to afford even the most basic of necessities.
“I’ve brought kids down here and they’ve picked out their own stuff, or if they didn’t have time, I would come down, grab a few things and take them back (to the school),” Harrisonville Middle School Counselor Valerie Holmes said.
The closet utilizes a variety clothing sizes to fit a variety of students -- from the very young children to older teens, who are in need of adult-sized clothing.
Harrisonville Communications and Community Relations Director Jill Filer said the idea for the Cat’s Basement was spurred last winter.
“A few years prior, the middle school had come up with an idea to have something like this -- a clothing place at their building,” Filer said.
Filer felt inspired to make a similar resource available on a district level with the launch of the Bright Futures Harrisonville initiative in 2012.
Students who had outgrown their clothing, didn’t have things like a set of gym clothes, or those couldn’t afford buying new belongings, could go up to the storage room, which had been given the name of the “Cat’s Closet,” with a staff person, and pick out the item they needed.
“The concept was great, and when Bright Futures got going, we started to think of a central location where we could have it,” Filer said.
Filer identified a vacant space in the basement of the alternative school that would work for what she had envisioned.
Through the generosity of the Harrisonville United Methodist Church, Elks Lodge, Rotary Club, and several other local businesses, the district was able to remodel the basement to include shelving, clothing racks, a shower, and a clothing washer and dryer.
“We’ve had a lot of volunteers in here getting this stuff ready,” Filer said. “We never asked for clothing, but people started hearing that we were going to have this and clothing kept on getting dropped off.”
The Cat’s Basement was ready by summer in time for Bright Future’s Back-To-School event.
“Families were able to come during the Back-to-School Fair and pick out three outfits and they all got a new pair of shoes,” Filer said. “It’s been a great community effort and we’re so excited about being able to have this for our kids,” Filer said.
Throughout the school year, students have been able to utilize the basement as their needs continued -- especially as kids grow taller and outgrow their pants, or as their shoes deteriorated or became too small.
“Their toes are popping out and there are holes in the soles of their feet,” Holmes said. “It’s almost daily that I get a call from a teacher or another adult in our building to check on a kid.”
During the winter months, there has also been a demand on winter apparel.
Due to the proximity of the basement, students attending the alternative school have also been given the opportunity to gain job skills.
“We wanted this to be a place where our alternative school students could also get some work skills,” Filer said.
Students are receiving experience in learning how to stock shelves and keep inventory.
“(The basement) was a great place for this to be so that these kids could benefit, and then other kids could benefit, too,” Filer said.
Harrisonville Middle School students taking home economics or life skills courses have also received hands-on experience as part of their studies in laundering the clothing donations that come in to the Cat’s Basement.
“It’s been a great project so far in getting the community, kids, and staff involved,” Filer said. “This is what Bright Futures is about...it’s a community partnership. There were so many people involved in getting it up and going.”
In addition to the basement, the middle school has continued to keep their Cat’s Closet open this year.
“We check ours first, and if we don’t have it, we come here,” Holmes said. “It works really well for us. It’s fun to bring (students) over here and (see them) light up and pick out whatever they want. “
Holmes said students have been receptive of the initiative. She said 5-7 students, on average, use the closet on a daily basis.
“They know about the closet and they’re never afraid to ask anyone,” Holmes said. “They know it’s there and that it’s accessible.”
The Cat’s Basement is currently low in inventory of girls and boys pants, sizes 5-10, and men-sized pants for middle school and high school boys.
Pant donations may be dropped off at the Harrisonville Alternative School, 402 Eastwood Rd., between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on normal school days.
Clothing retailer takes store on the road
Clothing retailer takes store on the road
Borrowing from the success of many chefs, Pursuit goes mobile to connect with young clientel
Now that food trucks are almost everywhere, it’s time for something completely different.
How about a suit truck?
Pursuit — originally a temporary shop in the University District that has turned into a permanent store — is branching out with a “suit store on wheels” in what was once a Cape Cod potato-chip delivery truck.
“It certainly is a fun project,” said Nate DeMars, owner of Pursuit. “We’re hoping the novelty of it can help give us more exposure to potential clientele.”
Like a food truck, Pursuit will take its wares to the public, except in a little more targeted way.
Operators expect to hit events, like the Columbus Young Professionals Club event at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on Saturday, as well as making various kinds of appointments. The truck makes its debut tonight at 7:30 at Pursuit’s brick-and-mortar store, 1572 N. High St.
“I don’t think we’ll be at the same place on a weekly basis,” DeMars said. “It will be event based. We’re open to people reaching out if they have a good fit. This is about a guy who wants to bring us to his office or to his fraternity house, or for a guy who wants wedding suits.”
DeMars hatched the idea for Pursuit a few years ago, in an entrepreneurship class at OSU’s Fisher College of Business.
“I had been shopping for a suit and I was amazed that there was a void for a place that seemed to cater to younger guys,” he said.
“Everybody either spent a boatload of money on a suit or went to a warehouse-type place,” DeMars said. “I saw these guys would go to career fairs — thousands of guys — wearing ill-fitting variations of the same look. I thought they could use a little help. I know I could have.”
When the original Pursuit store was launched at the South Campus Gateway 21/2 years ago, the idea of a rolling showroom was very much part of the plan.
But DeMars found that the store had such appeal among the young professional crowd that “it seemed silly to pick up and leave.”
Part of the appeal was the prices. “People assume that since we’re local and small, we must be expensive,” DeMars said. “But people are pleasantly surprised when they visit.”
Suits range from $249 to $399, “what you might find at the mall,” he said.
So the truck idea was put on hold — until last year.
“Nate told us the business was doing well, but he wanted to do something really creative and talked about using a truck,” said architect Eliza Ho.
DeMars had come to the right people. Ho and her husband, Tim Lai, are the architects who have created Dinin’ Hall, Columbus’ first street-food hub that features a rotating roster of food trucks.
“We have partnered with more than 15 food trucks in town, so we know a lot about the anatomy of a truck and have seen so many variations,” Ho said. “When Nate talked about using a truck to sell suits we thought it was a great idea. We haven’t seen anyone do it in the region. I do think it has a lot of potential, using a truck to sell different merchandise.”
Ho and Lai visited the Pursuit store, “to learn more about his aesthetic,” she said. Over the course of several months, they developed design ideas for the exterior and interior of the truck, which DeMars bought from a dealer south of Columbus.
The exterior of the truck features a herringbone pattern intended as a reference to traditional suits, along with the silhouette of a young man.
Inside, “we wanted everything simple,” Ho said. “It goes with the brand. So we went with natural wood, and then modular-type shelving, trying to create a system to make suits stand out.”
The interior isn’t just a jam-packed showroom, however. It’s a functional space that allows customers to shop for, try on and buy suits.
“We were very pleasantly surprised at how roomy it feels, and how much we can pack into it,” DeMars said. “It’s amazing what intelligent design can do. We can get probably 60 percent of the suits we show in the store into the truck.”
Luckily, there was no need to carry a vast inventory in the truck. Because the business focuses on a young clientele, the Pursuit brick-and-mortar store doesn’t carry a huge amount of merchandise either.
“We only sell slim-fit clothes, sizes for a younger demo,” DeMars said. “For instance, we sell charcoal gray 38-regular suit coats. Guys that age have so much less variation in body types than their fathers.”
While DeMars isn’t sure what to expect in sales from the truck, he expects “it to function like a second store. We see a year from now the sales volume will be like the brick-and-mortar.”
“If 10 people in a day buy six suits, that’s a good day, so we’re hoping for that.”
Borrowing from the success of many chefs, Pursuit goes mobile to connect with young clientel
Now that food trucks are almost everywhere, it’s time for something completely different.
How about a suit truck?
Pursuit — originally a temporary shop in the University District that has turned into a permanent store — is branching out with a “suit store on wheels” in what was once a Cape Cod potato-chip delivery truck.
“It certainly is a fun project,” said Nate DeMars, owner of Pursuit. “We’re hoping the novelty of it can help give us more exposure to potential clientele.”
Like a food truck, Pursuit will take its wares to the public, except in a little more targeted way.
Operators expect to hit events, like the Columbus Young Professionals Club event at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on Saturday, as well as making various kinds of appointments. The truck makes its debut tonight at 7:30 at Pursuit’s brick-and-mortar store, 1572 N. High St.
“I don’t think we’ll be at the same place on a weekly basis,” DeMars said. “It will be event based. We’re open to people reaching out if they have a good fit. This is about a guy who wants to bring us to his office or to his fraternity house, or for a guy who wants wedding suits.”
DeMars hatched the idea for Pursuit a few years ago, in an entrepreneurship class at OSU’s Fisher College of Business.
“I had been shopping for a suit and I was amazed that there was a void for a place that seemed to cater to younger guys,” he said.
“Everybody either spent a boatload of money on a suit or went to a warehouse-type place,” DeMars said. “I saw these guys would go to career fairs — thousands of guys — wearing ill-fitting variations of the same look. I thought they could use a little help. I know I could have.”
When the original Pursuit store was launched at the South Campus Gateway 21/2 years ago, the idea of a rolling showroom was very much part of the plan.
But DeMars found that the store had such appeal among the young professional crowd that “it seemed silly to pick up and leave.”
Part of the appeal was the prices. “People assume that since we’re local and small, we must be expensive,” DeMars said. “But people are pleasantly surprised when they visit.”
Suits range from $249 to $399, “what you might find at the mall,” he said.
So the truck idea was put on hold — until last year.
“Nate told us the business was doing well, but he wanted to do something really creative and talked about using a truck,” said architect Eliza Ho.
DeMars had come to the right people. Ho and her husband, Tim Lai, are the architects who have created Dinin’ Hall, Columbus’ first street-food hub that features a rotating roster of food trucks.
“We have partnered with more than 15 food trucks in town, so we know a lot about the anatomy of a truck and have seen so many variations,” Ho said. “When Nate talked about using a truck to sell suits we thought it was a great idea. We haven’t seen anyone do it in the region. I do think it has a lot of potential, using a truck to sell different merchandise.”
Ho and Lai visited the Pursuit store, “to learn more about his aesthetic,” she said. Over the course of several months, they developed design ideas for the exterior and interior of the truck, which DeMars bought from a dealer south of Columbus.
The exterior of the truck features a herringbone pattern intended as a reference to traditional suits, along with the silhouette of a young man.
Inside, “we wanted everything simple,” Ho said. “It goes with the brand. So we went with natural wood, and then modular-type shelving, trying to create a system to make suits stand out.”
The interior isn’t just a jam-packed showroom, however. It’s a functional space that allows customers to shop for, try on and buy suits.
“We were very pleasantly surprised at how roomy it feels, and how much we can pack into it,” DeMars said. “It’s amazing what intelligent design can do. We can get probably 60 percent of the suits we show in the store into the truck.”
Luckily, there was no need to carry a vast inventory in the truck. Because the business focuses on a young clientele, the Pursuit brick-and-mortar store doesn’t carry a huge amount of merchandise either.
“We only sell slim-fit clothes, sizes for a younger demo,” DeMars said. “For instance, we sell charcoal gray 38-regular suit coats. Guys that age have so much less variation in body types than their fathers.”
While DeMars isn’t sure what to expect in sales from the truck, he expects “it to function like a second store. We see a year from now the sales volume will be like the brick-and-mortar.”
“If 10 people in a day buy six suits, that’s a good day, so we’re hoping for that.”
U.K. Retail Sales Decline Most Since April 2012 on Clothing
U.K. retail sales fell more than economists forecast in January with the biggest drop in almost two years, led by lower demand at food and clothing stores.
Sales including fuel plunged 1.5 percent from December, when they surged 2.5 percent, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. The decline was the biggest since April 2012 and exceeded the 1 percent median forecast of 19 economists in a Bloomberg News survey.
The slide, in a critical month for retailers as they clear winter stocks with seasonal discounts, highlights the risks to Britain’s recovery. The Bank of England raised its economic projections this month and forecast that household-spending growth will accelerate to more than 3 percent this year from 2.25 percent in 2013.
“This has to be viewed in the context of the surge in sales in December,” said James Knightley, an economist at ING Bank in London. “With consumer confidence on a strong upward path, employment rising and wage growth starting to show some hints of life, we look for the household sector to contribute strongly to gross domestic product growth this year.”
Today’s report showed that food sales fell 3.4 percent in December from January, while sales of clothing, footwear and textiles dropped 3.5 percent, the most since April 2012.
Cosmetic Boost
Household goods sales increased 5.3 percent, boosted by furniture and electrical goods. There was also an increase in sales of cosmetics, which is often seen in months when people buy fewer clothes, the ONS said.
From a year earlier, retail sales were up 4.3 percent, and the statistics office said the data still points to growth in the industry. In the three months through January, sales rose 1.1 percent compared with the previous three months.
The pound gained 0.1 percent to $1.6671 at 10:25 a.m. London time after dropping 0.6 percent in the previous four days. Sterling strengthened 0.2 percent to 82.22 pence per euro.
In a separate report, the ONS said Britain posted a smaller-than-forecast budget surplus in January as taxes from incomes and company profits fell. The surplus of 4.7 billion pounds compared with 6 billion pounds a year earlier and economists’ forecast for 8 billion pounds.
While Britain’s economy is strengthening and inflation is cooling, wage growth remains subdued, keeping a squeeze on consumers.
Savings Rate
“Much of the spending probably continued to come from households reducing their savings rate,” said Christian Schulz, senior European economist at Berenberg Bank in London. “As wage growth begins to pick up and inflation falls, the real income squeeze on households should ease which would support a more sustainable consumption recovery. In the meantime, however, the rapid pace of expansion may slow.”
Researcher Kantar Worldpanel said this month that the U.K.’s grocery market grew at the slowest pace in nine years in the past three months. Sales expanded 2.4 percent in the twelve weeks to Feb. 2, down from 2.9 percent growth in the previous three-month period. “Brighter economic prospects are yet to be seen in the nation’s shopping trolleys,” said Fraser McKevitt, an analyst at Kantar.
The ONS said the retail sales deflator, a measure of changes in shop prices, was 0.2 percent in January, down from 0.5 percent. That’s the smallest since September 2009, when it fell 0.8 percent. The deflator on food was 1.8 percent.
Sales including fuel plunged 1.5 percent from December, when they surged 2.5 percent, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. The decline was the biggest since April 2012 and exceeded the 1 percent median forecast of 19 economists in a Bloomberg News survey.
The slide, in a critical month for retailers as they clear winter stocks with seasonal discounts, highlights the risks to Britain’s recovery. The Bank of England raised its economic projections this month and forecast that household-spending growth will accelerate to more than 3 percent this year from 2.25 percent in 2013.
“This has to be viewed in the context of the surge in sales in December,” said James Knightley, an economist at ING Bank in London. “With consumer confidence on a strong upward path, employment rising and wage growth starting to show some hints of life, we look for the household sector to contribute strongly to gross domestic product growth this year.”
Today’s report showed that food sales fell 3.4 percent in December from January, while sales of clothing, footwear and textiles dropped 3.5 percent, the most since April 2012.
Cosmetic Boost
Household goods sales increased 5.3 percent, boosted by furniture and electrical goods. There was also an increase in sales of cosmetics, which is often seen in months when people buy fewer clothes, the ONS said.
From a year earlier, retail sales were up 4.3 percent, and the statistics office said the data still points to growth in the industry. In the three months through January, sales rose 1.1 percent compared with the previous three months.
The pound gained 0.1 percent to $1.6671 at 10:25 a.m. London time after dropping 0.6 percent in the previous four days. Sterling strengthened 0.2 percent to 82.22 pence per euro.
In a separate report, the ONS said Britain posted a smaller-than-forecast budget surplus in January as taxes from incomes and company profits fell. The surplus of 4.7 billion pounds compared with 6 billion pounds a year earlier and economists’ forecast for 8 billion pounds.
While Britain’s economy is strengthening and inflation is cooling, wage growth remains subdued, keeping a squeeze on consumers.
Savings Rate
“Much of the spending probably continued to come from households reducing their savings rate,” said Christian Schulz, senior European economist at Berenberg Bank in London. “As wage growth begins to pick up and inflation falls, the real income squeeze on households should ease which would support a more sustainable consumption recovery. In the meantime, however, the rapid pace of expansion may slow.”
Researcher Kantar Worldpanel said this month that the U.K.’s grocery market grew at the slowest pace in nine years in the past three months. Sales expanded 2.4 percent in the twelve weeks to Feb. 2, down from 2.9 percent growth in the previous three-month period. “Brighter economic prospects are yet to be seen in the nation’s shopping trolleys,” said Fraser McKevitt, an analyst at Kantar.
The ONS said the retail sales deflator, a measure of changes in shop prices, was 0.2 percent in January, down from 0.5 percent. That’s the smallest since September 2009, when it fell 0.8 percent. The deflator on food was 1.8 percent.
Australian clothing shoppers ‘in the dark’ about ethical purchasing
Major Australian clothing companies are under pressure to publicly state where their products are made, as consumer advocates accuse them of leaving customers “in the dark” when it comes to making ethical purchase decisions.
The Just Group – which includes Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E, Peter Alexander and Dotti – and Best & Less have both failed to sign the Bangladesh accord, according to a report on ethical clothing manufacturing by Choice, Ethical Fashion.
The accord – announced in May 2013 in response to a series of fatal disasters in dangerous Bangladesh factories – is a legally binding agreement seeking to improve safety conditions by, in part, requiring companies to reveal the locations of factories in their supply chain, so they can be audited by independent inspectors. The accord also requires companies to finance safety improvements.
Kmart is the only Australian clothing retailer to publish a list of its Bangladeshi factories. Target has committed to it but has not published yet.
The Bangladeshi garment industry is beset with unsafe workplaces and poor working conditions in its more than 5,000 factories. In April a Dhaka building full of garment factories collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people. Hundreds more have been killed or injured in dozens of recent incidents, including stampedes and frequent fires.
Bangladeshi factories supply globally recognised brands, many of which have since signed the accord or initiated compensation schemes for victims and families.
“With Australia’s clothing imports totalling approximately $5.8bn, it’s hard to know if our much-loved brands are doing the right thing by their workers,” said Choice. “A longer supply chain means it’s increasingly difficult for brands to maintain sight of safety issues and working conditions.”
Choice told Guardian Australia that signing the accord and publishing factory lists empowered consumers who want to make ethical choices about their clothing purchases.
“Companies that don’t seek to disclose these details create an impression they have something to hide,” said the organisation’s head of media, Tom Godfrey. “We want to see some transparency around this.”
The approach of some companies to conduct their own safety audits was not good enough, said Godfrey.
Best & Less told Guardian Australia it agreed with the intent of the accord, but decided not to sign it. Instead, the retailer had dramatically tightened up its supply chain to ensure it knows where their garments and the fabric used to make them come from.
“The country of origin can be found on the labels of all of our garments and the materials used are listed on our care labels,” said a spokesman. “Approximately 5% of our production comes from Bangladesh. One of our Bangladesh suppliers buys some of their cotton yarn from Australia.”
The company has limited agreements to six suppliers which are in turn allowed to use a maximum of three factories. All workplaces are independently audited, it said.
“We have audits from all of these factories and our own quality assurance team have personally visited and inspected these factories to ensure they are compliant with our ethical sourcing code,” said the spokesman.
Choice said this approach was problematic.
“Unfortunately, the inspections don’t always lead to improvements for workers. For example, prior to the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, two of the factories had been audited but safety risks had not been identified. Often audits are announced in advance and auditors may lack the expertise to do the job credibly,” its report says.
Bangladesh is the second largest source of Australian clothing imports, supplying 6%, behind China’s 72.9%, which begs the question: why not a China accord?
“Bangladesh became the primary focus following the 2013 Savar building collapse that resulted in 1,100 deaths,” said Choice’s Godfrey. “Let’s hope it doesn’t take another tragedy before similar measures are put in place on other countries.”
The Just Group – which includes Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E, Peter Alexander and Dotti – and Best & Less have both failed to sign the Bangladesh accord, according to a report on ethical clothing manufacturing by Choice, Ethical Fashion.
The accord – announced in May 2013 in response to a series of fatal disasters in dangerous Bangladesh factories – is a legally binding agreement seeking to improve safety conditions by, in part, requiring companies to reveal the locations of factories in their supply chain, so they can be audited by independent inspectors. The accord also requires companies to finance safety improvements.
Kmart is the only Australian clothing retailer to publish a list of its Bangladeshi factories. Target has committed to it but has not published yet.
The Bangladeshi garment industry is beset with unsafe workplaces and poor working conditions in its more than 5,000 factories. In April a Dhaka building full of garment factories collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people. Hundreds more have been killed or injured in dozens of recent incidents, including stampedes and frequent fires.
Bangladeshi factories supply globally recognised brands, many of which have since signed the accord or initiated compensation schemes for victims and families.
“With Australia’s clothing imports totalling approximately $5.8bn, it’s hard to know if our much-loved brands are doing the right thing by their workers,” said Choice. “A longer supply chain means it’s increasingly difficult for brands to maintain sight of safety issues and working conditions.”
Choice told Guardian Australia that signing the accord and publishing factory lists empowered consumers who want to make ethical choices about their clothing purchases.
“Companies that don’t seek to disclose these details create an impression they have something to hide,” said the organisation’s head of media, Tom Godfrey. “We want to see some transparency around this.”
The approach of some companies to conduct their own safety audits was not good enough, said Godfrey.
Best & Less told Guardian Australia it agreed with the intent of the accord, but decided not to sign it. Instead, the retailer had dramatically tightened up its supply chain to ensure it knows where their garments and the fabric used to make them come from.
“The country of origin can be found on the labels of all of our garments and the materials used are listed on our care labels,” said a spokesman. “Approximately 5% of our production comes from Bangladesh. One of our Bangladesh suppliers buys some of their cotton yarn from Australia.”
The company has limited agreements to six suppliers which are in turn allowed to use a maximum of three factories. All workplaces are independently audited, it said.
“We have audits from all of these factories and our own quality assurance team have personally visited and inspected these factories to ensure they are compliant with our ethical sourcing code,” said the spokesman.
Choice said this approach was problematic.
“Unfortunately, the inspections don’t always lead to improvements for workers. For example, prior to the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, two of the factories had been audited but safety risks had not been identified. Often audits are announced in advance and auditors may lack the expertise to do the job credibly,” its report says.
Bangladesh is the second largest source of Australian clothing imports, supplying 6%, behind China’s 72.9%, which begs the question: why not a China accord?
“Bangladesh became the primary focus following the 2013 Savar building collapse that resulted in 1,100 deaths,” said Choice’s Godfrey. “Let’s hope it doesn’t take another tragedy before similar measures are put in place on other countries.”
Kim Kardashian's First Baby Clothing Collection Debuts in March!
Kim Kardashian looks chic while stepping out to do some shopping at the Sweet William Baby Clothing Store on Thursday afternoon (February 20) in New York City.The 33-year-old reality star was joined by her PR guru pal Simon Huck and another friend for the afternoon outing.
That same afternoon, Kim‘s fiance Kanye West was seen leaving their apartment and covering his face with his scarf to keep warm in the cold weather.
“Couldn’t be more excited!!! Our 1st baby collection Kardashian Kids [is] launching March 15th at Babies ‘R Us,” Kim wrote on her Instagram account that day. Make sure to check it out!
Sneak Peek: Kardashian Kids Clothing Line at Babies’R'Us
Just when we thought children’s fashions couldn’t get any kuter, the Kardashians — Kim, Kourtney and Khloé — are set to debut a completely adorable new line for girls up to 24 months.
Exclusively available at Babies’R'Us, the collection features everything from butterfly-print pinafores and matching bloomers to snuggly newborn caps and cozy receiving blankets.
But it wouldn’t be a Kardashian production if it didn’t include a little leatherette and a super sweet take on animal print (think cheetah bibs).
“Our grandmother opened a children’s fashion store, and from an early age I adored baby fashion. Later when Penelope was born, my sisters and I had so many ideas for how we wanted to dress her, but didn’t always find what we were envisioning,” says Kim.
Keep up with your favorite celebs in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now.
“Now, as a mom, I cherish the time my baby and I spend together getting her dressed. The items in this collection are exactly what I have imagined for her.”
So we guess that means we’ll see North and her cousin (and BFF!) Penelope rocking their mommas’s designs soon. Kue the kute.
Exclusively available at Babies’R'Us, the collection features everything from butterfly-print pinafores and matching bloomers to snuggly newborn caps and cozy receiving blankets.
But it wouldn’t be a Kardashian production if it didn’t include a little leatherette and a super sweet take on animal print (think cheetah bibs).
“Our grandmother opened a children’s fashion store, and from an early age I adored baby fashion. Later when Penelope was born, my sisters and I had so many ideas for how we wanted to dress her, but didn’t always find what we were envisioning,” says Kim.
Keep up with your favorite celebs in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now.
“Now, as a mom, I cherish the time my baby and I spend together getting her dressed. The items in this collection are exactly what I have imagined for her.”
So we guess that means we’ll see North and her cousin (and BFF!) Penelope rocking their mommas’s designs soon. Kue the kute.
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