In the Ethical Apparel News

Mar 1, 2023

Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.

Arriving in record numbers, they’re ending up in dangerous jobs that violate child labor laws — including in factories that make products for well-known brands like Cheetos and Fruit of the Loom. It was almost midnight in Grand Rapids, Mich., but inside the factory everything was bright. A conveyor belt carried bags of Cheerios past…

Dec 22, 2022

Consumer Pressure Is Key to Fixing Dire Labor Conditions in the Clothing Supply Chain

Originally published on November 02, 2022, in the Harvard Business Review – Operations And Supply Chain Management SUMMARY: The plethora of different audit systems and standards for assessing labor practices in factories in the apparel supply chain continues to produce disappointing improvements in working conditions. An approach under development would change that by using data from…

Dec 10, 2022

Stories of Impact Podcast: Ethical Apparel with Dr. Robert Handfield and Dr. MD Rejaul Hasan

Tavia Gilbert: Welcome to Stories of Impact. I’m your host, Tavia Gilbert, and along with journalist Richard Sergay, every first and third Tuesday of the month, we share conversations about the art and science of human flourishing.Only one week remains before the midterm elections in the United States. Before I vote on November 8, I…

Sep 21, 2023

An Interview with Andrew Olah – Changing the Denim Industry One Brand at a Time

Andrew Olah claims he is in the twilight of his career. But everything he is involved seems to be to the contrary! Olah has recently sold his textile business, Olah Inc, and has also sold a minority interest of his denim fashion show, Kingpins, which is held annually in Amsterdam and New York, (and was held in Hong Kong…

Jan 27, 2022

Are those clothes you’re buying ethically made? NC State researchers hope to make customers better informed

Ending unfair labor practices around the world is a problem that laws and trade embargoes can’t seem to end. So now a national philanthropy has given a grant to North Carolina State University to figure out a way for consumers to use their buying power to stop unfair labor practices. Right now, most people who…

Jan 27, 2022

NC State researchers work to make sure you know your purchases are made under fair labor practices

It’s one of those things most of us do – we buy clothing without knowing just what the conditions are in the factory where the item made. But, if that information is right there for you to see, would it change your decision to purchase? “We look for things like child labor, are they being…

Dec 7, 2021

Study Details Baseline Needs to Bring Factories into Compliance with Labor Standards

Researchers from North Carolina State University have conducted an in-depth study to establish all of the actions apparel factories will need to take in order to come into compliance with international labor standards. The study is a first step toward determining what such compliance would cost consumers, and building support for making the needed changes.…

Oct 22, 2021

OpenText Survey Shows Increase in Demand for Ethically Sourced Goods

New research shows that consumers are increasingly expressing a demand for ethically manufactured goods, and supports the necessity of the Ethical Apparel Index. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Open Text, approximately 88% of participants prioritized purchasing goods from brands who are committed to responsible sourcing. The research highlights a growing importance for companies…