Take Action: Challenge Brands and Buy Ethically

Take Action: Buy Ethically and Challenge Brands

Three key actions that will help you buy ethically, challenge brands to be more transparent and interrupt the trend of fast fashion.

Investigate

Use resources such as Ethical Consumer, and the Fashion Transparency Index to see how brands rank in their commitment to clean up their supply chains and uphold good labour practices. You can download Apps like Good On You so that you can check brands on the go while shopping.

Check out the modern slavery statements of UK brands that have a £36m+ turnover (they have to have one by law).

Initiate

Corporates listen to what matters to their customers. Show the brands you love that you care by asking them what actions they’re taking to stop slavery and exploitation in their supply chains. Push for greater transparency. Here's an example tweet and letter.

See below for our template email to send to a brand.

Interrupt

Vote with your wallet: Invest your money in brands that are taking steps to stop slavery and exploitation, or those that are set up to be transparent - like People Tree and Know the Origin. Actively choosing to change your shopping habits by buying fewer items and supporting brands that are actively trying to model good practice, is a powerful way to interrupt the damaging culture of fast fashion.

Dig Deeper
Take these actions to start the movement towards living #SlaveFree

Send an email to a brand

Dear (brand)

I write to you as a loyal customer. I have been shopping with (brand) for (number) years and I love your products.

This year for Lent, I joined International Justice Mission UK’s SlaveFree campaign to investigate the use of forced labour slavery in many of our everyday products.

It has come to my attention that, according to Ethical Trading Initiative, 77% of UK companies believe there is a likelihood of slavery in their supply chains.

With this in mind, I would like to understand what steps you are taking to tackle slavery in supply chains so I can continue to shop with confidence.

I would love to know where you source your (product) and what practical steps you are taking to ensure that workers are being protected.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Name

Use your voice on social media

Share your experience and thoughts and tag @IJM_UK on Instagram, and @IJMUK on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #SlaveFree.

Watch this video for how to look for ethical brands

Watch the video below for some tips on how to look for ethical brands. 🕵 http://bit.ly/EuansTips

Download the 'Good on You' app

Download Good on You. The app was developed by group of campaigners, fashionistas, scientists, writers and developers, united in seeing fashion become more sustainable and fair, including ending human rights abuses within the industry.

See how your brands rank

Head over to the Fashion Transparency Index to see how your favourite brands rank in terms of their impact on the planet and human lives: https://bit.ly/37L8aTG ⁣⁣⁣

Buying Ethically Tips from Safia Minney, CEO & Founder of People Tree

During SlaveFreeLent, we asked Safia Minney, CEO and founder of People Tree and leading ethical and sustainable fashion advocate, her top tips for moving towards a Slave-Free* lifestyle. Thank you to every one of you who sent your questions over Whatsapp in March 2020 to Safia to answer.

Read Safia's answers on the blog here "Your Ethical Fashion Questions for Safia Minney"

Check out our Thomson Reuters blog for more information.

Bring Freedom Today

Slavery and exploitation need to be stopped at source. IJM finds out where slavery is taking place, working with authorities to bring victims to safety and perpetrators to justice. Through our work with local police and governments, we've seen dramatic reductions in slavery in the places we work.

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