Santas Slam Topshop at Oxford Street

People & Planet Santas stage protest on Oxford Street

Following on from nationwide actions against Topshop on the previous day, the 5th of December saw Redress Fashion action take to the capital with a concerted action at Topshop’s flagship store in Oxford Street.

Image © Topshop christmas oxford street

A throng of People & Planet Santas flocked to Topshop’s flagship branch to deliver the message of good will and urge the leading the high street store to sign up to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI).

Passers- by stopped to sign petitions, listen to ‘sweatshop carols’ and were treated to a ‘Topshop Christmas Carol’ featuring real life ‘Scrooge’ Topshop’s greedy billionaire boss Philip Green. The performance drew Christmas shoppers’ attention to the plight of the garment workers in his factories, who at this time of year are labouring under inhumane working conditions, for less than a pittance.

Philip Green wasn’t taking any chances and had drafted in two of his most formidable prize thugs to track the moves of the group on hand-held security cameras. Met Police were also out in force, a large group also called in to survey the scene.

Following the display outside the store, the activists marched to Topshop’s HQ at Arcadia house, followed by Philip Green’s security thugs and the group of police. There the campaigners brought the message home to Green at the doors of his offices, with a weighty delivery of the week’s collection of petitions in bulging, festive sacks.

A member of the group Amani Ashraf said of the events;

Topshop shoppers are out here today buying Christmas presents for their loved ones while there are Topshop’s factory workers on the other side of the world, who are not earning enough to buy food for their children, let alone presents.

Philip Green cannot keep sweeping this issue under the carpet. It is within the interests of his business to take action and sign up to the ETI. The last year has seen a rise from 40% to 64% among 16-25 year olds who are concerned about the origin of their clothes and do not want to be wearing clothes that are made in a sweatshop. That is a huge potential market loss for him and that loss will continue to rise as long as awareness is being raised by actions like today’s.