Topshop faces embarrassment as student customers rebel over ethics
- Contact Symon Hill — 07920 037 719
- Contact Sarah Waldron — 01865 245 678
- Redress Fashion
Oxford Uni P&P’s campaigning scared Topshop away from a debate about Fairtrade clothing.
A student from Warwick University taking part in December’s day of action
Topshop is facing increasing criticism from its core customers, with students and young people protesting over sweatshop conditions in the company’s supply chain.
Topshop uses the slogan “we love students!”, but students across Britain are planning peaceful protests at Topshop branches on Saturday 1st March. They are backing the Redress Fashion campaign run by People & Planet, Britain’s largest student network concerned with human rights, global poverty and the environment. Redress Fashion has also won the support of trade minister Gareth Thomas MP.
Topshop’s embarrassment became clear last week, when the company pulled out of a Fairtrade discussion in Oxford for fear of student criticism. Topshop forms part of the Arcadia Group, whose owner Philip Green has refused to sign up to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI).
Sarah Waldron, People & Planet campaigns officer, said:
The Arcadia Group is the biggest high street retailer not to sign up to the Ethical Trading Initiative. Time and again, Philip Green’s business has been associated with unacceptable working conditions. If he wants to continue to attract students through the doors of Topshop, Philip Green must drag his company into the twenty-first century and change his business ethics.
Rebecca Jones, costume student at Rose Bruford College, said:
Young people love shopping and fashion but the big retailers like Topshop are hiding the true source of their clothes. They blind us with celebrity collaborations and ‘must haves’ which makes us lose sight of what is truely valuable - human lives.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
People & Planet is the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment. Our network covers 70% of Britain’s universities and 10% of sixth-forms.
The student market is central to Topshop, which targets students with discounts, a special area on its website, student nights and campus tours.
Spokespeople for People & Planet, and students involved in the campaign, are available for interview.