Eastleigh MP Mims Davies is now the co-chair of a new parliamentary group looking at the exploitation of workers in the clothes industry and the cycle of waste from garments that are no longer needed.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion met today and will, over the next five years, look at the exploitation of workers, particularly in the developing world, and the constant throwing away of clothes no longer in fashion.
Another area the group aims to look at will be ways to recycle clothes and clothing material to tackle climate change and promote sustainability.
“Vast sums of energy and materials are consumed every year by the fashion industry to make clothes that sometimes are only worn a few times before they are thrown away,” said Mims.
“People making these shoes, dresses and trousers are also often paid very little and I hope the group will look closely at this issue to put pressure on fashion retailers while also examining ways to promote sustainability by recycling more so that less goes to waste.”