The Weekly Briefing - 17 August

Fashion Focus

Financial Times

Fashion boom in recycled plastic comes with a price tag

Increased interest and usage of recycled polyester is proving higher than supply, with a lack of recycling capacity globally, leading to high costs for brands and retailers. However, the environmental cost may be even higher, as recycled polyester is not mechanically recyclable, and so turning bottles into clothing will lead to clothing in landfill until chemical recycling is commercially available. Read.

The Guardian

Why the new era of British fashion is all about the factory

Consumer focus on environmental standards and workers’ rights has created a focus on shorter supply chains and factory focus for brands and retailers - with some looking to bring manufacturing back to the UK and others moving it closer to fabric sources. Read.

iNews

More fast-fashion factory bosses need to be prosecuted for abuses, says slavery watchdog

An interview with Dame Sara Thornton, the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, focuses on the exploitation of workers in Britain’s fast-fashion industry and the measures needed in response. Read.

BBC

Boohoo boss: ‘We’re not a throwaway fashion brand’

Following the latest allegations of minimum wage payment evasion, Boohoo boss, John Lyttle, gave an interview to BBC Radio 5 Live to give an overview of the company's strategy and to deny cheap pricepoint. Read.