A coalition of Uyghur advocacy and human rights groups has called on the British Fashion Council (BFC) to provide transparency on their human rights due diligence framework on forced labour. Groups have written to the Director of BFC, Caroline Rush, requesting a meeting to discuss how her organisation can work with our movement, and particularly the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region, to take action to end the fashion industry’s complicity in human rights violations taking place in the region.

This letter follow’s the BFC’s decision to allow Hugo Boss, a company notorious for its use of suppliers that are known to engage in forced labour transfers, to host an opening party for London Fashion Week. Whilst HRM Queen Elizabeth II’s passing has led to the cancellation of the party, we remain deeply concerned that the decision was made to allow a brand so deeply embroiled in forced labour practices to host an event in the first place. 

We call on Caroline Rush and the BFC to respond to our calls for accountability and dialogue so that we can work together to put an end to global complicity in human rights violations and genocide. Click here to read our letter in full.