The fashion industry is shifting away from outsourcing production to Myanmar, a country ruled by a military government. This comes after a series of human rights abuses and a military coup in February 2021.
The fashion industry is shifting away from outsourcing production to Myanmar, a country ruled by a military government. This comes after a series of human rights abuses and a military coup in February 2021.
The move away from Myanmar has been led by major fashion brands such as H&M, Gap, and Zara, who have all announced that they will no longer source production from the country. This follows a series of reports from human rights groups detailing the military’s abuses of power, including the killing of hundreds of protesters and the detention of political activists.
Fast Retailing is the latest to exit Myanmar, removing partners in that country from its list of garment and processing factories. The company behind the Uniqlo casual wear chain had outsourced production of jackets and shirts for GU, another of its brands. But that relationship will end with products for the 2023 fall-winter season, the retailer said.
The fashion industry’s shift away from Myanmar is part of a larger trend of companies rethinking their supply chains in light of the military coup.
An H&M spokesperson said that “in the current situation, we are very mindful of the fact that many people in Myanmar rely on international companies for their livelihood”, and the company “refrains from taking any immediate decision on future order placement in Myanmar”.
However, some experts have warned that the move could have a negative impact on the country’s economy. Karina Ufert, chief executive of EuroCham Myanmar, said that “disengagement of the responsible brands will only lead to a further deterioration in the situation for the workers’ rights and contribute to greater unemployment”.
Sources: https://www.ft.com/content/c4c10380-87c6-4bcc-b6ca-87640be3912f
