Sports brAnds top leAgue for disclosure

Adidas and Reebok have again topped a ranking of global brands’ social and environmental transparency and practices.

Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index of 150 major global brands and retailers found improvement across the industry, but said most companies were still operating in broadly the same way that enabled the Rana Plaza disaster to happen five years ago.

Only 55% of brands and retailers published measurable, timed goals on improving their environmental impact and just 37% published goals on improving human rights.

The index, launched to mark the start of Fashion Revolution Week, which marks the anniversary of the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh in which more than 1,000 workers died, aims to help consumers make informed decisions about the companies they support through greater transparency.

Puma, H&M, Esprit, Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, C&A and Marks & Spencer followed Adidas and Reebok in the ranking, all scoring within between 51% and 60% out of a possible 250 points.

Asos came shortly behind the top 10, with the campaign saying the company had significantly increased its level of disclosure since last year.

The campaign said the proportion of brands and retailers who published a list of where their clothes are cut, sewn and completed had increased from 12.5% two years ago to 37% this year.

Fashion Revolution founder Carry Somers said:“We’re calling upon the global fashion industry to turn its commitment to responsible sourcing into effective action this Fashion Revolution Week.

“Too many people working in the fashion industry, mostly women, are still underpaid, unsafe and mistreated.”