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sustaInaBlE FashIon : a handBooK For Educators

Buying power role play: how decision

Making in the Fashion Industry Impacts on

working conditions

Fashioning an Ethical Industry, uK [email protected]

1. Level FE, UG


2. Pre-requisite knowledge required by educators C. Some knowledge of discipline required


3. Pre-requisite knowledge required by students B. General knowledge of the textiles and garment
   industry required


4. Number of students 8 to 20


5. Length of time required One to two hours


6. Type of activity Group work, Interactive activities, Discussion and
   debate,


7. Discipline Business, Cross-curricular, Design, Interactive


8. Topics covered Companies, Corporate social responsibility, Purchasing
   practices, Supply chains, Trade, Wages, Workers’ rights,
   Working conditions

Follow up / rElatEd actIVItIEs
Ethical Trading Initiative case studies to address impacts of purchasing practices on working conditions, by ETI, available in
this Handbook.

oBjEctIVEs / lEarnIng outcoMEs
For participants:

• To consider the priorities and challenges facing fashion designers, companies, factory owners and workers within the
  garment industry, and how these impact on working conditions in the garment industry.


• To consider the actions that fashion designers, companies, factory owners and workers could take or are taking to
  improve conditions for garment workers.

This role play explores how the decisions made by different actors within the fashion supply chain impact on working
conditions in garment manufacturing. It has been designed for students on fashion related courses - buying, design,
business and merchandising, etc. - and could be used at a range of different levels. In small groups, students take on
the roles of CEO, designer, buyer, factory owner and factory worker, and consider how the priorities and challenges
facing each of these roles impacts on workers. An optional second round of the role play considers actions that fashion
designers, companies, factory owners and workers could take or are taking to improve conditions for garment workers.

The ‘Buyer Power’ role play is available to download from http://fashioninganethicalindustry.org/resources/teachingmaterials/
buyingpower/. The pack contains role-sheets and guidance notes for facilitators. A PowerPoint presentation and step-by-
step guide to running the role play is also included.