72
sustaInaBlE FashIon : a handBooK For Educators
Additional film options:
- Made in L.A., released in 2007, Directed by Almudena
Carracedo. http://www.madeinla.com/. This film
documents the journey of three Los Angeles garment
factory workers as they campaign against retailer Forever
21 to win better working conditions. - A Decent Factory, released in 2004. Directed by Thomas
Balmes. http://www.frif.com/new2005/dec.html. This
documentary follows social auditors for Nokia, the
electronics firm, as they assess working conditions in a
Chinese factory. - Gap and Nike: No Sweat? Released in 2000 by BBC
Panorama. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/
panorama/970385.stm. A BBC reporter exposes poor
working conditions in Cambodian factories producing for
Gap and Nike, despite the codes of conduct espoused by
these brands.
recommended pre-assignment reading materials:
Kristof, N., Two Cheers for Sweatshops. New York Times:
New York, September 24, 2000. http://www.nytimes.com/
library/magazine/home/20000924mag-sweatshops.html
Supplementary reading materials include:
Elliott, K.A. & Freeman, R.B. (2003) Can Labor Standards
Improve Under Globalization? Washington DC: Institute for
International Economics
[Note: This book may be considered as advanced reading
due to its use of economic data and discussion of trade
policy.]
Harney, A. (2008) The China Price: The True Cost of Chinese
Competitive Advantage, New York: Penguin Press. Chapters
2, 6-8 are especially relevant.
B. BuyEr codEs oF conduct
Having examined working conditions and the challenges
faced by buying companies, brands and retailers in the
previous session, the focus will now shift to the standards
espoused by these brands and retailers, most frequently by
way of a supplier code of conduct.
Supplier codes of conduct are intended to articulate the
standards a buying company (e.g. a retailer or brand)
expects from their suppliers and vendors. The code usually
covers companies directly supplying the company as
well as business partners. For codes of conduct written
specifically to address supply chain working conditions,
those commitments generally cover the well-being of
the employees in the supply chain. They may also cover
environmental and community impacts. Many retailers and
manufacturers have articulated such codes of conduct
in order to ensure their supply chain partners are aware
of and uphold their standards related to business and
employment practices.
A sample of brand codes of conduct will be provided for
the students to review and dissect in an attempt to identify
the most commonly shared attributes of these codes. The
following are publicly available codes suggested for this
exercise:
- Adidas: http://www.adidas-group.com/en/sustainability/
suppliers_and_workers/code_of_conduct/default.asp - Carrefour : http://www.carrefour.com/cdc/responsible-
commerce/our-social-and-ethical-approach/the-group-
and-its-suppliers/ - Gap: http://www.gapinc.com/public/documents/code_
vendor_conduct.pdf - Lego: http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.
asp?page=conduct - Levi: http://www.levistrauss.com/Downloads/GSOG.pdf
- Marks & Spencer : http://www.marksandspencer.com/
gp/browse.html/ref=sc_fe_c_9_0_43474031_1/202-
0614151-2011867?ie=UTF8&node=43495031&no=434
74031&mnSBrand=core&me=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM - Mattel: http://www.mattel.com/aboutus/Corp
Responsibility/cr_global.asp - Nike: http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikeresponsibility/
tools/Nike_Code_of_Conduct.pdf - Tesco: http://www.tescocorporate.com/page.aspx?pointer
id=2C8F604AACC54868963C4121B14294BD&faqelem
entid=9AC40CE015B840C99C2F69ADE384B410 - Wal-mart: http://walmartstores.com/media/resources/
r_2727.pdf