Gap quick to respond to factory allegations

Gap was in for an unpleasant read last Sunday morning.

Splashed on the front and inside of The Sunday Times was the story of alleged illegal dumping of harmful waste in rivers and tips by a factory in Lesotho that makes jeans for the retailer and Levi Strauss.

It was the latest in a long line of fashion retailers to have parts of the supply chain exposed as potentially harmful or unethical in local communities.

However Gap should be lauded for its swift and thorough response to the investigation and it is testament to the industry that such revelations will not go unnoticed and that ethical sourcing is at the top of many retailers’ agendas.

Gap has put the factory in question “under notice” while a full independent investigation is carried out. The decision not to cut ties with the factory should also be praised as many people’s livelihoods will depend on working there.

Industry in developing countries can and should be a positive thing and although stories like these need to be eradicated - and this is unlikely to be the last - most fashion retailers know how important a transparent and well managed supply chain now is and that the world is watching.

Gap said: “We fully recognise the importance for countries such as Lesotho to further evolve its environmental infrastructure and applaud the fact that these types of stories attract more energy and focus on this issue.”

The head of crisis and issues management for public relations group Bell Pottinger, Alex Woolfall, said Gap’s response was ‘very good’ but criticised Levi’s for a more muted response.

He said that Gap updating the media on what it does next would also be beneficial and “show something tangible”. 

JD scores touch down

JD Sports has done some good forward planning with the acquisition of the European arm of rugby brand Canterbury.

The purchase, along with its Kooga acquisition, gives the retailer a strong position to take advantage of the 2015 Rugby world cup which was recently secured by the UK.

The coming years will open up great opportunities in sportswear, particularly with the 2012 Olympics, and JD – which has largely kept its hands clean of recent controversy that dogs the sector- is on a strong footing to make the most of what could be profitable and exciting opportunities.