Boohoo put ‘Made in UK’ labels on clothes made in Asia, investigation reveals
Fashion retailer Boohoo put ‘Made in the UK’ labels on items of clothing made in South Asia, a BBC investigation has revealed.
A Panorama investigation found the retailer removed the original labels on T-shirts and hoodies at the retailer’s factory at Thurmaston Lane in Leicester between January and October last year. A spokesperson for Boohoo, which has its headquarters in Manchester, told the BBC the mislabelling was an ‘isolated incident’ and a result of ‘human error’.
“We have taken steps to ensure this does not happen again”, they added. The retailer is now reportedly considering closing its Leicester factory and relocating operations.
The company said less than 100 employees at the Thurmaston Lane factory may be impacted by the closure and it expects ‘some roles will be relocated’.
Boohoo said the plans to shut the site were not related to the findings of the Panorama investigation, adding that due to ‘significant investments’ at its Sheffield and US distribution centres, it must take steps to ensure it is a ‘more efficient, productive and strengthened business’.
In November last year, a Panorama investigation claimed an undercover reporter working for the business found employees pressuring suppliers to reduce prices even after deals had been agreed and that Boohoo Group’s Leicester factory had been subcontracting orders to Morocco.
