Allegations that fast fashion giant Boohoo was found to be using modern slavery to make it’s clothes in a Leicester sweatshop rocked retail this month - however, few were surprised. Leicester’s rogue rag trade has been an open secret in the UK fashion industry for years. 

However, the fresh media coverage has brought renewed attention to the ethics of fashion’s supply chain both at home and abroad -  particularly within fast fashion.

Using complex supply chains to produce huge volumes of clothing at low prices in super fast time frames creates many ethical challenges that are difficult to manage.

Meanwhile, lockdown has quelled consumerism for many and led some to a rethink how they buy clothing. Could this be the moment that the fashion industry is turned on its head and what is termed as slow fashion - whereby clothing are designed and made to be sustainable and long-lasting using slower production - rises to the fore?