The founder of Karen Millen today hit out at the state of the fashion industry in the wake of sweatshop allegations engulfing the brand’s current parent Boohoo.
The clothing entrepreneur set up her eponymous brand with ex-husband Kevin Stanford in 1981, sold it to Icelandic investors in 2004 and has not been involved since. It has changed hands several times since and Boohoo took ownership last year.
Millen told the Standard “greed has forced its way to the forefront” of the industry and consumers are “ignorant” in believing bargain basement clothes can be sold without a human cost.
Boohoo has this week faced fresh claims of malpractice in its supply chain after a Sunday Times investigation reported a Leicester supplier of its Nasty Gal label was not practising social distancing and paying workers £3.50. Boohoo denied some of the claims but hired a QC to probe its supply