green is the colour of money...

but not if you're from Sri Lanka, India or Bangladesh and you work for the Arcadia Group. So Sir Philip Green has been rumbled. This time it's not for his services to the British Empire or is it? Apparently an article in The Sunday Times (it is the Sunday papers you know!) on 12/8/07 reported that migrant workers in South Asia are being duped by agencies employed by Green's Arcadia Group with the promise of better wages for working in Mauritian factories. The report found that "better wages" amounted to less then £5.00 for a 12 hour work day 40% less than the average local wage. Of course Green (with envy) has vowed to investigate claims immediately.



This is not the first time Arcadia or any other major High Street brand has come under fire for unfair pay and conditions. But what can we really do about it and how can we create change? Time Out listed Potassium as one of the 10 most ethical retailers in an article in April 2007 and in the Time Out Shopping Guide commented on us "standing out" for our commitment to environmental and ethical sourcing.



Trust me this is not easy, particularly if you're a 20 month old business. In my previous life my corporate employers worked as much as they could to ensure that a fair price was paid for product and that working conditions were regulated. Having travelled to a few factories in my time, I was able to see first hand what my employers' endeavours tried to accomplish. Factory reports were filed, boxes checked, and random QC inspections undertaken. What it all boiled down to at the end however was the price and ultimately the margin after all that's what made the company work and ensured my pay check came regularly.



Now I'm in a different position completely. I haven't had a pay check since March 2005, but I am still committed to working fairly with our "partners." I always pay our invoices on time particularly where the vendor is an individual or new designer/business. I ask vendors for their policy on ethical and environmental sourcing (it's amazing how many people stumble in the first sentence on this one - which is always a sign) and I have been known to challenge a vendor or two on their pricing looking at it purely from the point of view of the customer - sure there's luxury but there's also blatant theft.



And the sustainable issue is an interesting one too. "Let's create a sustainable Eco-friendly, green, low carbon emission, recycled, thing!" So was the cry of many last year once they realised that green really is the colour of money. Strange though that when you really look at a "green" product it's quite often only partly so. Potassium has done limited product development but I am proud that our organic cotton tee-shirts are soil association certified, and that our soy candles are in a recyclable tin that arrive by sea not plane, and are made by an organisation that promotes a return to work for physically/mentally challenged individuals.

So what do you make of the whole Eco/fair trade vibe that's in the market. Are you prepared to pay a premium for product that is ethically and environmentally sourced, and which of the two are most important to you? Do you trust the High Street to deliver the goods in the right way and is green really the colour of money?