The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed an announcement by Italian sportswear giant Lotto that it is to stop sourcing clothes from Burma.
Clothing exports are an important source of income for Burma’s brutal military dictatorship. The Burma Campaign UK is campaigning to clean the high street of clothing sourced from Burma as part of its campaign to cut the financial lifeline of the regime.
The Burma Campaign UK had warned Lotto that as it sourced clothes from Burma it was to be placed on a ‘Dirty List’ of companies helping to finance Burma’s dictatorship. The updated ‘Dirty List’ will be published on August 20th.
In a letter to the Burma Campaign, Lotto said it had not been aware that a subcontractor had been sourcing from Burma, and that would ‘strictly intervene’ to end production in the country.
“Lotto have done the right thing and we congratulate them for it,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “Most big brands and retailers now have policies of not sourcing from Burma as British customers expect high ethical standards.”
Earlier this year Kookai and Bonmarché announced they would no longer source from Burma. Other major retailers with policies not to source from Burma include Marks & Spencer, H&M, BHS, Next, Clarkes, Oasis, and Warehouse.
Lotto are the official footwear supplier for the Wimbledon tennis championship, and kit supplier to Italian football team Juventus.
For more information contact Yvette Mahon, Director of Burma Campaign UK, or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377