Spanish-based global brand ZARA was recently accused by Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU), an affiliate of the IndustriALL Global Union, of producing designs with a strong similarity to a local designer’s collection.
Zara conceded to its guilt by withdrawing some of the merchandise that had appeared in stores in South Africa, the US and UK.
SACTWU is now urging Zara to work with local designers and clothing factories to create more jobs in the garment sector.
According to the union, the “cut-and-paste” of designs by big multinational companies ignores the “little folk” whose businesses are vulnerable to such practices and can collapse as a result. The union argues that the niche market is the lifeblood of small boutique brands and can be easily killed off by mass production by big retailers like Zara.
