Fast-fashion retailer Boohoo has been found to have put “Made in the UK” labels on clothes that were actually made in South Asia, according to a BBC Panorama investigation. The clothes, including plain T-shirts and hoodies, had their original labels removed at Boohoo’s flagship factory in Leicester. The mislabelling occurred between January and October 2023 and could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of garments. Boohoo claims that this was an isolated incident due to human error and that steps have been taken to prevent it from happening again.

The mislabelling of the garments has raised concerns about the company’s inspection processes. Chris Grayer, a former head of supplier ethical compliance at Next, stated that such a failure of inspection would result in a recall of the garments and the correction of labels. Sylvia Rook from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute also highlighted that replacing country-of-origin labels with “Made in the UK” labels could mislead consumers. Philip Dunne MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, called the labelling findings a serious allegation and emphasized the importance of not misleading consumers about the source of garments.

In addition to the mislabelling issue, Boohoo is reportedly considering the closure of its Leicester factory. The factory, which opened in 2022 and was promoted as a UK manufacturing center of excellence, is Boohoo’s only manufacturing site in the UK. The potential closure has raised concerns about the future of sustainable and ethical fashion production in the country. Boohoo has previously faced criticism for poor working conditions and low wages at its suppliers. The company pledged to overhaul its practices in 2020, but the recent labelling controversy raises questions about its commitment to ethical manufacturing.

Overall, the mislabelling of garments and the potential closure of Boohoo’s Leicester factory have brought attention to the company’s practices and raised concerns about its commitment to ethical fashion production. The investigation highlights the need for stricter inspection processes and transparency in the fashion industry to ensure that consumers are not misled and workers are treated fairly.

Original news source: Boohoo put ‘Made in UK’ labels on clothes made overseas (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, have them work together to write a brief summary of the article, highlighting the key points. Afterward, ask each group to present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group will be given a statement related to the article, such as “The mislabelling of garments is a serious ethical issue.” Have each group discuss the statement and come up with their own opinions. Then, conduct a class poll by asking each group to share their opinion and explain their reasoning.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article, such as “mislabelling,” “inspection,” “ethical,” and “commitment.” Divide the class into teams and give each team a word. Instruct them to draw a picture representing the word without using any letters or numbers. The other teams must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to argue the pros of Boohoo’s actions, such as “It helps keep the prices of clothes affordable” or “It supports job creation in South Asia.” Assign the other group to argue the cons, such as “It misleads consumers” or “It takes away jobs from UK workers.” Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm their arguments, and then have them take turns presenting their points to the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the class discuss the potential consequences of Boohoo’s mislabelling and the potential closure of its Leicester factory. Ask them to make predictions about the future of the company and the fashion industry in general. Encourage them to consider the impact on consumers, workers, and the environment.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the BBC Panorama investigation reveal about Boohoo’s labeling practices?
2. How long did the mislabelling of the garments occur for?
3. What steps has Boohoo claimed to have taken to prevent the mislabelling from happening again?
4. What concerns have been raised about Boohoo’s inspection processes?
5. What would typically happen if there was a failure of inspection like this?
6. What potential impact could the mislabelling have on consumers?
7. What is the potential consequence for Boohoo’s Leicester factory?
8. What previous criticisms has Boohoo faced regarding its practices in the fashion industry?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Fast-fashion retailer (1)______ has been found to have put “Made in the UK” labels on clothes that were actually made in South Asia, according to a BBC Panorama investigation. The clothes, including plain T-shirts and hoodies, had their original labels removed at Boohoo’s flagship factory in Leicester. The mislabelling occurred between January and October 2023 and could potentially (2)______ hundreds of thousands of garments. Boohoo claims that this was an isolated incident due to human (3)______ and that steps have been (4)______ to prevent it from happening again.

The mis(5)______ of the (6)______ has raised concerns about the company’s inspection processes. Chris Grayer, a former head of supplier ethical compliance at Next, stated that such a failure of inspection would result in a recall of the garments and the correction of (7)______. Sylvia Rook from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute also highlighted that replacing country-of-origin labels with “Made in the UK” labels could (8)______ consumers. Philip Dunne MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, called the labelling findings a serious allegation and emphasized the importance of not misleading consumers about the source of garments.

In addition to the (9)______ issue, Boohoo is reportedly considering the (10)______ of its Leicester factory. The factory, which opened in 2022 and was promoted as a UK (11)______ center of excellence, is Boohoo’s only manufacturing site in the UK. The potential closure has raised concerns about the future of sustainable and ethical fashion production in the country. Boohoo has previously (12)______ criticism for poor working conditions and low wages at its suppliers. The company pledged to (13)______ its (14)______ in 2020, but the recent labelling controversy raises (15)______ about its commitment to ethical manufacturing.

Overall, the mislabelling of garments and the potential closure of Boohoo’s Leicester factory have brought attention to the company’s practices and raised (16)______ about its commitment to ethical fashion production. The investigation highlights the need for stricter inspection processes and transparency in the fashion industry to ensure that consumers are not misled and workers are treated fairly.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the mislabelling of garments by Boohoo?
2. How would you feel if you discovered that a brand you trusted had mislabelled their products?
3. Do you think the mislabelling incident was really just a result of human error? Why or why not?
4. What steps do you think should be taken to prevent mislabelling in the fashion industry?
5. How important is it to you to know the country of origin of the clothes you buy? Why?
6. Do you think the potential closure of Boohoo’s Leicester factory will have a negative impact on sustainable and ethical fashion production in the UK? Why or why not?
7. What are some ways that fashion brands can ensure ethical manufacturing practices?
8. How do you think the mislabelling incident will affect Boohoo’s reputation?
9. Do you think stricter inspection processes and transparency are necessary in the fashion industry? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever had an experience where a product you bought was mislabelled? How did it make you feel?
11. What do you think should be the consequences for brands that mislabel their products?
12. How important is it to you to support brands that prioritize ethical manufacturing? Why or why not?
13. Do you think the fashion industry as a whole needs to improve its practices when it comes to ethical manufacturing? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the mislabelling incident will impact consumer trust in Boohoo?
15. What can consumers do to ensure that they are supporting brands that prioritize ethical fashion production?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fast-fashion
2. investigation
3. garments
4. mislabelling
5. flagship
6. isolated
7. compliance
8. recall
9. misleading
10. allegation
11. sustainable
12. ethical
13. overhaul
14. transparency
15. controversy

Meanings:
(A) Incorrectly labeling or identifying a product
(B) Capable of being maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting natural resources or harming the environment
(C) A systematic examination or inquiry
(D) A prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion
(E) Occurring alone or once, not part of a larger group or recurring pattern
(F) Causing someone to believe something that is not true
(G) To thoroughly examine and make necessary repairs or improvements
(H) Pertaining to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these
(I) A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof
(J) The act of conforming to rules or standards
(K) The most important or primary location for a company’s operations or activities
(L) A term used to describe clothing collections which are designed and manufactured quickly to allow the mainstream consumer to buy current clothing styles at a lower price
(M) To bring back a product from consumers for correction or safety reasons
(N) Articles of clothing
(O) The quality of being open and honest; free from deceit
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did a BBC Panorama investigation reveal about Boohoo?
(a) They closed their Leicester factory.
(b) They faced criticism for poor working conditions.
(c) They put “Made in the UK” labels on clothes made in South Asia.
(d) They pledged to overhaul their practices in 2020.

2. When did the mislabelling of the garments occur?
(a) Between January and October 2023.
(b) Between January and October 2022.
(c) Between January and October 2021.
(d) Between January and October 2020.

3. What did Chris Grayer, a former head of supplier ethical compliance at Next, say about the mislabelling?
(a) It would result in a recall of the garments and the correction of labels.
(b) It was an isolated incident due to human error.
(c) It raised concerns about the company’s inspection processes.
(d) It could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of garments.

4. What did Sylvia Rook from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute highlight about the mislabelling?
(a) It would result in a recall of the garments and the correction of labels.
(b) It raised concerns about the company’s inspection processes.
(c) It could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of garments.
(d) It could mislead consumers.

5. What did Philip Dunne MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, say about the labelling findings?
(a) They were an isolated incident due to human error.
(b) They were a serious allegation.
(c) They could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of garments.
(d) They raised concerns about the company’s inspection processes.

6. What is Boohoo reportedly considering?
(a) The closure of its South Asian factory.
(b) The closure of its Leicester factory.
(c) The opening of a new factory in the UK.
(d) The opening of a new factory in South Asia.

7. When did Boohoo’s Leicester factory open?
(a) 2021.
(b) 2020.
(c) 2022.
(d) 2019.

8. What has Boohoo previously faced criticism for?
(a) Mislabelling of garments.
(b) Closing its Leicester factory.
(c) Pledging to overhaul its practices in 2020.
(d) Poor working conditions and low wages at its suppliers.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The mislabelling occurred between January and October 2022.
2. The mislabelling has raised concerns about Boohoo’s inspection processes.
3. Boohoo claims that the mislabelling was an isolated incident due to human error.
4. The mislabelling could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of garments.
5. Boohoo is not considering the closure of its Leicester factory, which is its only manufacturing site in the UK.
6. The potential closure of the Leicester factory has not raised concerns about the future of sustainable and ethical fashion production in the country.
7. Chris Grayer, a former head of supplier ethical compliance at Next, stated that a successful inspection would result in a recall of the garments and correction of labels.
8. Boohoo has been found to have mislabelled clothes made in South Asia as “Made in the UK”.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What did the BBC Panorama investigation reveal about Boohoo’s clothing labels?
2. When did the mislabelling of garments occur, according to the investigation?
3. What concerns have been raised about Boohoo’s inspection processes?
4. Why is the potential closure of Boohoo’s Leicester factory concerning?
5. What previous criticisms has Boohoo faced regarding its manufacturing practices?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The BBC Panorama investigation revealed that Boohoo had put “Made in the UK” labels on clothes that were actually made in South Asia.
2. The mislabelling of the garments occurred between January and October 2023.
3. Boohoo claims to have taken steps to prevent the mislabelling from happening again, stating that it was an isolated incident due to human error.
4. Concerns have been raised about Boohoo’s inspection processes, as the mislabelling of the garments suggests a failure in the company’s inspection procedures.
5. If there was a failure of inspection like this, a recall of the garments would typically occur and the labels would be corrected.
6. The mislabelling could mislead consumers about the source of the garments, potentially affecting their purchasing decisions.
7. The potential consequence for Boohoo’s Leicester factory is closure, as the company is reportedly considering shutting down the factory.
8. Boohoo has faced previous criticisms for poor working conditions and low wages at its suppliers. The company pledged to overhaul its practices in 2020, but the recent labelling controversy raises questions about its commitment to ethical manufacturing.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Boohoo
(2) affect
(3) error
(4) taken
(5) labelling
(6) garments
(7) labels
(8) mislead
(9) mislabelling
(10) closure
(11) manufacturing
(12) faced
(13) overhaul
(14) practices
(15) questions
(16) concerns
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fast-fashion
Answer: (L) A term used to describe clothing collections which are designed and manufactured quickly to allow the mainstream consumer to buy current clothing styles at a lower price

2. investigation
Answer: (C) A systematic examination or inquiry

3. garments
Answer: (N) Articles of clothing

4. mislabelling
Answer: (A) Incorrectly labeling or identifying a product

5. flagship
Answer: (K) The most important or primary location for a company’s operations or activities

6. isolated
Answer: (E) Occurring alone or once, not part of a larger group or recurring pattern

7. compliance
Answer: (J) The act of conforming to rules or standards

8. recall
Answer: (M) To bring back a product from consumers for correction or safety reasons

9. misleading
Answer: (F) Causing someone to believe something that is not true

10. allegation
Answer: (I) A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof

11. sustainable
Answer: (B) Capable of being maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting natural resources or harming the environment

12. ethical
Answer: (H) Pertaining to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these

13. overhaul
Answer: (G) To thoroughly examine and make necessary repairs or improvements

14. transparency
Answer: (O) The quality of being open and honest; free from deceit

15. controversy
Answer: (D) A prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did a BBC Panorama investigation reveal about Boohoo?
Answer: (c) They put “Made in the UK” labels on clothes made in South Asia.

2. When did the mislabelling of the garments occur?
Answer: (a) Between January and October 2023.

3. What did Chris Grayer, a former head of supplier ethical compliance at Next, say about the mislabelling?
Answer: (a) It would result in a recall of the garments and the correction of labels.

4. What did Sylvia Rook from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute highlight about the mislabelling?
Answer: (d) It could mislead consumers.

5. What did Philip Dunne MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, say about the labelling findings?
Answer: (b) They were a serious allegation.

6. What is Boohoo reportedly considering?
Answer: (b) The closure of its Leicester factory.

7. When did Boohoo’s Leicester factory open?
Answer: (c) 2022.

8. What has Boohoo previously faced criticism for?
Answer: (d) Poor working conditions and low wages at its suppliers.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The mislabelling occurred between January and October 2022. (Answer: False)
2. The mislabelling has raised concerns about Boohoo’s inspection processes. (Answer: True)
3. Boohoo claims that the mislabelling was an isolated incident due to human error. (Answer: True)
4. The mislabelling could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of garments. (Answer: True)
5. Boohoo is not considering the closure of its Leicester factory, which is its only manufacturing site in the UK. (Answer: False)
6. The potential closure of the Leicester factory has not raised concerns about the future of sustainable and ethical fashion production in the country. (Answer: False)
7. Chris Grayer, a former head of supplier ethical compliance at Next, stated that a successful inspection would result in a recall of the garments and correction of labels. (Answer: False)
8. Boohoo has been found to have mislabelled clothes made in South Asia as “Made in the UK”. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧