It is working in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Uzbekista, said: “Continental Clothing has become, to my knowledge, the first large scale mainstream clothing company to ensure that none of its cotton comes from Uzbekistan.

“Uzbek cotton is a state monopoly, relying on slave labour and the forced labour of hundreds of thousands of children working in appalling conditions for little, or often no pay. Continental is to be congratulated on this initiative.”

The company is following the advice of the EJF, and in September will begin to label all its garments with the 'Country of Origin' of the cotton (normally it is the country of manufacture of the garment which is shown on the label), in order to assure consumers that the cotton does not originate from Uzbekistan, which is the world's second largest exporter of raw cotton.

Continental Clothing director Philip Charles said: “As a large user of cotton, Continental Clothing has an opportunity, if not a responsibility, to raise awareness and promote consumer action on issues where we feel strongly.

“It costs us nothing to change our labels, but it might make consumers question the T-shirts they buy, encouraging them to buy cotton Tshirts which guarantee that certain positive social and environmental conditions are met.”

Charles urged other manufacturers to get involved and help force change. He can be contaced at: philcontinental@mac.com.

For more information go to www.ejfoundation.org/cotton.

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