South Africa Asks H&M to Consider Buying from Local Suppliers

South African Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel says the department has made a proposal to global clothing retailer H&M to consider buying goods from local suppliers.

“Last year, H&M, the world’s second largest clothing retailer, marketed a sweatshirt with offensive language.

“When we engaged H&M in the weeks that followed, we noted that they imported everything in store,” the Minister said in a media briefing on Thursday. (It is the same with H&M stores around the world in many other countries.)

“Following their apology and as part of reorienting the H&M worldview of Africa, we have proposed that they atone very practically by sourcing goods from South Africa.”

The Minister said the global clothing retailer has agreed to send a procurement team to South Africa “within the next few weeks” to visit potential local suppliers.

Source: SAnews.gov.za