UNRAVELLING THE SEAMS: FAST FASHION SUPPLY CHAIN DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION
The 2021 International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (International Accord), which grew from the 2013 Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (Bangladesh Accord), provides a viable and potentially transformative mode for resolving fast fashion supply chain labour disputes while offering consumers the ability to combat false sustainability claims, according to the 2019 Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration. The International Accord addresses information asymmetry and the inherent power imbalance between corporate giants, their supply chains, affected individuals and communities, and consumers. Although these regulations are a step in the right direction, there are several limitations preventing widespread change. The International Accord also raises the question whether arbitration is the proper forum to address human rights disputes.
History of fast fashion
Before analysing the effects of the International Accord on the fast fashion industry, it is critical to understand the industry and its impact on people and the environment. Fast fashion is a type of fashion business model that prioritises rapid production of garments for lower consumer costs and which brings runway designs to everyday consumers (Dylan Kelleher, Fast Fashion, Britannica, (2026)). This business model urges consumers to buy clothing more often. According to Greenpeace International, “on average, a typical consumer purchases about 25 pounds of clothing each year resulting in 975 pounds of carbon emissions”.
Oct-Dec 2026 issue
NYIAC