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| ==Corporate awards== | ==Corporate awards== | ||
| It won the ].<ref name="monsoon1"/> | It won the ].<ref name="monsoon1"/> | ||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| === Building collapse at Savar === | |||
| {{main|2013 Savar building collapse}} | |||
| On 24 April 2013, the eight-story ''Rana Plaza'' commercial building collapsed in ], a ] near ], the capital of ]. At least 1,127 people died and over 2,438 were injured.<ref>{{Citation | title = Bangladesh building collapse: An end to recovery efforts, a promise of a new start | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/14/world/asia/bangladesh-building-collapse-aftermath/ | last1 = Ahmed| first1 = Saeed | last2 = Lakhani | first2 = Leone | accessdate = 16 December 2013 | work=CNN | date=14 June 2013}}</ref> The factory housed a number of separate garment factories employing around 5,000 people, several shops, and a bank<ref name=guardian>{{Cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/24/bangladesh-building-collapse-kills-garment-workers| work = ] | title = Matalan supplier among manufacturers in Bangladesh building collapse | first= Syed | last= Zain Al-Mahmood | accessdate = 21 October 2013 | date = 24 April 2013 | location=London}}</ref> and manufactured apparel for brands including the ], ],<ref name=forbes></ref> ], Primark and ].<ref name=telegraph>{{Cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/bangladesh/10014778/Bangladesh-building-collapse-kills-at-least-82-in-Dhaka.html | work = ] | accessdate = 24 April 2013 | date = 24 April 2013 | title = Bangladesh building collapse kills at least 82 in Dhaka| first =Dean | last = Nelson | location=London}}</ref><ref name=usatoday>{{Cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/04/24/bangladesh-building-collapse/2108727/ | work=] | accessdate = 24 April 2013 | date = 24 April 2013 | title = At least 87 dead in Bangladesh building collapse| first = Julhas | last = Alam }}</ref> Of the 29 brands identified as having sourced products from the Rana Plaza factories, only 9 attended meetings held in November 2013 to agree a proposal on compensation to the victims. Several companies refused to sign including Walmart, Carrefour, Mango, Auchan and Kik. The agreement was signed by Primark, Loblaw, Bonmarché and El Corte Ingles.<ref name=Ovi2013>{{Citation | title = Buyers' compensation for Rana Plaza victims far from reality | url = http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2013/nov/17/buyers%E2%80%99-compensation-rana-plaza-victims-far-reality | year = 2013 | author = Ovi, Ibrahim Hossain | accessdate = 16 December 2013}}</ref> | |||
| === Supplier payment practices === | |||
| It emerged in 2013, that it charged suppliers a rebate of up to 4% on all invoices as well as a further charge of up to 10% for early payment.<ref name="printweek1">{{cite web|url=http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1136081/monsoon-accessorize-criticised-mandatory-supplier-rebate |title=Monsoon Accessorize criticised for mandatory supplier rebate |publisher=PrintWeek |date= |accessdate=2014-05-03}}</ref> It was later revealed that it also charged suppliers a rebate of up to 4% on all invoices in 2012 and 2013.<ref name="printweek1"/> The UK high-street based retailer was criticised in 2013 by the British ] over changes to its payment terms and charges on suppliers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.just-style.com/news/monsoon-faces-criticism-over-supplier-terms_id117073.aspx |title=Monsoon faces criticism over supplier terms |publisher=Just-style.com |date=2013-02-25 |accessdate=2014-05-03}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 17:04, 7 January 2015
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| Company type | High Street Retailer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Peter Simon |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Products | Women's Apparel, Kids Apparel, Accessories, Homeware. |
| Owner | Peter Simon |
| Divisions | Monsoon. Accessorize. |
| Website | Monsoon website Accessorize website |
Monsoon Accessorize is a design-led retailer based in London, operating two international retail clothing chains - Monsoon and Accessorize
Monsoon Accessorize is a design-led retailer based in London operating two international retail clothing chains-Monsoon and Accessorize. Monsoon Monsoon was founded in 1973 by Peter Simon who brought hand-crafted and folk-inspired fashion to London, after travelling the globe and setting up a stall on the Portobello Road. The original focus was always on clothes with an ethnic origin from faraway places, such as India and Afghanistan, and the very early collections were made from hand-loomed cotton in Indian villages.
The first Monsoon store was opened in Beauchamp Place, in Knightsbridge. Accessorize followed in 1984, producing high street accessories with a profoundly different aesthetic to what was found on the high street at the time. Monsoon Home was launched in 1999, creating innovative and individual home accessories and girt range. Monsoon Childrenswear arrived in 1995, and extended to include baby wear in 2003 and 2006, Monsoon Fusion was added to the family. Fusion is a capsule collection of younger, more tend-led pieces but still featuring Monsoon’s signature hand-writing of embellishment an embroidery. More recently, Monsoon extended its Bridal and Occasionwear collection to cater for the more specialist end of the market. Today there are over 340 (currently 343) Monsoon and Accessorize stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland and over 1053 throughout the world in 74 markets.
In June 2001, the business moved to the “Monsoon Building” in Paddington bringing together the central functions for the first time in 8 years. The building, originally commissioned by British Rail, was designed by Paul Hamilton in 1969. Known as the “battleship”, it had been a familiar landmark to drivers on the Westway. Abandoned and empty since 1990, it has now been brought back to life by Peter Simon and won the 2002 Building of the Year Award.
In 2008, the business moved to a new purpose-built eco-friendly office ‘The Yellow Building` located in Notting Dale Village, a stone’s throw from where the company was first established.
Accessorize In the early 1980`s Monsoon started to sell a small collection of accessories which became so popular that the idea for the innovative new store format Accessorize was born. The first Accessorize store opened in London`s Covent Garden Piazza in 1984 and the second in Carnaby Street in 1986. 1992 saw the first Accessorize store outside London with a store opening in Manchester. Today there are currently 248 Accessorize stores in the UK and an international operation of over 1053 stores; including locations in Russia, China, South and North America, South Africa, Europe and the Middle-East. With its own in-house design team, Accessorize holds a unique position on the high street with its inspirational, globally sourced, well-priced and good quality collection of fashion accessories. Displayed in an original and impactful colour-bay design, the constantly changing range includes every kind of accessory imaginable; bags, purses, jewellery, belts, hats, scarves, flip-flops, gloves, hair accessories and cosmetics.
E-Commerce & Multi-Channel Platforms Monsoon and Accessorize currently have transactional websites in several countries, including the USA, Denmark, France and Russia-and delivers to a worldwide base from its UK site.
Heritage & Ethics Whilst Monsoon may have grown into a global company, with over 1000 stores, it is still known for hand-crafted products with intricate hand embroidery and embellishment. While much of its production has shifted to larger factories, Monsoon still trades with some of its original Indian suppliers and had helped them to grow with the business. Monsoon is a founder member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) established in 1999, and is committed to ensuring high ethical standards across it supply chain. It was rated a `Leader` or `Achiever` by the ETI against its assessment criteria in 2010.
Our Code
Our code, based on Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code standards, sets minimum requirements in workers’ rights and conditions. These include: No forced labour Freedom of association Safe and hygienic working conditions No child labour Fair wages Fair working hours No discrimination, intimidation, abuse or harassment
Angora
As of November 2014, we no longer use angora in our production. This follows detailed audits of the farms used by our suppliers during 2013-14. These audits confirmed that live plucking was not used anywhere in our supply chain and that our supplier farms took great care to ensure that the shearing process did not cause stress or injury. However, despite the above, we recognise that some of our customers still feel uncomfortable with the continued inclusion of angora in our ranges so have decided to end all future use.
The Monsoon Accessorize Trust
The company also supports disadvantaged artisans through its own charity, the Monsoon Accessorize Trust. Set up in 1994 to mark the company`s 21st birthday, the Trust helps over 10,000 woman and children in Asia every year, focusing on communities where the company has trading links. This includes an immunisation project, reaching 5,000 children in Rajasthan, a homeless shelter for abandoned girls in Delhi and a project to help re-cultivate the silk industry in Afghanistan.
Details of projects:
We also provide technical support and market access for a number of artisan co-operatives and social enterprises. In addition to the important relationship we’ve built with the SEWA Embroidery Centre, each of the following organisations has received support from us. In turn, they’re augmenting our extensive core supply chain by becoming suppliers for our ARTISAN range: NOAH’S ARK – a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), this social enterprise was established in 1986 to help lift artisans out of poverty.
SADHNA – a collective in Udaipur (Rajasthan) which provides income opportunities for desert artisans specialising in intricate embroidery.
SAMARPAN FOUNDATION – a body providing education and employment opportunities for women from a rag-picker community in Delhi.
TARA – a member of the WFTO, committed to helping disadvantaged producers across North India. Its artisans specialise in jewellery, brass, soapstone and wood products.
ASHIANA – a not-for-profit organization creating and sustaining livelihoods in jewellery-making for women affected by HIV/AIDS in a Delhi slum area.
Artisan A Monsoon initiative that is much more than a label. Often denoting up to 20 or more hours of hand-work on a single piece, ARTISAN signposts our commitment to sustaining traditional craft techniques as well as creating livelihoods. Most ARTISAN pieces are hand-crafted by our suppliers’ networks of skilled craftspeople. But, each season, we also select some ARTISAN pieces to be made with our charity partners such as the SEWA Embroidery Centre in Delhi, which provides employment and support for disadvantaged local women. In all cases, ARTISAN helps sustain, nurture and cherish age-old hand-work traditions – ensuring that the skilled craftspeople are properly rewarded for their wonderful work.
Clothes for Life For the past five years, Monsoon has run the Clothes for Life scheme for customers and the New Life charity. Customers can bring back their old Monsoon garments in exchange for a £10.00 voucher refundable off their next purchase (on a spend of £50.00 and over). The clothes are then collected by New Life – a UK based charity supporting disabled children – and either sold or recycled.
Management
Monsoon Accessorize's chief executive, as of 2014, is John Browett.
Monsoon has continued to work with many of its suppliers for more than 40 years, including many in India and Asia.
Stores
There were 388 Monsoon and Accessorize stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland by 2013 and 400 in the and over 1,000 throughout the world by 2014. They are in the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, Austria, Germany, Russia,Australia, Brazil, The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Gibraltar, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, the Middle East, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria and the UAE.
Charity work
The Monsoon Accessorize Trust, to help women and children in Asia. Charity projects for 2013, including a project to help revitalise the local silk cultivation industry in Afghanistan.
Green issues
Monsoon has only ever used humanly grown angoras wool.
Corporate awards
It won the Queen’s Award in Enterprise for International Trade.
References
- ^ http://uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/content/our-company
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