Press release - 26.09.07

Downloand high resolution t-shirt images
Luella Bartley | JPG format | TIF format |
Christian Lacroix | JPG format | TIF format |
betty Jackson | JPG format | TIF format |

Luella Bartley, Christian Lacroix and Betty Jackson have designed exclusive t-shirts for the Environmental Justice Foundation's (EJF) "PICK YOUR COTTON CAREFULLY" campaign to help end abuses linked to global cotton production such as child labour.

The fairly traded and organic t-shirts are being launched at London Fashion Week. Available to advance order at www.ejfoundation.org from the 20th of September, they officially go on sale at London Fashion Weekend for only £30. Produced on Continental Clothing t-shirts guaranteeing the cotton does not come from Uzbekistan, the proceeds go to the campaign to end forced child labour in cotton production.

Worth around $30 billion every year, global cotton production could be improving lives.But both forced and child labour, massive use of toxic pesticides and overuse of the world's water means that cotton is creating misery for millions.
EJF believes environmental security is a human right and campaigns for better clothing labelling that shows country of origin of the cotton fibre as well an EU ban on cotton products made by forced child labour.

Juliette Williams EJF Campaign Director says "EJF believes that the human rights abuses and environmental dangers associated with conventional production is too high a price to pay and calls on all buyers of cotton to “Pick Your Cotton Carefully” and choose organic, fairly traded cotton".

Betty Jackson CBE, Designer says "We are delighted to be able to support this campaign in its very worthwhile fight against some of the terrible injustices that occur around the world. Exploitation of some of the most vulnerable groups in society, especially children, should not be allowed to happen in today's modern world‟

Luella Bartley, Designer of the Year 2006 in Elle and Glamour magazine, says, "Cotton is something that we all take for granted, something that we all probably wear everyday without knowing the environmental damage and impact on poverty it has. I feel that we should all make an effort to be more conscious of where our cotton comes from".

Christian Lacroix, Designer says "It is the duty of the designer to be aware of such unbearable wrongdoings and to make the most people conscious of this fact. Using the simplest piece of clothing, but also the most universal, the T-shirt is certainly the most efficient way of publicising the plight of these children and act as a warning to consumers."

Earlier in 2007 EJF partnered with fashion designer Katharine Hamnett whose classic slogan t-shirt told people to “Save the Future”. Modelled by campaign supporters Lily Cole and KT Tunstall it brought extensive worldwide publicity to the abuses linked to global cotton production.

EJF has produced two reports and a multiple-award winning film called "White Gold - The True Cost of Cotton" to highlight the problems of forced child labour and environmental devastation caused by Uzbekistan's billion dollar cotton industry and excessive pesticide use on cotton.

EJF will be showcasing the Cotton Campaign at London Fashion Week and Fashion Weekend where visitors will be able to get one of the limited edition exclusive t-shirts and learn more about the campaign.

Learn more, get a t-shirt and support EJF –www.ejfoundation.org
More information and images available - Contact: Environmental Justice Foundation •
Tel: +44 (0)20 7359 0440 • +44 (0)7951 019 504 • info@ejfoundation.org

Downloand high resolution t-shirt images
Luella Bartley | JPG format | TIF format |
Christian Lacroix | JPG format | TIF format |
betty Jackson | JPG format | TIF format |