It's safe to say that Beyoncé's career is bigger than it ever has been right now. Lemonade has been getting rave reviews from everyone who matters, and she's currently dazzling the world with her Formation tour. However, disappointing news has emerged concerning her new activewear range. New reports claim her Topshop Ivy Park collection is being manufactured in Sri Lankan sweatshops.
With Beyoncé and Jay Z worth a reported €964 million combined, it's hard to believe that Bey is only paying her seamstresses $6.20 a day. That may be more than the legal minimum wage in Sri Lanka, but critics have still called it "a form of sweat shop slavery". Factory workers are mostly young women from underprivileged villages who live in boarding houses and work over 60 hours a week out of necessity.
The 228-piece collection features leggings, T-shirts, crop-tops and jackets all designed for fitness and leisure wear. A Topshop spokeswoman said of the allegations;
"Ivy Park has a rigorous ethical trading programme. We expect our suppliers to meet our code of conduct and we support them in achieving these requirements. We are proud of our sustained efforts in terms of factory inspections and audits, and our teams worldwide work very closely with our suppliers and their factories to ensure compliance."
Advertisement
Video: IVY PARK SS16 – Beyoncé ‘Where is your park’
Credit: WeAreIvyPark
