General Pants joins protest

General Pants is the latest retailer to call into question a report into ethical fashion.

Baptist World Aid released its latest survey into the industry this week, condemning major retailers over production standards.

However, several have since lashed out at the credibility of the organisation's Behind the Barcode (BTB) Project.

"It seems that BTB has not actually done any research or produced any actual findings, nor does it have any publically available information, to support its outrageous claims," General Pants said in a statement.

"Instead, it has apparently only emailed a questionnaire to retailers (including General Pants Group) informing them that if they do not complete that questionnaire they will be given a grading of “F” in the published report.

"BTB has stated in writing to General Pants Group that, in the absence of a response, a grading of “F” would automatically apply.

"General Pants Group elected not to respond to the questionnaire because it doubted the genuineness and integrity of BTB’s processes (and that doubt has been totally vindicated by the grossly improper and unfair report which BTB has issued).

I"f BTB in fact had any publically available information, it would have found that General Pants Group’s chief supplier APG (the owner of a number of the retailers mentioned in the report), is amongst the highest rated companies identified in the report.

"BTB would also have found that there is absolutely no justification for classifying General Pants Group with an “F” in the grossly misleading and deceptive manner in which the entire survey has been conducted including the threatening nature of its compliance."