THRREADS (Transforming Responsive and Relational Autonomy in the Garment Sector of the United Kingdom and Bangladesh) is a collaborative initiative to create a fairer, safer, and more responsible garment sector globally. We place thrust on workplace autonomy and value all stakeholders who are key to the production of our clothing and to the communities where they live. The THRREADS Project team continually seeks ways to enhance our understanding and improve our work to make a meaningful impact in our target communities.
Our project was initiated to profoundly investigate the intricate historical and contemporary connections between the garment industry in Leicester, UK, and Dhaka, Bangladesh. These two cities are critical nodes in the global fashion supply chain, representing the opportunities and challenges of a highly interconnected global north-south industry. With its rich history of textile production, Leicester and Dhaka, a significant hub for garment manufacturing, highlight the complex dynamics of globalisation, where economic, social, and environmental issues intersect. In these two hubs, diverse stakeholders—including garment workers, factory owners, manufacturers, community organisations, labour unions, policymakers, and brand representatives—play vital roles in shaping the industry's future. Each stakeholder brings unique perspectives and faces distinct challenges, underscoring the need for collaborative approaches to address systemic issues such as exploitative labour practices, unsafe working conditions, and the impact of production processes. By fostering open communication and harnessing the collective power of all stakeholders, the industry can evolve toward a future that balances economic growth with ethical practices.
Our launch began in 2024 by engaging community stakeholders, including Fashion-workers Advice Bureau Leicester (FAB-L) and Apparel and The Association of Textiles Manufacturers Federation (ATMF) in Leicester and connecting with our fellow participants in Dhaka online. We shared memories, ideas, and aspirations about potential improvements in the garment industry. The event was marked by warmth, local hospitality provided by the generous and community spirit of Leicester’s rich heritage which was demonstrative of local and global collaboration as key for sustainable businesses and communities.
As we begin 2025, and into the second year of our project, we would like to highlight another significant achievement we have attained, which underscores our commitment to excellence in the way in which we practise our embedded research and impact culture. To ensure the effective execution of our activities, we have invested in extensive training for our team members. This training is designed to enhance our skills and promote an approach that is thoughtful, empathetic, compassionate, and respectful toward all individuals we engage with. We recognise the importance of supporting workers who may have endured difficult or traumatic experiences. Our training emphasises the necessity of approaching their narratives with profound empathy and care, ensuring that we fully understand their circumstances. Furthermore, we are acutely aware of the potential presence of modern slavery in some accounts. Therefore, we must treat these individuals with the highest degree of compassion, safeguarding their dignity and fostering an environment of trust and support.
Before we dive into the details of our training, we would like to introduce you to a remarkable non-profit organisation that has guided us in this direction: Hope for Justice.
Hope for Justice
Hope for Justice is a charity dedicated to ending modern slavery worldwide. They focus on preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, helping survivors rebuild their lives, and advocating for significant societal changes. Their mission is to ensure everyone can live and work without fear, including those who produce our clothing. Hope for Justice has a team of experts who understand the complex nature of forced labour, human trafficking, and other forms of modern slavery. They are kind, patient, and dedicated to sharing their knowledge with others. They know that change comes when many groups—businesses, governments, community leaders, researchers, and everyday people—join forces. Through such a learning, we better understand the hidden struggles in supply chains and find ways to support those who need help at a time when we encounter horrific stories of Modern Slavery around us.
This is what Hope for Justice had to say:
Earlier in 2024 Hope for Justice, a charity fighting human trafficking and supporting survivors worldwide, had the privilege of facilitating two blended training sessions for the University of Essex. Both sessions offered invaluable training to equip delegates with essential knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to the signs of modern slavery and human trafficking. There was superb engagement from participants which included pre-modules online, a virtual session and post-modules to complete each course (Lee Gould, Digital Learning Specialist, Hope for Justice).
For us at the THRREADS team, this is precisely the type of guidance we need. Our effort isn’t only a research project – it’s about the social, cultural and community integration. Practically, we will interact with garment workers, factory owners, community members, and others. For some of the people that we might be in contact with, they may have experienced difficult times. They may have faced harsh work environments, unjust treatment, or even abuse. We want to ensure that we care about their issues and talk to them with the proper understanding.
To prepare ourselves, we took part in two special CPD-certified courses:
- Modern Slavery Awareness Training: Modern slavery can take many forms, including forced labour and human trafficking. Unfortunately, it remains a reality in various industries, such as garment production. This training provided us with a solid foundation for understanding what modern slavery is, how it occurs, and the steps to take if we suspect it. We learned to identify common signs of exploitation, the importance of proper reporting, and the vital role of collaborating with local and global partners. By gaining this knowledge, we are better equipped to recognise warning signs and take appropriate action when we encounter them.
- Trauma-Informed Listening (Disclosure Encounter) Training: This course helped us understand trauma and how it can affect individuals. Many workers in the garment industry face challenging conditions, and some have painful stories they may wish to share. Trauma-informed listening teaches us how to create a safe and supportive space for people to talk when they choose to do so. It guides us in listening without judgment, being patient, and appropriately responding if someone shares a complex or sensitive memory. We want every worker to feel respected and heard. This training taught us to recognise signs of distress and respond in a way that prioritises the person's needs.
Hope for Justice prepared both course materials, and the trainers were experienced and sympathetic. They made the sessions feel honest and open, providing practical strategies to address the issues. This approach encouraged us to delve deeper into the challenges related to modern slavery and the vital task of helping its victims. These issues extend beyond mere recognition; they require practical cooperation. By uniting with organisations like FAB-L in Leicester or worker federations in Dhaka, we can give significant momentum to the movement. It was truly heartwarming that all members of the THRREADS team attended this training despite busy schedules, and it is heartening to note that some of the team members went on to participate in additional assessments to achieve formal CPD recognition. We did this because we are committed about equipping ourselves with the skills necessary for our future work.
Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation
Our partnership with the Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation (GBGWF) from Bangladesh is significant for THRREADs. We were delighted to be joined by GBGWF’s members and enthusiastic participation in both training sessions organized by the THRREADS Research team, led by Dr. Shoba Arun from the University of Essex. GBGWF is a federation comprising 48 trade unions within Bangladesh's textile industry. Since its establishment in 2010, the federation has been dedicated to improving working conditions in the garment sector, with a particular emphasis on empowering female garment workers. Its initiatives focus on strengthening grassroots unions through training and campaigns, fostering leadership development, enhancing union management, and building networks to amplify the effectiveness of union activities.
Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation was delighted to be part of the training with the THRREADS team – “The sessions on ‘Awareness on modern slavery’ and ‘Trauma Informed Disclosure’ helped us identify issues and complexities in the context of Bangladesh, especially among women and other vulnerable groups. It was the first time we, as a team, had the opportunity to build our capacity in strengthening workplace autonomy in Bangladesh. We found these sessions very informative, and they really made us think about possible scenarios in the garment sector workplace, inspiring us to put the tips we learned into practice for positive change”.
As reinforced above, our training is not just a formal exercise or a box-ticking activity; it demonstrated applied research practice with workers and communities in the UK and Bangladesh. This training ensures we are committed to a ‘no harm’ approach. The workers and communities we engage with are at the heart of our mission. If we are committed to improving the global garment sector, we must first recognise the real people behind the clothes we wear. Listening carefully to their stories and taking their preferences seriously is essential. While some of these stories can be unsettling, our training prepares us to handle these situations delicately. We can also connect individuals with relevant resources, prioritising their welfare.
Our approach aligns with the values we uphold at THRREADS. We believe in economic and social sustainability and treating workers with dignity and respect. Our ethical standards compel us to denounce and address exploitation whenever it is identified. We recognise that there is much to learn from each other—workers, manufacturers, community organisers, and researchers—and that we can create an inclusive industry together. Our training with Hope for Justice has made us more confident, informed, and compassionate, reflecting our commitment to conducting research that uplifts rather than harms, making a positive difference in people’s lives.
This project is funded by the ESRC ES/W013207. We are grateful for the support from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which makes our work possible. We also want to thank Hope for Justice for sharing their expertise and everyone involved in the garment industry who takes the time to speak with us. Together, we can strive for a future where the garment sector is not merely about fashion but fairness, safety, and respect for all.
If you would like more information about THRREADS, our partners, or our ongoing activities, please feel free to reach out via email at infothrreads@essex.ac.uk. We look forward to sharing more updates as our journey continues.
.jpg)
.jpg)
