War on Want up for more awards

War on Want has been shortlisted for the consumer award in the world’s first dedicated prizes for ethical fashion.

Judges have nominated the charity for this honour in the RE: Fashion Awards, organised by the group Anti-Apathy, the Ethical Fashion Forum and the communications agency Futerra.

The fair trade fashion company People Tree and the women’s magazine Marie Claire are also on the short list.

The consumer prize is among the awards to celebrate action which has achieved positive change in the fashion sector.

War on Want is up for the honour through its campaign for a living wage for garment workers overseas producing clothes for British stores.

Its fashion push has also been shortlisted for the communications campaign prize in the magazine Third Sector’s Excellence Awards.

This honour is for an innovative drive which has delivered its message to its target audience.

The others shortlisted are Help the Aged, Leonard Cheshire Disability, the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, Sustrans and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Simon McRae, senior campaigns officer at War on Want, said: “Our campaign has exposed the scandal that workers producing clothes for high street retailers face poor wages and conditions. There is now growing support for UK government regulation to ensure a living wage for these workers.”

Earlier this year War on Want helped Guardian reporter Karen McVeigh win the press honour in the One World Media Awards for her story on Bangladeshis paid 4p an hour to make clothes for Primark, Tesco and Asda.

The RE: Fashion Awards will be presented tomorrow at Shoreditch town hall in London.

And London’s Hurlingham Club will host the Third Sector Excellence Awards on 18 November.

Last month War on Want secured fifth place among Britain’s 190,000 charities in Third Sector’s Most Admired Charity award, won by the Children’s Society.

CONTACT: Paul Collins, War on Want media officer (+44) (0)20 7549 0584 or (+44) (0)7983 550728