Source: Fibre2Fashion

The Scotland-based clothing retailer, Edinburgh Woolen Mill (EWM) has defended its choice to print “Designed in Scotland” on labels to clothing actually manufactured in Mongolia. The company said it is highlighting where the clothing is designed and it is not deceiving customers by failing to tell them where they were produced.

Last week complaints were registered against EWM about its cashmere James Pringle sweaters made by low-paid workers in Mongolia.  A Mongolian company, Eermel, produces the luxury clothing range for EWM, which is then shipped to its outlets across the United Kingdom.

EWM said its apparels are designed by an experienced team based at its Scotland headquarters, from where specifications with regard to design, quality, color, and other technical details are provided to the factory in Mongolia. The Mongolian factory produces apparels based on those specifications so they can be supplied to EWM's customers at an affordable price.

The company said its customers look for quality of the apparel and seek value for their money, and do not expect the clothes to be made in Scotland. It said the labeling of the apparels produced in Mongolia as “Designed in Scotland” is factually correct.