The Act on Fashion Coalition along with designer Stella McCartney announced a new bill in New York on January, this year. Known as the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act S7428/A8352, the bill was sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi and introduced by Assembly member Anna Kelles. As per Apparel Resources, it aims to address the social and environmental toll taken by the global fashion industry.

The New York Fashion Act is likely to impact several manufacturing destinations including Bangladesh. The bill aims to compel apparel retailers and makers to be transparent about their environmental and social practices, including workers’ wage and carbon emissions, at all levels of the global supply chains. However, the new regulations may increase hassles and costs for the garment makers in Bangladesh, says Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA. Further such pressure tactics by buyers often lead to unhealthy competition between suppliers, he adds.