TOKYO -- Japanese apparel makers are part of a growing international trend to shun cotton from China's western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as reports of forced labor and human rights abuses mount in the region, which produces some of the world's highest grade cotton.
Japanese clothing makers, including Sanyo Shokai and TSI Holdings, have decided to stop using Xinjiang cotton, following in the footsteps of Mizuno, a major sports equipment and sportswear company, and others. The moves of Japanese clothing names with clout within the industry could create a ripple effect for the entire textile supply chain.
