5 March 2025
Top English books you should read on the clothing industry and a sustainable lifestyle
- Lifestyle
Last week President Trump announced his plans to ‘buy’ Gaza, taking over control, forcibly removing all Palestinians to neighbouring countries, in support of Israels control in the region. We at COSH! condemn these statements and show our support for Palestinians who continue being threatened.
What you might not know is how fashion plays a big supporting role to the illegal occupation of Palestine and Zionism.
Why This Is a Fashion Industry Issue
The garment industry is built on exploitative business models that reinforce racial and economic inequalities, sustaining the legacy of colonialism. In Palestine, these injustices are particularly evident:
- Exploitation of Palestinian Labour: Israeli garment manufacturers (before the war) outsourced production to Gaza, where Palestinian workers — equally skilled as those in Israel — are paid significantly lower wages. Due to high unemployment, many are forced to accept any working conditions.
- Obstacles Created by the Occupation: Israel’s occupation has devastated Palestine’s once-thriving textile sector. Checkpoints delay deliveries, and the siege on Gaza restricts access to essential resources like electricity and materials.
- Systemic Wage Suppression: Factory owners in Palestine face severe financial strain due to these barriers, often leaving them with no choice but to reduce wages to stay afloat.
The fashion industry’s role in profiting from and sustaining these exploitative systems demonstrates how colonialism, capitalism, and racial inequality intersect, reinforcing Palestinian subjugation under Israeli rule.
At COSH! we want to help you make conscious decisions. We gathered research on Western brands (primarily sold in the UK and the EU) that are linked to manufacturing in illegal settlements and/or openly support the idea of a Zionist state.
Apparel
reebok
Reebok, a major sportswear brand, was just announced as the new sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes teams based in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land. These settlements, considered war crimes under international law, displace Palestinian families and restrict their rights. Despite global condemnation, including from the UN and human rights organizations, the IFA has refused to act.
The Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) Movement urges Reebok to end its sponsorship, following Adidas’ decision to drop the IFA in 2018. More recently, in December 2023, Puma decided to end its sponsorship of the IFA after having undergone serious reputational damage. Critics argue that Reebok’s sponsorship legitimises Israel’s settlement expansion, contradicting the company’s claims of supporting human rights, which it even has a dedicated collection for called Human Rights Now.
H&M
In 2010 the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee (BNC) called for a global boycott of Swedish fashion retailer H&M due to its expansion in Israel, particularly in occupied Jerusalem. The boycott is in response to H&M opening its second store in Israel, located in Malha Mall, a site tied to the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Nakba. Malha was originally a Palestinian village, and its inhabitants were forcibly removed and denied their right to return. Today, Israel continues to evict Palestinian families and construct settlements, which are considered war crimes under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
H&M’s investment in Israel came amid intensified settlement expansion and after another military assault on Gaza. The BNC argues that by doing business with Israel at this time, H&M is supporting Israel’s violations of international law and human rights. This stance contradicts the company’s stated commitment to the UN Global Compact, which requires businesses to ensure they are not complicit in human rights abuses. The UN’s Goldstone Report has previously condemned Israel for war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, yet H&M continues to expand its operations in the country.
Nike
The Anti-Sweatshop Against Apartheid website created a series called “The Cashing in on Apartheid” which highlights brands profiting from the occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine. The focus here is on Nike, which is accused of financially benefiting from Israel’s colonisation through its renewable energy purchases and manufacturing ties in occupied Palestinian land.
Nike’s Involvement in ‘Greenwashing Colonisation’
Nike’s 2023 Climate Change Response disclosure reveals that the company purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from Israel rather than directly sourcing renewable electricity. While the exact origins of these RECs remain undisclosed, Israel’s solar and wind energy projects, which have expanded on lands taken from Palestinians, are potential sources.
- Solar Power in the Naqab Desert: Israel’s solar power plants have been built in areas where indigenous Palestinian Bedouins were forcibly removed. Around 90% of the Naqab’s Bedouin population was expelled between 1948 – 1953. Today, many remain in “unrecognised” villages without access to basic services, while settlements in the area benefit from modern infrastructure and uninterrupted electricity. In May 2024, 47 homes were demolished, displacing over 300 people.
- Wind Farms in the Golan Heights: Israel occupied this region in 1967, displacing 130,000 Syrians. The remaining inhabitants continue to face land confiscations and police brutality. Wind energy projects, particularly those championed by far-right minister Ben Gvir, have been labelled “greenwashing colonisation” as they serve to expand Israeli control while negatively impacting local villages, agriculture, and wildlife.
Nike’s Manufacturing on Stolen Land
Nike sources products from Delta Galil, with a factory located in Karmiel’s Export Processing Zone. Karmiel was built in 1964 on Palestinian agricultural lands confiscated from communities like Ramya. Palestinians in nearby villages have been violently expelled, and in 2013, Israeli courts ruled that Ramya must be bulldozed to allow for Karmiel’s further expansion.
- Delta Galil’s Ties to Settlements: Delta Galil Industries, a global apparel manufacturer with operations in Israeli settlements. Through its subsidiary Delta Israel Brands, it runs stores in East Jerusalem’s Pisgat Zeev and Ramot neighbourhoods, as well as Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank.
- In 2011, Who Profits documented a warehouse operated by Delta Galil in the Barkan Industrial Zone, another settlement in the occupied West Bank, verifying its existence again in 2021.
Palestinian Voices on Nike’s Complicity
Palestinians impacted by Israel’s settlement expansion describe their situation as one of systemic displacement and apartheid. Villagers in Ramya, whose land is being overtaken by Karmiel, report being denied access to water, electricity, and other public services while settlers nearby live in modern apartments. Despite possessing title deeds for their land, Israel refuses to recognise their rights, labelling them as squatters.
Nike’s financial involvement in Israel’s renewable energy projects and its supply chain connections to settlements make it complicit in Israel’s occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land. Activists argue that brands like Nike, which profit from these injustices, must be held accountable.
Delta Galil
Delta Galilis is Israel’s largest manufacturer and marketer of textiles and is one of the largest private-label underwear manufacturers in the world. Its founder, chairman and major stockholder Mr. Dov Lautman is a close associate of former Israeli President Ehud Barak. Sweatshop Watch has denounced Delta Galil for its exploitation of Arab labour. This company operates outlets of its own brand in illegal settlements and was included in the 2020 UN list of companies doing business in illegal settlements – based on supplier lists between 2020 – 2022. On its website, it includes Disney as a licensed partner in Israel, so it manufactures Disney’s clothing for sale in Israel.
Here are a few brands selling and/or manufacturing with Delta Galil:
- Adidas (Globally)
- Victoria’s Secret
- Hema
- Carrefour
- Tchibo
- Auchan
- The GAP
- Ralph Lauren (Global)
- Calvin Klein (US and Canada)
- Hugo Boss
- DKNY
- Tommy Hilfiger (US and Canada)
- Converse (Global)
- Elle (Global)
- Ted Baker (UK and Europe)
- Columbia (Global)
- Organic Basics (In an interview with COSH! They revealed they do not manufacture in Israel, but they are still owned by Delta Galil)
- Nike: (see above for more)
LVMH
LVMH, a global leader in luxury, owns prestigious jewellery brands such as Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Chaumet, Fred, and Repossi. While the company prides itself on sourcing “responsible” and “conflict-free” diamonds participating in the Kimberley Process (a certification process to ensure no blood diamonds enter the market), critics argue that the Kimberley Process has significant loopholes, as it narrowly defines conflict diamonds as only uncut stones. This allows Israel’s diamond-cutting industry to operate without scrutiny, despite concerns over its role in funding human rights violations. Human rights activists and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement have called for diamonds processed in Israel to be recognised as conflict diamonds, highlighting the need for stricter regulations in the industry.
Israel’s diamond industry has been described as a “cornerstone” of its economy, generating an estimated $1 billion annually for the country’s military budget. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the economy funds 88% of the vast security budget that supports the Israeli military. Some Israeli diamond companies also donate directly to the military, and many employ individuals currently involved in the assault on Gaza. Despite claims of ethical sourcing, LVMH continues to profit off of the exploitation of Palestinians.
Diamonds linked to war crimes and human rights abuses are commonly referred to as blood diamonds. Luxury loses its meaning when it comes to the cost of bloodshed, yet LVMH and other major players in the diamond trade continue to profit from this reality.
Bernard Arnault, owner of LVMH, also personally invests in companies like Wiz, a cybertech company valuable for Israeli military intelligence.
Here are a few companies under LVMH:
- Barton Perreira
- Berluti
- Celine
- Christian Dior Couture
- Emilio Pucci
- Fendi
- Givenchy
- JW Anderson
- Bulgari / Bvlgari
- Tiffany & Co.
- DKNY
- Fenty Beauty (Rihanna)
- Loewe
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian
- Marc Jacobs
- Kenzo
- Louis Vuitton
- Dior
- Kapital
- Chaumet
- Daniel Roth
- Fred
- Gerald Genta
- Hublot
- Repossi
- TAG Heuer
- Zenith
- Loro Piana
- Moynat
- Patou
- Phoebe Philo
- Rimowa
- Vuarnet
Other fashion brands:
- Bally: The owners of Bally, the Reimann family are staunch zionists and support the zionist state with investment and donations through their Alfred Landecker Foundation.
- Caterpillar: Caterpillar bulldozers have been used in the demolition of Palestinian homes. The D9 bulldozer was specifically designed for the IDF.
- Chanel: Alain Wertheimer, condemned the attack on Israel but remained silent on the attacks on Gaza, also pledged $4m in Chanel’s name.
- Skims: Kim Kardashian has shared a message condemning the October 7th operation, but has not condemned Israel for its war on of Gaza.
- Zara & Bershka: Zara sparked outrage with a marketing campaign that featured plastic-wrapped corpses and warzone imagery, widely seen as mocking the war in Gaza. The brand later removed the campaign after critics called it insensitive. This isn’t the first time the brand has been linked to controversy. Joey Schwebel, chairman of Israel’s Zara franchisee Trimera and a Canadian-Israeli dual national, previously hosted convicted terrorist Itamar Ben-Gvir at his home ahead of the Israeli elections. Despite the backlash, Zara has neither condemned this association nor taken responsibility for the deeply insensitive ad campaign.
- Skechers: Michael S Greenberg, the president of Skechers, is a Zionist.
Cosmetics:
L’Oreal
L’Oréal has openly declared itself a “warm friend of Israel.” Despite previously facing a $1.4 million US fine after aiding the Arab boycott of Israel by providing information of the brand’s business in Israel to the Arab League to support a boycott, which violates the U.S. anti-boycott laws. L’Oreal later issued an apology and strengthened its ties with Israel. The company has since made heavy investments in the country and even operates a factory in Occupied Palestine. Here are a few companies in partnership with l’Oreal:
- Diesel (Fragrances)
- Mugler Beauty
- Prada (Beauty)
- Valentino Beauty
- Viktor & Rolf Beauty
- Celine
- Giorio Armani Beauty
- Maison Margiela Fragrances
- Ralph Lauren Frangrances
- YSL Beauty
Estee Lauder
Ronald Lauder, owner of Estee Lauder, has extremist Zionist views and financially and politically supports Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. Brands include:
- Tom Ford (Beauty)
- MAC cosmetics
- Clinique
- Bobbi Brown
- Jo Malone
Coty
Coty is a global powerhouse in the beauty industry, leading the way in fragrance and making waves in colour cosmetics and haircare. Coty says it’s all about celebrating diversity in beauty, but the company is owned by the Reinmann family. Staunch Zionists that support a Zionist state with investment and donations through their Alfred Landecker Foundation. Beauty brands under Coty include:
- Adidas
- Bourjois
- Bruno Banani
- Burberry
- Calvin Klein
- Chloé
- David Beckham
- Davidoff
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Escada
- Gabriela Sabatini
- Gucci
- Hugo Boss
- James Bond (007 James Bond)
- Jil Sander
- JOOP!
- Jōvan Musk
- Katy Perry
- Kylie Cosmetics (51%)
- KKW Beauty (20%)
- Lacoste (fragrances) until end of 2023. Now Licensed by Interparfums from 1 Jan 2024
- Lancaster
- Marc Jacobs
- Marni
- Max Factor
- Mexx
- Miu Miu
- Monange
- Nautica
- Orveda
- philosophy
- Rimmel
- Roberto Cavalli
- Sally Hansen
- Skkn By Kim
- Tiffany & Co
- Vera Wang
- Wella
What can you do?
Does this article make you curious about how your shopping behaviour could be linked to illegal Israeli settlements and war ? Money is power, so use yours to let companies know you stand against the illegal occupation of Palestine. Here are a few apps to help you along:
Boycat and No Thanks: instantly scan a barcode and check an ethical rating and view the corporate ownership history of a product. The apps will also provide you with alternatives.
Elisabeth Lucie Baeten, Belgian writer and content creator, launched an Oxfam campaign for aid in Gaza at the Kastaars! awardshow on 8/02/2025, after arriving in a beautiful dress made from Palestinian keffiyehs on the red carpet. The solidarity campaign has already surpassed 140 000€ in raised funds. Click on the link to support Oxfams campaign.
Sources:
https://boycott.thewitness.news/categories/clothing
https://hyphenonline.com/2023/12/19/from-the-high-street-to-high-fashion-brand-boycotts-are-here-to-stay/
https://antisweatshopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com/brand-research/
https://antisweatshopagainstapartheid.wordpress.com/2024/05/27/cashing-in-on-apartheid-nike/
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231110-genocide-in-gaza-luxury-at-what-cost/
https://www.whoprofits.org/writable/uploads/old/uploads/2018/06/old/solar_flash_report.pdf
https://www.newarab.com/opinion/israels-occupation-eclipsing-palestines-solar-potential
https://bdsmovement.net/news/hm-whitewashing-israels-colonization-jerusalem
https://www.instagram.com/elisabethlucie/p/DF0gwNCtUQq/?hl=en
https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/find?Text=&Name=Delta+Galil&Category=&Sector=&Headquarter=&Revenue=&Traded=&Presence=&Settlement=&Type=Table
https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/google-acquisition-target-wiz-another-fruit-israels-military-intelligence-2024 – 07-17/
https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/boycott-loreal-because-palestine-worth-it
https://www.instagram.com/elisabethlucie/p/DF0gwNCtUQq/?hl=en
https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/find?Text=&Name=Delta+Galil&Category=&Sector=&Headquarter=&Revenue=&Traded=&Presence=&Settlement=&Type=Table
https://bdsmovement.net/news/israel-football-association-loses-yet-another-sponsor
https://www.reebok.eu/en-gb/sets/human-rights-now-22470754?srsltid=AfmBOooXp4n6MCyNrCMv-LacWPFn9gH-KZPlmSq6fQbHEVuLl4j0_fhm
