1520-01-01 00:00:00

Textile industry established in Leicester

151 freemen were admitted in Leicester, over one third gave their occupations as connected with the textile and leather industries.

1640-01-01 00:00:00

Hosiery industry established

1750-01-01 00:00:00

Leicestershire becomes centre for hosiery manufacture in England.

Leicestershire had become the chief centre for hosiery manufacture in England and the Midlands remains its principal seat.

1796-01-01 00:00:00

Shirt trade takes off in the city

The shirt trade began in Leicester in 1796

1844-01-01 00:00:00

The first time poor working conditions in factories exposed

The poor conditions faced by framework knitters in the 1840s were highlighted in the Royal Commission of 1844.

2006-01-01 00:00:00

Boohoo Group established

2013-04-24 00:00:00

Rana Plaza Disaster

A garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapses killing 1,134 people.

2017-04-01 00:00:00

Human Rights Committee go to Leicester

Joint Select Committee on Human Rights from Houses of Parliament visited Leicester and reported that labour rights abuses are endemic in the city.

2017-07-10 00:00:00

Recommendations to establish Leicester textiles compliance

Sir David Metcalf—who was referred to under the previous panel and was then Director of Labour Market Enforcement—put forward specific recommendations to establish a Leicester textiles compliance pilot

2018-01-01 00:00:00

Environmental Audit Committee launch inquiry into the UK garment industry

The Environmental Audit Committee launched an inquiry into the fashion and garment industry in the UK