Step this way to get your daily fix of green news, eco product launches and videos delivered by email.
There's stormy waters in the relationship between ethical fashion designer Katharine Hamnett and Tesco. For the past month, a spat between the two has led to talk of a split, caused by the supermarket's lack of commitment to the designer's Choose Love organic and fair trade range. But SmartPlanet can now reveal Hamnett has not dumped Tesco.
The notoriously outspoken Hamnett recently told Drapers magazine: "I was initially really excited about the tie-up because I thought we could increase demand for ethical products. But I've come to the conclusion that Tesco simply wants to appear ethical, rather than make a full commitment to the range."
Hamnett was apparently dissatisfied that the range was only available in 40 stores, and that the marketing campaign promised by Tesco was non-existent. But both Katharine Hamnett and Tesco have informed SmartPlanet that the Choose Love designer has, in fact, not pulled out or broken her contract with Tesco, and the range remains on Tesco's shelves.
Trevor Datson at Tesco told us: "We're not aware that Katherine has pulled out of her contract, although she did make comments to that effect in Drapers magazine. Since then she has written to us to retract the criticism she made about Tesco's ethical position. Her range is still in stores, and we don't understand why she feels, or said she felt, that we haven't put enough marketing muscle behind it. In fact, we have also developed very successful organic and fair trade clothing lines of our own alongside Katharine's range."
Asked if Tesco would consider stocking Choose Love in more stores to keep Hamnett's range in its supermarkets, he added: "We won't be commenting on our future commercial plans. You may have more success talking to Katherine, since her comments came as a complete surprise to us."
Katharine Hamnett's office told us simply that "Katharine has not pulled out or broken her contract with Tesco".
Please note: Your email address must be entered but will not be displayed
Please note: All submitted content becomes the sole property of CNET Networks UK and may be used, edited or rejected at CNET Networks UK's sole discretion. You acknowledge that you, not CNET Networks UK, are responsible for the contents of your submission.
Step this way to get your daily fix of green news, eco product launches and videos delivered by email.
