Concern for the welfare of third world clothing workers has prompted a firm in Warwick to kit out its drivers in shirts with traceable origins.

MPS Builders Merchants chose to place a new workwear order with John Astley & Sons of Coventry because they could offer full 'ethical traceability'.

MPS BUILDERS MERCHANTS STAFF (STEVE MIDGAFF, DEPOT MANAGER AND NEIL FOSTER)  WITH  DANNY RAWLINS, SALES REPRESENTATIVE FROM ASTLEYS

Astleys supplied the firm with 200 of their own-brand polo and sweatshirts in a variety of sizes, all embroidered with the MPS logo. Before the order was placed, a number of garments were road-tested by MPS drivers, who deliver to customers all over the country, including Heathrow, Luton and Bristol airports.

MPS company secretary Erica Smith said:

“In the past we had been disappointed by other brands of workwear which had not worn or washed well, but our drivers were impressed by the quality of the Astleys’ shirts. We also felt it was important that Astleys could demonstrate that overseas workers had not been exploited in the production of the shirts.”

Astleys supply a wide range of work and corporate garments to customers throughout the UK. Contracts vary in size up to massive 'total contract management' deals for organisations such as Tesco.

A high proportion of Astleys’ workwear is manufactured in the Far East, where the Coventry-based company has carried out detailed checks on production processes and local workers’ welfare to ensure that fair wages are paid and children are not exploited.

Astleys’ sales representative, Danny Rawlins, said:

“We can honestly say that we have control over every aspect of garment manufacture. Every aspect is documented, from the minimum age of workers in the factories, to the dye that goes into the cotton that puts the button on a shirt.”

The firm’s eye for detail and concern for quality also strikes a chord with customers such as MPS. Erica Smith said:

“Our business has grown from six to 45 employees in just six years because we offer excellent customer service, for example, by providing overnight deliveries. Astleys’ service is also very impressive - they are always willing to work with us to find the right product and never fail to turn our orders round quickly.”