We Pay Workers A Lot For Stitching Not A Lot: Manufacturers On Beyonce’s Skimpy Clothing Line

A number of Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers, who have come under fire for allegedly paying low wages to their staff who produce clothes for Beyonce’s label ‘Ivy Park’, have cited the singer’s range of skimpy clothes, saying that if there was more material to sew together they can pay workers a higher wage.

The head of the Association of Apparel Manufacturers said, “The issue here is that putting together clothes for Beyonce and her clothing label doesn’t involve a lot of work. After wearing the clothes most of the person is still exposed. The material to put some these items together is less than the average less than is required to sew a pillow case. So if you take the level of effort required it is minimal and that is how we are compensated. If she and designers decide to add a bit more material to the clothes then we can in turn charge more and pay our staff a better wage.”

“We have asked Ms. Z to consider expanding her range to knee length skirts and elbow length tops, but she said she was told ‘If you got it, flaunt it’ and was only following the advice for her clothes line”, he added

A spokesperson for her clothes line said, “After hearing about the sweatshop conditions that some of the clothes are being produced under, she has said that factory owners should install air conditions and give workers facemasks to help minimise dripping sweat on the garments. She has also agreed to give all factory workers one month’s free access to music site Tidal, owned by her husband so that they can watch her visual album ‘Lemonade’.”