Royal launches powerful campaign against forced labour in fashion industry
Princess Eugenie has broken her silence following her mother Sarah Ferguson’s
latest controversy, where a leaked email once again placed the Duchess of York
in the spotlight.
On September 24, Eugenie, co-founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective, released
a heartfelt video on Instagram to launch her group’s new campaign, Hidden
Threads: Fake Fashion – A Human Rights Scandal. The initiative aims to expose
how counterfeit fashion fuels exploitation, from forced labour to human
trafficking.
In the message, Eugenie highlighted the dangers behind what she called a
“booming industry worth hundreds of billions,” stressing that fake fashion —
from handbags to football shirts — is tied to abuse and exploitation.
The campaign was introduced at an event in New York, where fashion insiders,
behavioural experts, brands, and human rights specialists gathered to discuss
how counterfeiting continues to be an overlooked human rights issue. The
Anti-Slavery Collective is now urging governments to strengthen data
collection on illicit trade and enforce bans on products made with forced
labour.
Eugenie’s message ended with a direct appeal to the public: to avoid
purchasing fake fashion items and instead support ethical production that
protects vulnerable people around the world.
Her return to social media comes as her mother faces mounting challenges.
Sarah Ferguson has been under renewed scrutiny since her email to Jeffrey
Epstein surfaced, followed by reports of charities distancing themselves from
her. The fallout has reportedly placed further strain on her relationship with
King Charles.
With this new campaign, Eugenie appears determined to redirect attention
toward a cause she has long championed, using her platform to spotlight an
issue she described as both urgent and hidden.
