This statement is made by Denim Merchants (UK) Limited.

We recognise that we have a responsibility to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking both within our business and in our supply chain.  We are committed to making a positive contribution to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking by developing and implementing business practices that allow us to reach our commercial goals whilst conducting our business operations in a responsible manner. We are committed to improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking.

Our Structure and Business

We are an importer and distributor of denim clothing for men and women in the fashion sector. We have 6permanent employees and operate in the United Kingdom. Our products are supplied to customers in the UK, Europe and the USA.

We have a global annual turnover of approximately £48 million.

Our business is a privately owned and run company that consists of import, warehousing and distribution divisions as well as support functions including finance and administration.

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include 2 manufacturers as well as suppliers of raw materials and goods and services not for resale such as machinery and IT equipment used in our office, utilities and waste services, marketing, advertising, accounting, legal and other professional services, recruitment and training.

Our suppliers vary in terms of their size, expertise and industry and many of those will also be reliant on their own supply chain in order to be able to supply goods or services to us.

Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.

We require our suppliers to be members of either SEDEX or WRAP and meet the requirements of their independent frameworks which cover working conditions, fair pay and anti-slavery. All are fully compliant with the frameworks and other relevant trade requirements and we have confirmed their membership. Ongoing and future orders are subject to up to memberships being maintained.

Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk we submit to audits undertaken by our customers. These are carried out as a pre-requisite of being taken on as a supplier and also according to a scheduled audit programme. In addition we participate in unscheduled audits at the request of our customers. We are currently reviewing our systems and procedures to:

• Identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains.
• Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains.
• Monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains.
• Protect whistle blowers.

In terms of our employees we have an employee handbook which contains company policies on modern slavery and human trafficking issues. The handbook is made available to all employees.

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we are looking to provide training to our staff on relevant issues.

Our Effectiveness in Combating Slavery and Human Trafficking

We will use key performance indicators to monitor the effectiveness of our practices to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our business or supply chains. This will include, for example, monitoring the training that we provide and ensuring the other steps that we take are applied consistently in our business.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 July 2019.

Signed by Mariyah Farhan, a Director

Date: …22/05/2019....