In June of 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) went into effect. Not only does it take the right steps in the direction of improving human rights, but it also affects the supply chain, even in the apparel industry. Recently, Nine Line Apparel — an apparel and promotional products company founded and operated by veterans — ended its relationship with a fabric supplier after discovering the supplier was a part of the slave trade in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

The company states that this specific product line has “since been replaced, removed from the brand’s website, and the brand will take all steps to ensure that appropriate authorities are made aware of the situation,” according to a press release from Apparel Resources.

Nine Line released the following statement to its customers:

“It has come to our attention that one of our fabric suppliers has been participating in the slave trade by utilizing cotton originating in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. This use, whether known or unknown to our supplier, was discovered when conducting isotopic testing of all our manufacturing partners to ensure that each product’s origin is as the supplier claims. We regularly conduct this testing to ensure the integrity of the products we put to market.”

Nine Line currently has no plans to conduct business with the supplier until further testing shows it no longer utilizes cotton derived from Uyghur forced labor camps.

Cotton is the primary area in the decorated apparel industry affected by the UFLPA. Certain machine parts are also manufactured in the Xinjiang region. As manufacturers, suppliers, and decorators continue to navigate the new law, there are resources available to help, including: