Editing Leicester (section)

===Textiles===
The city has historically had a strong association with the production of textiles, clothing and shoes. While important companies such as [[N. Corah & Sons|Corah]], [[Liberty Shoes (Leicester, England)|Liberty Shoes]] and Equity Shoes have closed, companies such as Next and [[Boden (clothing)|Boden]] are still active and [[ASOS (retailer)|ASOS]] and [[New Look (company)|New Look]] manufacture in the city. Moreover, in recent years the higher transport prices and longer lead-times associated with [[Globalization|globalised]] production in Asia mean some textile manufacturers are locating to the city.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leicester in spotlight for textiles boost |date=11 January 2011 |url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/City-spotlight-textile-boost/story-12041696-detail/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505125301/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/City-spotlight-textile-boost/story-12041696-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |work=Leicester Mercury |access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Far Eastern costs boost textile firm |date=15 September 2010 |url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Far-Eastern-costs-boost-textile-firm/story-12038789-detail/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505100106/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Far-Eastern-costs-boost-textile-firm/story-12038789-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |work=Leicester Mercury |access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>

{{anchor|Leicester's garment district}}
There have long been concerns about the working conditions in this sector. Leicester's garment district is home to more than 1,000 factories employing as many as 10,000 workers. It has received fewer than 60 [[Health and safety regulations in the United Kingdom|health and safety inspections]] and only 28 [[Building regulations in the United Kingdom|fire inspections]] since October 2017. [[HMRC]] has made just 36 visits checking on compliance with [[National Minimum Wage Act 1998|minimum wage legislation]]; it has issued penalties to fewer than 10 textile firms and claimed just over £100,000 in arrears relating to 143 workers.<ref name="butler">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Revealed: 'shocking' lack of regulation at Leicester garment factories |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/30/revealed-shocking-lack-of-regulation-at-leicester-garment-factories |access-date=30 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=30 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Research at the University of Leicester in 2010 and published in 2015 found there were 11,700 employees in the East Midlands garment industry. 75-90%  of them were being paid £3 per hour, which was less than half of the then legal minimum wage.<ref name="3 pounds">{{cite news |last1=Hoskins |first1=Tansy |title=Made in Britain: UK textile workers earning £3 per hour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog/2015/feb/27/made-in-britain-uk-textile-workers-earning-3-per-hour |access-date=30 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=27 February 2015}}</ref> In 2017 [[Peter Soulsby]], Mayor of Leicester called together 40 regulatory organisations to coordinate a response. He aimed to make sure that Leicester had the highest standards of employment; that workers are properly paid, well trained and work in safe environments,<ref name="Asos">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Asos and New Look to join anti-slavery event in Leicester |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/05/asos-and-new-look-to-join-anti-slavery-event-in-leicester |access-date=30 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=6 October 2017}}</ref> In 2020 the HSE was alerted to [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19]] non-compliance, made inspections and gave advice.<ref name="covid-19">{{cite news |last1=Bland |first1=Archie |title=Police and health officials visit garment factories in Leicester |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/03/police-and-health-officials-visit-garment-factories-in-leicester |access-date=30 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=3 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>