COVID-19 has caused mass disruption to many industries, and the fashion industry is no exception. With many countries choosing to shut all but ‘essential’ businesses, fashion retailers have had no choice but to close. Whilst this not only affects those who physically work in the stores, the chain extends much further than that.

With the shops not being open, items aren’t being bought, and if items aren’t being bought, new stock isn’t being needed. But, as with any industry and supply chain, orders and arrangements are often made months in advance. This means that many of the trend pieces that were designed for this summer never made it onto the shop floor but are ready and waiting to be bought. Whilst this may not sound like too much of a big deal to many, what our high street fashion retailers aren’t telling us is that they have cancelled orders for over $2 billion USD worth of clothes that have already been produced, leaving the (underpaid) garment workers they employ in a dire situation.

This is where the Lost Stock Box comes in…

What is a Lost Stock Box?

The Lost Stock Box is a fashion parcel that contains at least three items that were made by workers in Bangladesh to be sold on our high streets this summer. The boxes retail at £35 each and are worth at least £70 RRP. The money made from each box will support a garment worker and their family for a week, now that all of their work has been cancelled and are receiving no income.

What would happen to the clothes if they didn’t go into a Lost Stock Box?

It’s estimated that 982 million garments (!!) have been cancelled or suspended from 1150 factories in Bangladesh that are now facing landfill – Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). 982 million!

Will I get clothes I like in my Lost Stock Box?

Yes, you should! When you add a box to your basket, you’re asked a few questions surrounding your personal style. They are as follows:

How do you like your clothes to fit?

• - A tighter fit

• - A normal fit (true to size)

• - An oversized fit

What colour scheme do you prefer?

• Neutrals

• Brights

• Darks

What is your favourite pattern for tops and t-shirts?

• Graphics or slogans

• Stripes or dots

• Florals

• No pattern

How would you describe your style?

• I like to be at the cutting edge of fashion

• I prefer timeless styles

In case you were wondering, this is how I answered the questions when I ordered my Lost Stock Box; a normal fit, brights, no pattern, and I like to be at the cutting edge of fashion.

How much is shipping for a Lost Stock Box?

The price of shipping to England is £3.99 per box.

Why aren’t the workers getting paid, they made the clothes?

Cally Russell, who is the brains behind Lost Stock, was quoted in this BBC article to have said that ‘most deals between the retailers and the factories are payment on delivery so the factories take all the risk up front by manufacturing the garments before they have been paid for the materials and labour’. This hence means they are receiving no payment from these fashion giants, despite doing everything asked of them.


Whilst these boxes won’t solve the issues of fast fashion, the fall out of COVID-19, or the great inequity these workers face, they will however, provide a food and hygiene package for a family that needs one for a week and prevent tonnes of new clothing being put straight into landfill. You can buy your Lost Stock Box here. 

p.s. the clothes featured in the photo are my own, and not from the box. They take 4-6 weeks to arrive!