Bangladesh Factory Fire: Patterns for Marine Corps Sweats, Tank Tops Found In Ashes

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Dec. 4, 2012

Soffe items made elsewhere in the world represent a tiny fraction of its business. "All we contracted with Tuba would be less than two tenths of one percent," he said.

"We work very hard to have safety in our plants," Humphreys said. "Anytime someone loses their life it's a tragic event and needs to be stopped."

Workers groups expressed dismay that Soffe and other companies have largely declined to accept responsibility for producing clothing in the Tazreen factory, even after photographs have surfaced showing order books, sketches of items, labels, and actual garments they make were inside the factory at the time of the fire.

Several, including Wal-Mart and Disney, have said orders were placed in the factory by a firm serving as a middle man, and that neither company had authorized work at Tazreen.

Fire Kills Over 100 Factory Workers in Bangladesh Watch Video

Bangladesh Garment Factory Fire Leaves 112 Dead Watch Video

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"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones in this horrific tragedy," said a Disney spokesperson. "Our records indicate that none of our licensees have been permitted to manufacture Disney-branded products in this facility for at least the last 12 months. We have been working collaboratively with governments, NGOs and other companies to address the issues associated with manufacturing in Bangladesh and we are committed to continuing these efforts."

ENYCE, a clothing label owned by hip hop mogul Sean Combs acknowledged that a firm hired to produce its items had placed an order with Tazreen.

Tazreen had been the subject of a critical audit by Wal-Mart inspectors in 2010, and after the fire the manager acknowledged the nine-story building where 1,500 workers labored had no fire exit.

"An amazing list of entities profited from the low wages and deadly conditions that made this factory so cheap, from the world's largest retailer, to the world's richest rapper, to the world's biggest military – and none of them lifted a finger to protect the workers," said Scott Nova of the Worker Rights Consortium.