...In regard to the suppliers in Bangladesh, it should be noted that the factory referred to in the book as evidence of alleged shortcomings has not produced on behalf of HUGO BOSS for quite some time. The author could and should have ascertained this fact prior to the book’s publication (the same factory was featured in a WDR documentary, to which the author refers). At that time, HUGO BOSS took various steps to resolve existing problems at this site. For example, several individuals had to leave the company, because they had failed to treat the workers fairly. The safety issues raised by the author in the media had also been identified during safety reviews conducted by engineers commissioned by HUGO BOSS. Measures to remedy these had already been initiated. However, because the company at that time was phasing out its cooperation with this factory, it was not possible to continue to track the implementation of these measures. Independent of this, HUGO BOSS had demonstrably been very well informed as to the workings of this factory, a fact which the author falsely contests. Furthermore, we are very well informed about the other three factories we cooperate with in Bangladesh. We have never encountered anything whatsoever resembling the conditions as described by the author...