Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has blasted British luxury goods retailer Burberry for their decision to close a factory in south Wales and switch production to China. The actress is the latest in a series of celebrities and politicians to slam the upmarket firm, famous worldwide for its beige and white check pattern clothing, for the planned move.
Workers at the plant in Treorchy have been told it will close in March, triggering a campaign to keep it open and save the 300 jobs there.
Thompson said Sunday the move would be a "bastardisation" of the iconic brand.
"At a time when it behoves all businesses to set their ethics in order and put honourable practice above profit, I call upon Burberry to reconsider their decision," she said.
"When I buy clothes, I always check to see where they are made.
"When an item that is so clearly branded as British to the core is 'Made in China', I'm afraid that I often put that article straight back, suspecting corporate greed and unacceptably low wage packets for the producers of that article.
"Burberry should not make this move: it will brand itself as greedy, unethical and -- perhaps most importantly for the profile of the company -- inauthentic.
"By staying in Wales and honouring a contract that has long been held with the workers there, it will retain its code of decency and high standards.
"Anything else is a betrayal of the workforce and a bastardisation of the brand."
Thompson won the 1992 best actress Oscar for her part in "Howards End" and the 1995 best adapted screenplay Oscar for "Sense and Sensibility".
A Burberry spokesman said: "We are proud to retain a strong manufacturing capability in the UK. We make our iconic trench coats in Yorkshire (northern England) and have no plans to change this."
Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel, "Notting Hill" film star Rhys Ifans and television actor Ioan Gruffudd -- recruited as the male face of Burberry in 2005 -- are among other celebrities to have criticised the move.
Welsh Assembly members, the GMB trade union and the government's Welsh Secretary Peter Hain have also slammed the decision.
Prince Charles -- who is the Prince of Wales and the heir to the throne -- has contacted the government asking how he could help save the Treorchy plant.
Burberry chairman John Peace and chief executive Angela Ahrendts are to be grilled by a parliamentary committee over the plans.
