How do you make big brands with a history of secrecy and high glamour shine a light on their corporate social responsibility policies?
You write a report that suggests that some are doing things they perhaps should not be doing. Such as selling Burmese rubies, which have been the subject of sanctions in the EU and the US since 2008 and 2003 respectively.


Vanessa has been the FT’s fashion editor since 2003, and is based in New York, though she lived in London for 12 years.