Fashion is a feminist issue. There’s no fighting it. 80% of garment workers worldwide are women, and less than 2% of women globally in the garment supply chain are paid a living wage.
In honour of International Women’s Day, I’ve put together a list of 5 fashion brands I believe are making a real difference in the lives of women across the globe.
The Social Outfit
The Social Outfit are an independently accredited social enterprise. They employ people from refugee and new migrant communities in clothing production, retail, design and marketing. They pride themselves on starting with existing skills to enable contribution from all, and building vital confidence and experience.
The Social Outfit’s bold and eclectic style is seen throughout their collections of clothing and accessories, many of which feature beautiful, bright prints – think yellow tropical florals, bold animal prints and abstract Japanese-inspired art.
Images: The Social Outfit
High quality items are produced in part by Trainee Sewing Technicians. These placements run from 6 months to 2 years, and are designed to transition people into external paid employment.
ABLE
ABLE is founded on the mission of “challenging the culture of the fashion industry by creating transformative opportunities for women.”
The brand started with crafting hand-woven scarves in Ethiopia, creating job opportunities for women wanting to leave the commercial sex industry. ABLE has grown into a fully-fledged lifestyle brand. Their offering now includes bags, clothes, shoes, and jewellery. Their jewellery is made in Nashville, TN, and their leather goods, clothes, and shoes by manufacturing partners in Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, and India.
The brand is passionate about paying real living wages and visibility in their supply chain. But they don’t just talk about it. ABLE dedicated 3 years’ work to an evaluation system, evaluating manufacturing partners on everything from safety and equality, to wages. All of this to gain a genuine oversight of the impact of their supply chain on empowering the women they work with.
Images: ABLE
ABLE publish wage reports – and not average wages – they report openly on the lowest wages paid and how that compares to the living wage. You can check that out here. This is a truly exemplary display of transparency.
If you’re interested to hear more about ABLE, I recommend you check out this Conscious Chatter podcast episode.
Raven + Lily
Raven + Lily produce beautiful bags and jewellery, but seek to do this in a way that put people and planet first. They are members of the FairTrade Federation and a certified B Corp.
They actively neutralise carbon emissions from shipping, as well as producing using recycled, low energy, organic and waste-reducing materials.
Images: Raven + Lily
Raven + Lily pride themselves on being Fair Trade and woman made. Furthermore, every purchase goes to fund a micro loan program which supports women entrepreneurs in East Africa.
Thinx
You may have come across Thinx – they’re now one of the leading underwear brands for periods and bladder leaks on the market. And they don’t disappoint – I personally swear by my Thinx (and menstrual cup) when that time of the month rolls around!
Thinx are manufactured at an award winning facility in Sri Lanka, which operates under three pillars: female leadership, employee well-being, and environmental sustainability. Here, supplemental education for staff, fitness sessions, free meals and transportation are just some of the benefits they provide.
Through their ‘GiveRise!’ program, the brand is designed to empower women by targeting shame around bodies and reproductive health. This includes campaigning against discriminatory policies, workshops educating youth on reproductive health. They also partner with organisations including Girls Inc., Safe Horizon, and the Alliance of Border Collaboratives to make hygiene products and reproductive healthcare accessible to everyone.
Naja
Naja goes against the current in an industry that is known to objectify women. Their mission is not only to uplift women in their marketing, but also in their supply chain. Naja’s factory primarily employs single mothers and female family breadwinners: a segment of society who is so often forced to choose between working and caring for their children.
They have implemented flexible working arrangements to allow mothers to be better available to care for their children. Every child of one of their garment workers receives books, school supplies, uniforms and all of their school meals from Naja.
Images: Naja
Their Underwear for Hope program employs women in the slums of Colombia to make lingerie bags. This enables these otherwise marginalised women the rare opportunity to work from home. Profit share is also donated to help these women with continuing education.
It’s so inspiring to see brands like these proving that you can run a great business while doing good for people and planet.
Know of more brands with a mission? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
