Fashion Revolution Week 2022 - Money - Fashion - Power

March 29, 2022

How has a fair trade business model, including fair pay, giving back to the community help support your workers and what is the social impact of this model?

 

We have a transparent business model based on equitable working conditions, fair payment, teamwork, high quality and transparency and accountability.  Our mission is to be a force for good in the fashion industry.  To do this, we strictly adhere to the WFTO’s ten standards, including: on time payment, fair payment, living wages, safe and clean working conditions, gender equality, no child or forced labor, skills building, respect for the environment.

 

Living wages mean that our workers can meet all basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, transportation, children’s education, health care and have some ability to save for the future.

 

All our workers are full time permanent employees and receive a salary, pension fund, health insurance and a 13th month bonus paid out at three intervals during the year.  We offer a micro loans system to all employees for education, home improvement, health, emergencies. We provide health insurance and provident funds to all workers as well.  We invest all end of year profits back into the company for purchase of new and improved equipment, capacity building.  We also pay salary increases each year and have a transparency system of making increases, including discussion with workers.  

 

Other indirect benefits of fair trade to workers include skills training on a daily basis through our hands on mentoring system.  For example, we do not use any assembly line production. Instead each stitcher completes each garment start to finish, so their skill set is significantly higher than an assembly line worker and job satisfaction is better much.  They learn to read technical sketches for a wide variety of high end garments, check their own work, learn more intricate designs and become part of a team.  Once they complete the garment, it is turned in to our quality checking team who check it over for visual accuracy, measurements, quality of stitching before approving the piece to go for final ironing and packing.  At each stage of production artisans are an integral part of a team. Senior workers help instruct less experienced workers on an as needed basis so everyone benefits.  

 

We have also developed a system of leadership training through our in-house production order tracking.  Artisan workers participate in the order tracking process and maintain strict and clear log books of work completed. They become a vital part of the entire process and develop leadership, communication, teamwork skills which translate into life skills.

 

 

SOCIAL IMPACT

Fair trade living wages and paying on time wages impact everyone very directly quite quickly.  It has an immediate and huge impact on families in terms of financial security.  When workers are guaranteed payments, they can start planning for the family, for their children’s future, they can start saving money and budgeting. It often also means they have more domestic stability, less domestic violence and can focus more on gaining more job skills.

 

Fair trade payments also have a long term effect.  When workers can afford to keep their children in school through graduation, including girl children, everyone benefits.  Their children have a chance at a better future and improved job skills.  It reduced the chance of child marriage and means girl children have better opportunities for employment as well.  This type of mindset change often takes place over years, but its impact for individuals and society is huge.

 

We employ about 50 people, so the impact of fair payments is not only directly to those 50 people, but to the 4-5 other people in their families, so the impact reaches out to around 200-250 people all together.

 

Another aspect of fair trade is the working environment: we have a strong commitment to ensuring a clean and safe working space, to non discrimination and to gender equity.  We believe these are basic rights which all people are entitled to and cannot be overlooked.  Our manufacturing facility is well lit, well ventilated, clean, offers clean drinking water, restroom facilities, all equipment and electrical outlets are checked regularly for safety and PPE is provided for all equipment such as cutting machines.  

 

Being able to work in a clean and safe environment, being treated fairly and with respect, makes a significant impact on workers in their mental health, ability to learn and focus, to feel safe and valued.  

 

Fair trade is more than just living wages, it is an entire mind set of respecting workers as human beings and ensuring they can make a living wage, are treated with respect in equitable relationships, with accountability and transparency.  Only when we meet all these conditions at the minimum, will the fashion supply chain gradually start to change.

 

It is also important to remember that trade in and of itself means an equitable working relationship. We are consumers also have choices about which products we buy.  The more we make a commitment to buy fair trade, the greater impact it will have on the lives of workers across the globe.  If we stop collectively buying fast fashion, buy less, value it more and budget our own spending to include higher prices for fair trade garments which ensure workers are being paid a living wage, then we are buying beautiful clothing.  

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