Unprecendented - Challenge, Change, Hope

April 06, 2020

We are experiencing unprecendented times and challenges. As I imagine is true of every small business right now, we are acutely aware of the fragility of our supply chains and that it ‘takes a village’ to support our business and way of life.

 

We are a small, independent business in a global market.  We are a vertical company, meaning we design and make all in-house in the same company.  We also manufacture for many other independent, ethical brands across the world.  Our fair trade manufacturing is located in Jaipur, India and is closed until mid-April due to the mandatory quarantine.  We are supporting our artisan employees in Jaipur through this crisis thus far and have made several contingency plans for moving forward once we can re-open our manufacturing and Jaipur offices.  Fortunately our workers are safe at home now and taking care of their families. 

 

While the challenges are vast and deep on every level and across the globe, these challenges have again brought many underlying issues to the forefront of our concerns.  Issues which have plagued the garment industry for far too long now: lack of transparency, the need for living wages and equitable relationships between buyers and makers.  It is important actually tackle these issues now.  We need consider and protect the very people growing the food, making the goods.  We need to work together so everyone has enough.

 

We need to bring things back to scale—a human scale—so life is liveable for us all.  Supply chain transparency, supporting independent businesses, thoughtful design meant to last, sharing resources, paying living wages—these are some of the most pressing concerns of our time.  If we can work on these issues, we can gradually bring our consumption and our way of life back to a liveable scale, but also a more equitable way of working.

 

We stand united in facing these challenging times. We stand by all other small business owners in solidarity and in hopes we can collectively pull through this time. These businesses are the real heart and soul of our towns and backbone of our economy. They meet community needs, but also breath life and character into our daily lives.  They also often rely on small farmers or artisan suppliers. We are all linked through our supply chains: from farmers and artisans to small, independent businesses. 

 

We don't know what tomorrow will bring and how this will all play out.  But what I can say today, is that I've appreciated the many kindnesses and positive attitudes, the willingness to rethink things and put new models into action.

 

We thank you, our customers for your understanding and support.  It means a great deal to us all, especially to our artisans. I also thank our artisans. I am deeply moved at how our artisans have expressed renewed commitment, a positive mindset, hope.

 

We hope that together, as a community, we will work on solutions for a better way of working, more transparency and equity in the workplace and more resiliency in times of crisis and at all times.  The fair trade community has worked tirelessly on becoming more resilient and offering support during this crisis.  We hope that we can rebuild our local communities across the world with all the vibrancy and character that makes us unique.  

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