In Fashion Revolution Week we remember the garment workers who died or were injured in the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013. If you haven’t done so already, now’s the time to ask ‘Who made my clothes?’ or ‘Who made my handbag?’
Who made my Shona Easton handbag?
Jyothi, Vijayakumari, Pramilla, Monica, Swathi, Sujatha, Masthanamma and Narashiman did! The photo shows them at my workshop in rural India. It was set up with ethical principles in mind and our ladies (and the odd man or two!) work 9am to 5.30pm in our converted farm buildings near to where they live.
Think about this:
Do you know if your favourite brand cares about producing ethically? Are the people who made your clothes and accessories getting a fair wage and not being exploited and forced to work long hours in terrible conditions?
It is hard to know and you can’t always tell by the price you actually pay for your fashion. Some of the worst culprits in the industry are the big fashion brands. Check out Fashion Revolution’s 2017 transparency index (it’s a lengthy read – download it via a link here), ranking transparency levels of 100 of the world’s biggest fashion companies.
My business is tiny company in comparison to those listed (it includes the likes of: M&S, Next, Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and many more) but I hope I’m on the 90-100% of the transparency index.
If you can’t find the info you want on where my designs are made then please ask me or do a search of this blog. I’ve also written an e-booklet called Handbags With Humanity because I’ve been to factories with terrible working conditions in the past. It’s what made me want to ensure proper wages and working conditions for the amazing ladies who hand make all my designs.
Click now for a free download of Handbags With Humanity.
Let’s keep the Fashion Revolution momentum going!
