It's that time of year again for Fashion Revolution Week! As we reflect on Fashion Revolution and its significance, we are reminded of the Rana Plaza Factory collapse in Bangladesh in 2013, killing 1,134 garment workers. While some were painfully aware of the horrific conditions many workers face, this tragedy was the first time it was brought to the public eye. Why were basic safety conditions not being met in this factory? This is all too often the case in many factories around the world: inhumane working conditions, where people (80% women) are being severely underpaid for their work.
As a fair trade brand, we value transparency in our supply chain. That's why you can always click over to our Artisans page to see who made your products, how much they were paid, and learn more about how they live.
At Fair Anita, we strive to empower women rather than exploit them. We are working directly with artisans in 9 countries, ensuring their fair wages and good working conditions, and creating supply chains we can be proud of. All women deserve to feel safe, valued, and respected. That's what #FashionRevolution is about for us -- changing supply chains so that women can thrive!
We want you to know the people behind your products. It's all too easy to get caught up in the cheapest deals or this week's newest trends, and we totally get that! But know, behind every single product is a person. Often times, many people. We want the story that you're wearing to be a happy one -- from the home of the artisan, to us at Fair Anita, to you!
Nasheema (second from the left) leads this group of powerful women, working in a large settlement outside of Delhi, India. While women are largely excluded from aspects of jewelry-making like the casting and sterling silver work, these women have learned the trade and execute it with pride! In addition to fair wages, artisans receive health insurance, educational scholarships, childcare, and a beautiful place to work.
Don't let their faces fool you: while smiling isn't common in pictures in Cambodia, these ladies are loving their jobs making bags in the Baray District, some of them proudly working for this cooperative for 20 years! They grow organic cotton, weave it into fabric, screenprint it, and sew it into our best-selling bags. Plus, take it from us: they are really good dancers! We're currently working with this group to install solar panels on their workshop for more reliable and sustainable electricity.
Keisha is one of the talented women in South Africa that makes our quote wrap bracelets from recycled leather. She has grown used to making our bracelets: y'all won't let us keep these on the shelves! Shop Keisha's work here.
Mrs Tha (her preferred name) is the brilliant woman behind the scarf workshop that we partner with in Vietnam. She learned the 200 year old tradition of weaving scarves from her family, as everyone in their village is a weaver. When she married at 17, she knew she wanted to start a weaving workshop with her husband to preserve the traditional craft, especially as automated machines were starting to invade her community and make products mega-cheap and in not-great conditions for the workers. Now, she sustains work for herself and 25+ other women through fair trade purchases. Mr Tha chips in too-- mainly, he likes to photobomb pictures!
We love sharing stories of the people who make your products. Please know that consent in storytelling is super important to us. While we work with 8,000+ women around the world, only some of them are excited to share their stories with our customers, and we respect that decision. That being said, we want you to know the people behind the products -- they're the reason we exist as a brand, and we love to share their talents with you!