Welcome to Fashion Revolution Week!
MORE THAN A TREND
Free trade, fair trade, ethical fashion, sustainable shopping. They are more than buzz words. They are the language of a movement. This week we’re joining with Fashion Revolution, a coalition of brands and consumers raising awareness about the need for transparency in the fashion industry.
This week commemorates the five year anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed 1138 people and injured many others. It was the fourth largest industrial disaster in history, and was connected with large household name brands. Unfortunately the degraded factory conditions which caused the collapse are all too common around the world. And it’s time for change.
THE NEW CONSUMERISM
For newer generations, “transparency is more of an expectation than an option,” according to Yael Aflalo, the founder of Reformation. With consumers demanding more and more transparency, a brand’s goal must expand to creating positive social impact - it’s the “new consumerism.”
Change begins with education. The Fashion Revolution team created a holistic transparency index, ranking the world’s top 100 brands. Out of all 100 brands, the average score was 20% of possible points. No brand scored over 50%.
- The good news: most brands have made progress in publishing supply chain and factory procedures.
- Room for improvement: brands score low on measuring their social and environmental impact.
OUR RESPONSE
At the very heart of Parker Clay is the well-being of our Ethiopian employees and the belief that while producing quality products, we will always prioritize ethical and sustainable business practices. We care for the health and wellness of our employees outside the workplace. Our Ethiopian staff provide daily transportation to employees, alleviating the stress of finding transportation to and from work. Each employee is enrolled in a savings plan, which many use to achieve long-term goals like sending a child to school or supporting family members.
In addition to social responsibility, we’re also committed to environmental care. The leather industry is notoriously dirty, but we are proud to work with environmentally friendly tanneries that recycle 100% of their water and are transitioning towards vegetable dyes instead of chemical dyes. We’re a slow fashion company - just one of our products can take up to a week to make. From recycled packaging materials to free lifetime repairs, we’re dedicated to creating products that will last a lifetime.
TAKING ACTION
- GET EDUCATED on your favorite brands! Parker Clay publishes quarterly Impact Reports - you can check out our most recent one here.
- DEMAND TRANSPARENCY on social media by tagging your favorite brands who you want to see more transparency from, using the hashtag #whomademyclothes and tagging @fash_rev.
- CURATE a capsule wardrobe: buy better, fewer things. Invest in quality that lasts.
- WATCH our VR Film below - we’re so transparent that we'll take you along for the journey to experience Ethiopia with us firsthand!
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How are you participating in Fashion Revolution Week? Let us know in the comments below!