Normally when I shop I don’t think much about it. I typically shop not because I absolutely need something, but because I want it. I think that some piece of clothing or product will make me feel and look better. Most likely you shop because you have an event or occasion you are going to and feel YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR! But what you may not know is that what you buy can affect the lives of garment workers so chose wisely!
Well, have you ever thought about where your clothing comes from? Who is making your clothing or how they are treated? I recently went to an event hosted by AZARAM PRODUCTIONS at Baar Baar, the Indian restaurant in downtown NYC to learn more about emerging brand Behno who is taking a stance on improving the lives of artisans and garment workers in the fashion industry.
Let me tell you just in case you didn’t know…the life of a garment worker isn’t at all that pretty. It can be very harsh. Often safety is sacrificed, and garment workers are overworked and being paid minimally. Bringing transparency to this situation is key and that is what Behno, the luxury handbag company is doing.
Behno’s aim is to “become part of a global mission that inspires change, improves factory conditions, quality of life, and safety of individuals in developing countries by working with international factories that adhere to rigid compliances”. Behno is tackling one of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals of improving the lives of people and many more.
I like to shop at a variety of places, and I can’t say that I only shop “sustainable brands”, but I DO care about them. This post is the start of the conversation for me and hopefully for you too! I’d like to start to introduce the importance of caring about the sustainability overall, and I know that’s a pretty vague and general topic to cover so I’m starting small. With the introduction of Behno and their global impact.
Behno has worked to build an ethical garment factory that works to keep a standard in 6 categories: health, family planning, women’s rights, benefits, eco-consciousness, and social mobility. Read here for more info on that! Behno’s factory works to provide fair wages, and eliminate child labor just to name a few!
“Ultimately, the project aims to demonstrate that garment workers are not a commodity and that garment production in the multibillion-dollar fashion industry does not need to be based on the exploitation of labor. “
So next time you shop or buy something, think about it. Not every brand is open about its manufacturing practices and it’s time to start challenging that. We buy clothing at such a cheap price. How is that possible? Let’s start demanding transparency and supporting the brands who are making efforts to make a positive change!
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