“Fashion is solely about making profits.”
“Fashion is pretentious.”
“Fashion is cutthroat.”
Surely, you have heard at least one of these remarks about the industry. With films like The Devil Wears Prada and fashion horror stories, the industry has developed quite a negative reputation in the last decade. The media have become so focused on broadcasting pitfalls that they have failed to shed sufficient light on the good that is occurring in fashion.
This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern at Lands’ End’s corporate headquarters. The experience opened my eyes to the efforts that various retailers are making to change the industy stigma. Like many other companies, Lands’ End has countless initiatives and projects that serve to make the world a better place.
It’s time we rethink the way we view the fashion industry. We need to stop focusing on its shortcomings and bring attention to the amazing work retailers are doing around the world. Here are some of the ways in which designers and retailers are changing the industry:
World Bank’s WEvolve Program: In 2013, the World Bank launched the Blue Runway show in which blue-colored garments were showcased to address the issue of gender-based violence.The show took place in Mumbai and was the first step in their WEvolve Program. The program strives to utilize the powers from different industries such as fashion, arts, film, and music to raise awareness. According to the designer for the show, Manish Malhotra, “fashion has a comprehensive and universal appeal and can be a powerful instrument to raise awareness and promote action.” Their focus is not on the fashion. It is about educating the public and working to put an end to gender-based violence for men and women.
Same Sky Jewelry: This company raises women up from their troubled pasts and gives them a future. They employ women from genocide-ridden countries like Rwanda and give opportunities to those who were previously incarcerated with stable jobs. It is not just about giving them a job; the women are taught life skills so they can be successful even after they leave the company.
Falling Whistles: In an effort to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this company started selling whistle necklaces online. They encourage their customers to be whistleblowers for peace and to advocate change in the Congo. Their profits help bring Internet access to the Congo, improve the health care system, and increase employment.
Fashion Project: This e-commerce company allows customers to donate their designer goods that they then re-sell through their website. Fifty-five percent of the profits are donated to local and international charities. Just one designer dress that is sold on their website provides 300 meals to families in need and a pair of shoes funds 2 microfinance loans for female entrepreneurs in Uganda.