Clothing for a Cause

       The fashion industry can be at times represented as being shallow and materialistic driven people who only want money. However, the industry also does have its soft side, with clothing for a cause. From helping those who are in third world countries getting access to clean water, or preserving wildlife in Africa, the fashion industry is always ready to help when needed. Something that I have felt vary passionate for is clothing with a story. Were the clothes are made responsibly by upholding the standards of human rights, and have an intend goal that goes far beyond the idea of dressing people. If money was not a problem, I could see myself possibly working at J.Crew and with there charity collaborations that they do monthly. I mean honesty, being a brand that cares the quality of the clothes and the people that help make them is inspirational for me to be a better consumer.  

         Some of my favorite clothing brands that has taken a stance to helping the international community right now is J.Crew. They collaborated with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for spring and summer of 2015. The organization is about protecting baby elephants where they have lost their mother by poachers in the hunt for ivory. The limited edition collection is a line of elephant grey colored sweaters, with simple illustrations of elephant outlines done by artiest Hugo Geniuses. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the trust in protecting these baby elephants. This is one of my current favorite collaborations, as I love elephants and also J.Crew. But also it shows that the fashion industry is taking a strong stance in helping Africa with the problem of the ivory trade. 

     

  

      The second brand that is also taking a global stance is Fashion4Freedom, as their mission is too produce fashion that is responsible for people and the environment. As around the world workers rights violation happens for the fast production of goods with cheap labor. The goal of F4F is that they are producing goods in developing countries where they are helping workers work out of poverty by helping them work in this growing market. So, this will be allowing them to work in a market of the fashion industry where the fashion is in the craft that the workers produce. Thus, they belive that this translate in to a better product for the consumer. I also believe that this is only one of the few companies that are taking a market that is growing rapidly, and using that to help people that would other wise would not be able to take advantage of. So, by doing that they are helping the prevention of cheap labor. 

        

      The last brand that got my attention was Etike. They are a jewelry brand that works with Native American artist to help them have a stable flow of income. They mainly sell handmade brackets that are made of beads that are from that region. The second important point of this company is also to help showcase the traditions of the Native American art. As each of the pieces in the collection have a backstory that is tied in with each of the artist that makes them. I found this interesting because this in the United States, and that this art is so small and the push to make it in to the mass market seemed interesting to me. In the end, I found that the correlations interesting to me as they each shared the same sets of morals. As each of them believe in the craft of each pice, rather then the cost of the clothes. And, the also each uphold the importance of the labor polices.