Women keep the fashion industry running – we create trends, design collections and model them for the public. However often, we forget about some of the most important women in the fashion industry; the women who make our clothes. Too often, these women face disempowerment and exploitation. It's important to actively support brands that empower women in the fashion industry. Let’s explore some of these brands, and why they matter!
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Who are the women behind our clothes, and where are they?
Around the world, it’s estimated that 74 million people work creating textiles and garments. Of these people, about 80% of them are women of color. Women of color – especially Black women – are often at the forefront of fashion when it comes to the evolution of style, and often this is not acknowledged by the industry or society. Fashion frequently overlooks the critical intersections of feminism and racism, especially in terms of the treatment of women who produce our clothing.
Most garments around the world are made in China, Bangladesh and India. While the exploitation of garment workers can and does take place across the globe, the intensity of production in these places – and the impact of capitalism and colonialism on them – puts women in these places at a higher risk.
What problems do the women who make our clothes face?
Many garment workers today create clothing in what are considered ‘modern-day slavery conditions’. Modern-day slavery looks different from slavery experienced in recent history, but it is slavery all the same. It is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain and normally occurs hidden from the world’s view. Today, a shocking 1 in 200 people face modern slavery, with women and girls making up 71% of these people. More than half of these people endure forced labor, often producing our clothes.
In 2013, a building in Bangladesh called Rana Plaza collapsed, killing 1,134 people and injuring 2,600 more. Inside this building, workers sewing clothes for fast fashion brands sold in the global west voiced their fears for their lives due to the loud creaking of the walls and evident lack of building safety. Despite this, employers insisted that they keep working to generate profits for the big brands.
This event brought a largely hidden issue into the global view, with news coverage from all across the world. However, almost a decade later, similar problems still persist. These include:
Unsafe Work Conditions
Despite the supposed wake-up call of Rana Plaza, too many women make our clothes in unsafe conditions.
For example, people create distressed denim by using high-pressure hoses filled with sand to blast the jeans. This sand can cause serious respiratory issues for workers. Similarly, workers who iron clothes before they are shipped off to America, Europe and Australia have reported doing so in windowless, unventilated rooms that are so hot and steam-filled, it causes them to faint. Other reports have even shown women – including pregnant women – who demand safety gear in sweatshops to be sacked just for asking for their basic safety.
Poverty Payment
Did you know that just 2% of garment workers around the world are paid a fair, living wage? This leaves the other 98% being paid what’s called a ‘poverty wage’ – a wage which cannot sustain a person’s basic needs like housing, food, and other essentials – keeping them in poverty.
Gender-Based Violence
Women working to make our clothes are denied maternity leave and even fired for becoming pregnant. In Cambodia, another hotspot for cheap clothing production, 1 in 3 women working in the garment industry experience sexual assault, harassment and violence. In Bangladesh, 28% of garment workers face this. This is unacceptable.
What’s more, while women make up the majority of the garment industry’s workforce, they are far less likely to ever be in a managerial position or a higher-paying leadership role. This contributes to gendered power imbalances, which perpetuate sexism and violence.
What can brands do to support the women who make our clothes?
Fashion is inherently anti-feminist and racist if it relies on the exploitation of poorer women of colour to exist. For brands to stand in solidarity with the women who make their clothes, they need to pay them living wages, ensure they have their human rights, and a safe place to work.
However, this is the bare minimum. While it’s, unfortunately, the case when most of the fashion industry is so exploitative, a brand being ethical should not be something to celebrate – it should be the expected norm.
While this cycle of poverty and harm persists, some brands are working even harder to change how this system operates, building their entire brand around empowering women in the fashion industry.
Let’s take a look at some of them!
Ethical & Sustainable Brands that Empower Women:
1. PAKA
Did you know that one in three Peruvian children under the age of 5 has chronic malnutrition?
With women in developing countries reinvesting 90% of their income back into the family and community, PAKA aims to change this by multiplying each weaver's daily income by 8x. This will make a huge difference in each woman's ability to make decisions, feed her children, and bring them to the hospital when necessary! Plus, the women weavers are able to use their skills and preserve their heritage and Inca culture.
Besides being a brand who empowers women, PAKA has created a natural, sustainable clothing line for those who love the outdoors.
They believe using eco-friendly materials like their super soft Royal Alpaca that can connect consumers more to nature and sustainably support small communities.
Their products allow consumers to trace each item back to its fiber source, and each product features a QR code that shows the farm where the fiber was harvested.
2. Daughters of India
Daughters of India is an inspiring woman-owned brand dedicated to empowering female artisans in rural India by promoting beautiful and sustainable fashion. They specialize in crafting charming hand-printed dresses that reflect the skills and creativity of local artisans.
When you purchase from Daughters of India, you’re not just buying a dress; you’re helping to provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and a path toward economic independence for these talented women. This brand empowers women by actively preserving traditional textile techniques, enabling them to support their families and keep their cultural heritage alive.
With a focus on slow fashion, Daughters of India prioritizes the use of natural fibers and aims to create minimal waste. Each dress tells a story of empowerment and sustainability.
3. All the Wild Roses
All the Wild Roses is a fantastic brand run by women that actively uplifts female artisans in Vietnam. They focus on providing fair wages and safe working conditions, helping women gain economic independence. Specializing in beautiful, vintage-inspired bohemian dresses made from upcycled and sustainable fabrics, they ensure their fashion has a minimal impact on the environment.
By valuing artisan craftsmanship, All the Wild Roses empowers women to achieve financial stability and build brighter futures for their families. With a commitment to transparent sourcing and ethical production, they create a strong sense of community and support. When you purchase from this brand that empowers women, you’re not just buying a dress; you’re supporting women-owned cooperatives and contributing to positive change in the world.
4. The Tote Project
A beautiful brand created to give back!
Based on friendship & a shared dream, Fay Grant and Michelle Chavez started The Tote Project to support the recovery of victims of modern-day slavery.
With hope, they strive to empower survivors of human trafficking by providing them opportunities and helping show their worth & potential.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and there are currently over 20 million victims worldwide.
This brand that empowers women donates 10% of gross profits to Two Wings to support survivors of human trafficking in the US. Plus, they partner with factories that support women survivors.
Every tote is handmade by Oasis Bags in a sustainable factory in India from fair-trade certified cotton. The factories in Kolkata actively empower women by providing them with opportunities to work. Freeset, a fair trade business, employs these women who are escaping West Bengal’s sex trade to create pouches.
5. Outland Denim
This denim brand that empowers women (which offers a selection of jeans with vegan leather patches) uses traceable, sustainable organic cotton, and even uses some clay-dyed denim. Outland also creates other garments from organic cotton and linen, with a selection of skirts, dresses and shirts.
Outland actively champions the abolition of slavery, with freedom and liberty at the heart of the brand and its values.
The brand creates their clothing in Cambodia, where unjust practices are rife in the textile industry.
In opposition to this, the brand pays fair living wages and offers a safe, comfortable alternative for working women – often those previously working in dangerous sweatshop conditions.
Outland Denim labels include messages from the seamstresses who make the garments, and you can learn about the people behind their clothes on their website.
6. Minna
Minna collaborates with artisans in Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Uruguay, and Bolivia. In Uruguay, they work with the largest network of women-run co-ops in the country. These partnerships provide fair wages and safe working conditions for workers. Minna creates all of its handmade pieces through thoughtful production methods that emphasize sustainability. They use eco-friendly materials and collaborate with factories that prioritize small-batch production, ensuring the highest quality goods. Minna actively shares information about how they place orders sustainably and their payment process, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting their artisans.
They also honor the traditional techniques created from years of craft expertise and collaborate to create the designs.Their designs draw inspiration from Feminist art, the Bauhaus movement, traditional crafts, and vintage textiles. By utilizing organic, recycled, and conventional materials, all of their pieces are thoughtfully curated.
7. Aday
Aday is changing the way women dress with stylish, minimalist clothing that makes life easier while being kind to the planet. Founded by two inspiring women, Aday focuses on creating versatile, long-lasting pieces that effortlessly fit into busy lifestyles—whether you’re at work, traveling, or just enjoying everyday moments. The brand is all about slow fashion, using innovative, eco-friendly fabrics that help reduce waste and protect the environment.
Aday also champions female entrepreneurship and leadership, showing that fashion can empower women while staying ethical. When you choose Aday, you're not just getting comfortable and confident clothing; you're also supporting a brand that's committed to conscious consumption.
8. Aid Through Trade
Aid Through Trade is a trailblazer in fair-trade jewelry, dedicated to providing sustainable jobs for female artisans in Nepal. Founded by a visionary woman who believes in economic empowerment, the brand creates beautiful handcrafted Roll-On® Bracelets, lovingly made with care and cultural tradition.
By offering fair wages, safe working conditions, and educational opportunities, Aid Through Trade helps women support their families and gain financial independence. Their ethical approach nurtures self-sufficiency and confidence, showing that even small accessories can have a big impact. Each bracelet carries a story of hope, resilience, and the transformative power of ethical fashion.
9. Alterre
Alterre is a woman-owned brand that’s changing the footwear game with beautiful, interchangeable shoes that are good for the planet. With their innovative designs, women can easily switch up their look while also being mindful of waste.
Alterre is dedicated to empowering women, partnering with organizations like Restore NYC to help survivors of trafficking rebuild their lives. Their commitment to ethical manufacturing means fair labor practices and a smaller environmental footprint. When you choose Alterre, you're not just getting a versatile, high-quality product; you’re also supporting meaningful causes that uplift and protect women.
10. Mata Traders
Mata Traders aims to ‘fashion a better world’ by creating designs that celebrate a woman’s originality and empower her to use her dollar for change. They partner with several Fair Trade organizations in India and Nepal that train and employ hundreds of artisans in marginalized communities. They are known for fun prints, patterns and colors. Their printed dresses made with handwoven cotton and tops with hand-embroidered designs are perfect for summer!
Mata means ‘mother’ in Hindi & is a tribute to Shakti - the female creative power in all of us.
Every time you purchase a piece from Mata Traders, you are preserving an art form, fighting gender equality, and empowering women in India & Nepal
11. Anchal
A non-profit social enterprise, Anchal is providing alternative careers in textiles to marginalized and exploited women in India.
It was created by sisters Colleen & Maggie Clines after they were inspired from a visit to Ajmer, India.
There, they learned of the extreme oppression many women faced as commercial sex workers in the region.
They also noticed the economic opportunity with the area’s textiles.
By merging contemporary designs and the traditional Kantha quilting techniques from North India they were able to change lives and support stronger sustainable communities. Anchal believes 'design thinking' is the creative approach to problem solving, and we couldn't agree more.
Anchal Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit and is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
12. Laude the Label
Designed by women, Made by women. LAUDE the Label supports women artisans in five countries — Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, India, and Peru. This brand understands the importance of investing in the people behind its products. All of their artisans are paid fair-trade wages on time! Fair wages are 2-3 times the minimum wage where they operate. These wages mean artisans can support themselves and their families. In addition, LAUDE the Label visits their manufacturers every year to make sure artisans are in healthy working conditions and never working more than 8 hours a day.
LAUDE the Label is a Certified B Corp Brand & a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
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