10 years ago we wondered about one thing. About which products could become bridges between rural communities of Guatemala and markets. The answer to that was fashion. Fashion can bring benefits to these communities.
One can think that the fashion industry is frivolous and shallow. But, Wakami has proven that fashion can be a vehicle that brings prosperity to many people. There is no such thing as a shallow product if it is for transforming lives.
Ethical Fashion and Wakami
Clothing has been part of human history from the beginning. One of the first things that humans did was to cover themselves. Ancient civilizations (like Mayan or Egyptian) saw jewelry and accessories as a statement. A statement that spoke about their religion or their status. But in which moment did we let fashion become a harmful industry? Nowadays we hear how human slavery, child labor or animal testing are part of fashion. Fashion has harmed our environment. The average U.S. citizen, throws 82 pounds of textile per year. This industry is considered the second one that produces more pollution in the world.
There is Hope
The ethical fashion movement is changing the game for us. There are brands and designers that are making clothes and textiles ethically. They maximize benefits for communities, artisans, and animals, while minimizing harm. Ethical fashion has proven that the clothing industry can bring positive outcomes. Not only can it bring no harm, but it also benefits and transform the lives of the people inside these value chains.
With our handmade bracelets, we are transforming the lives of more than 500 women. We do that by bringing prosperity to their families. Thanks to our value chain, we are giving scholarships to kids in rural Guatemala. We’re helping Wakami families to get products that can change their living conditions. Many things like water filters and solar energy. In Wakami, we focus on creating opportunities for women. So that these women, that never knew they could dream, can now make their dreams a reality.
Here at Wakami, we’re excited to showcase other projects that are making this world a better place. We want to learn with you how to become better consumers. How to be more informed and how to be more conscious about the impact that our fashion choices can have. Do you want to join Wakami on this adventure? By learning together and being part of a conscious community we can create a world in which purpose, prosperity and hope is there for everyone.
Thank you for joining us!
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I also spoke a little about fashion as a hero in another article we posted before! Check it out to know a little more about our motivation!