NEW YORK – The state of Victoria in Australia has announced a financial support package for Ethical Apparel Australia to advance the area’s sustainable apparel manufacturing industry.
Manufacturers of textiles, apparel, and footwear are accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia to verify that strict guidelines, such as paying employees fairly and providing safe working conditions, are followed.
From the design phase until the shipping of finished clothes, a company’s production procedures are audited to receive accreditation.
AUS$4 million (US$2.57 million) has been allocated to the organization, which will be used to support the accreditation and monitoring of more enterprises as well as the provision of new training resources to ensure workplace safety.
Ben Carroll, the minister of industry and innovation, visited the social enterprise Clothing the Gaps to make the announcement and observe the support that Gunditjmara women Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan are receiving from Ethical Clothing Australia.
Clothing the Gaps, a fashion brand based in Brunswick, honors Aboriginal people and culture via its designs and offerings, producing goods with purpose.
Clothing the Gaps is just one of more than 125 companies that Ethical Clothing Australia has approved, according to Rachel Reilly, national manager. “This funding boost will not only allow ECA to continue expanding the accreditation program in Victoria to protect, uphold, and safeguard the rights of Victorian garment workers, but it will also give business owners — particularly women — of a female-dominated industry the chance to elevate and amplify their voices,” the executive said.
