Day 1 - Send a story
When we imagine fast fashion production, we picture rows of women in factories bent over sewing machines. But that’s not the whole story. Outside the factory gates, millions of workers are involved in the garment business – sewing, packing and finishing clothing from their own homes or small, unregulated workshops.
Homeworkers receive work when the factory can’t fulfil an order or have additional work which doesn’t need a factory setting.
‘I get paid only by the piece, if I am not well and cannot do work, I am not paid that day. There is no fixed income, or wages. Medical insurance, pension doesn’t exist’ E. Kamalam, Homeworker, India
There’s no guarantee of work and homeworkers do not receive minimum wage and are paid a much lower rate per piece they complete (daily wages can get as low as 89p per day). There is often no formal written contract of work, their contributions are often ignored, and they are not formally recognised as workers and receive no state benefits, such as maternity pay, sick leave, or pensions.
Despite the challenges, homeworking provides vital income to many people who cannot work outside the home. The vast majority are women with caring responsibilities, whether for young children or elderly relatives. Older people, too, often support themselves through homework when they are no longer able to work in a factory setting.
‘I worked in a factory for 8 years, there was a fixed income, bonus, ESI [medical insurance], PF [pension] facilities. In Homebased work none of these exist but I can take care of my house, kids and do the work which wouldn’t have been possible in factory.’ J. Sathya, Homeworker, India
What needs to change
Over two thirds of global fashion brands don’t have policies recognising homeworking. Without a policy, suppliers assume that homeworking is banned and so hide their use of homeworkers, not declaring their work and keeping homeworkers trapped in low paid work.
Even brands with homeworker policies need to do more to put these policies into action. They must ensure these polices are explicitly shared with suppliers, and undertake comprehensive audits to uncover homeworking and ensure homeworkers are paid a fair wage. Only then will homeworkers stop being fashion’s least respected workers.
Here's what we're asking you to do
Take a few minutes out of your day and send a story to 18 UK fashion brands* in one go.
This is how it works:
Pick one of six powerful stories by homeworkers that capture what the least respected job in the fashion sector is really like
Add a short message about why it matters to you
Hit send
That's it. But it really matters.
Please note: The women featured in this campaign are not necessarily making clothes for the brands we are targeting. However the stories you send are representative of the experiences of homeworkers around the world.
*Boohoo, Burberry, Clarks, Fatface, Gymshark, New Look, Next, Oliver Bonas, Pentland, Sports Direct, Superdry, Ted Baker, The White Company, Very Group