Fair Wear backs Red Carpet Green Dress initiative for vulnerable garment workers

Fair Wear is proud to support the Red Carpet Green Dress Global Design Contest 2020 (in partnership with TENCEL™ Luxe) in raising funds for two organisations that work closely with Fair Wear: Awaj Foundation in Bangladesh and The Fifth Pillar in Myanmar.

Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGD) is a campaign founded by environmentalist Suzy Amis Cameron, which seeks to draw attention to the importance of more sustainable practices in fashion. The 2020 design competition is the latest of a string of initiatives aimed at bringing sustainable solutions to the global fashion market. The contest challenges designers around the globe to create a stunning, sustainable look worthy of the red carpet. The current COVID-19 crisis has put millions of already-vulnerable garment workers in an even worse position. With that context in mind, a percentage of funds raised through the competition entry fees – as well as direct contributions from RCGD and partners – will go towards helping those garment workers.

Supported by the Conscious Fashion Campaign in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the funds will be directed to local organisations Awaj Foundation in Bangladesh and The Fifth Pillar in Myanmar, both of which are trusted Fair Wear partners. Fair Wear’s role will be to support The Fifth Pillar to manage and distribute funds to workers, and to coordinate with other stakeholders and factories.

The Fifth Pillar is a rights- and legal-based NGO with a mission of strengthening democratic institutions in Myanmar. Myanmar, one of the production countries in which Fair Wear is active, employs nearly 400,000 workers in its garment industry, of which approximately 90% are (young) women. As such, The Fifth Pillar and Fair Wear’s focus will be on delivering Doe Lote Thar cash assistance project to support pregnant garment workers who have lost jobs and wages due to the pandemic. So far, at time of writing, The Fifth Pillar has received funds to provide for 72 women who are either pregnant or suffer from health problems.  

Labour rights training by The Fifth Pillar in Myanmar

In addition to the funds from the design contest, RCGD is also providing The Fifth Pillar with thousands of reusable face masks to help protect garment workers from harm. These will be distributed via local trade unions and local organisations.

The competition is running from 12 May – 30 July 2020, and is open to any and all designers over the age of 21, whether amateur or professional. Designers can submit their applications through this page. There is a lot up for grabs: the winning designers will receive the opportunity to present their work to an audience of eco-influencers in LA, a business mentorship and a monetary reward. Not only that, but winners will have a one in a lifetime chance to dress prominent figures in the fashion and entertainment industry on the red carpet. Winners will be selected in late August by an international panel of experts in the sustainable fashion realm.

Read more about the Red Carpet Green Dress Global Design Contest 2020 in partnership with TENCEL™ Luxe here.

Read more about Fair Wear’s work in Bangladesh and Myanmar.