We are eight years away from the expectation of reaching the benchmarks set by the United Nations as part of their 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are a blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all.

Last week, we talked about the need for a Fashion Revolution and today we want to continue the discussion revolving around the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change & environmental degradation. In this post, we highlight the five SDG’s that Moi Namaste is tackling through its work in slow creation & craft preservation.

SDG 1 No Poverty

As a brand, we prioritize working with organized and legal setups that pay their workers fairly, invest in their capacity building and are truly committed to empowering their makers. We encourage our maker organizations to go beyond the fair wage benchmarks set by the industry but look at reaching the living wage benchmarks. 

As per the Global Living Wage Coalition, the average living wage for the garment industry in India should be between 14,000 Indian rupees per month. Though only one of our groups comes close to hitting that benchmark, we empathize with our makers. We understand that without consistent orders, the move towards paying a living wage is a slow one for our makers. We are here to be by their side! 

SDG 5 Gender Equality

We prioritize working with organizations that care and act upon gender equality measures. Our maker groups like Aftertaste India, Runway Nagaland, and Mahashakti Seva Kendra are all 100% woman-led and women-benefitting. Since our inception, we have been able to collaborate with 14 craft groups employing over 250 artisans, of which 90% were women.

However, it is important to note, that we do not discriminate between either gender and ensure equal opportunities & fair wages for all.

SDG 8 Decent Work & Economic Growth

By working with artisans across India, we are not only preserving their crafts, but also providing them with employment opportunities that help them sustain their livelihood. We partner with small women-run, women-benefitting groups across India that provide safe, fair, and dignified livelihood opportunities to both women and traditional craftspeople. 

By following the fair trade principles, we neither set nor bargain on price points – ensuring that each artisan earns a fair wage while working under safe & comfortable conditions to produce the highest quality of sustainable fashion apparel for our brand.

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption & Production

We practice a slow, small-batch production mindset by only producing 2 collections per year, compared to 52 seasonal collections of a mainstream, mass-market fashion model. This is because we produce clothing that is unique and made with love, discouraging over-consumption by the means of shopping on a regular basis to expand our wardrobes.

Knowing that 70% of global purchases are done at a discount, we choose not to partake in mass-craze sales like Black Friday, etc. We believe this promotes responsible consumption that is not harmful to society or the environment. 

SDG 13 Climate Action

The fashion industry is highly detrimental to our planet and its resources. As a brand, we prioritise using natural textiles (GOTS certified Organic Cotton), and low-carbon footprint printing techniques like Hand block printing using both Azo-free and natural dyes. Additionally, we upcycle many vintage textiles like Banarsi and crepe silk sarees, old patchwork quilts, embroidered & applique bedcovers, vintage Phulkari scarfs, etc. to ensure we reduce the amount of waste headed to landfills in India.

 
We believe that if every business today worked towards at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, we could certainly achieve a better future for ourselves and generations to come.