Journal
Being the Revolution, one day at a time
Fashion Revolution Week is now. This is an annual event that reminds us of the devastating incident which happened in Bangladesh 8 years ago when the Rana Plaza building collapsed. The building housed a number of garment factories which employed around 5000 people who were manufacturing clothing for many of the biggest global fashion brands.
We ARE the Revolution Baby!
This week is FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK. Sometimes it feels like every week there is another cause or mission that we should be aware off. We don't want to start feeling dismissive or indifferent but I guess, it's really hard to keep up! Many of you will be here already because you love what we do and know of this cause, but just in case you don't, here it is...
The Little Guide to the Big Story of the Fashion Revolution
When did it start and why? Fashion Revolution was founded in 2013 in response to the Rana Plaza collapse which was a garment factory in the Dhaka district of Bangladesh. The building owners ignored warnings of structural cracks and ordered everyone to work. 1134 people died in the disaster with another 2500 people injured.
Who started it? FR was founded by Carry Sommers and Orola de Castro. Both women have had long careers in fashion focussing on radical transparency and up-cycling.
What did they hope to achieve? Awareness about the human cost of making budget fashion and to encourage meaningful change in the industry.
How do they do this? By getting the word out to as many people as possible. Their hashtag #WhoMadeYourClothes launched in 2015 was the No.1 global trend on twitter and by 2018 has received 99.8 impressions on twitter! Their video The 2 Euro T-shirt which was a social experiment has had close to 8 million views and won a Cannes Lion Award.
Please share #WhoMadeYourClothes today and if you're a maker, please share #IMadeYourClothes.
Thank you to our beautiful team for being part of the Revolution and thank you, to you for supporting us.
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Everybody Dance Now
#charmeneyap takes the Feel Good Friday class
Sydney Dance Company is offering online classes through their virtual studio! The classes are mostly beginner levels and include contemporary, tap, jazz and hip hop. Try out one class for $12 and if you are keen you can buy a pack or even do unlimited classes for $28 per week.
So make some room in your lounge room and you may well unleash your next career move/s. View the classes at SDC here.
The Sadie Tee
The Sadie is our winning long sleeved tee, the perfect piece for this trans-seasonal weather.
The shape reminds us of an easy, cool 70's vibe - think Ali McGraw in Love Story (without the sad bit!)
The deep, scooped neckline means you're not so covered up but the long sleeves are cosy giving you the best of both worlds.
Wear this neckline with a choker or a fine chain or add a kerchief or a warm scarf for cooler days.
Team it with something casual like our Calder or Wide Leg Jeans.
Cut from our classic mid weight Japanese organic cotton rib the Sadie is available in Ecru, Black, Moss and Lilac.
We make each piece in our Ethical Clothing Australia certified factory located in Melbourne. Each garment is sewn by one of our incredible machinists that have over 20 years industry experience.
Book a Virtual Appointment!
Make a time to chat to one our experienced stylists Thea or Anna about anything Arnsdorf related.
It's a 15 minute hook up via FaceTime:)
Maybe you have a question about the fabric or fit of a particular style?
Maybe you would like some styling tips on an Arnsdorf piece you already have in your wardrobe?
If your best time is not available, please reply to this email and we will do our best to make it happen.
We'd love to see you!
Stay well, from all of us here at Arnsdorf X
A letter from our designer, Jade Sarita Arnott.
To our community of women,
The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, which claimed 1,138 lives and injured 2500 more due to unsafe working conditions had a big impact on me personally. It happened 5 years ago today when I was living in New York and still during my time away from the industry. The devastation of the tragedy and enormity of it sent shockwaves across the globe. It was at that moment I decided if I was ever to be part of the industry I had walked away from it would mean I would need to have full transparency and control over the working conditions of the people involved in making my designs. From this realisation came the foundations of what would be the relaunch of Arnsdorf, in which we decided we would not outsource our ethics, but instead bring the manufacturing process in-house. We decided not only to show you ‘who made your clothes’ during Fashion Revolution week (which is such an incredible initiative that we are proud to be a part of) but to always provide you with this information for each and every garment we make. We also decided to provide you with full transparency of the labor and material costs for each garment as well as the entire supply chain, including where our materials are sourced from. A year ago we were working on the samples for the first release collection. The team consisted of myself and Gemma Cahill, who I employed 2 days a week to sew the samples in our tiny garage studio in Keele St, Collingwood. We had one industrial straight stitch, a cover stitch machine, buttonhole machine and overlocker machine. I did all the cutting by hand while Gemma sewed the pieces together as we listened to endless podcasts. One year on Gemma and I both work 5 days a week in the factory which is now 4 times the size and in Easey Street, Collingwood. Gemma is now our Production Manager and we are joined by our fellow team of machinists Annie, Thi and Thi Ca and will soon include an in-house cutter. We now have 4 straight stitch machines and a keyhole button machine and an industrial sized cutting table and electric cutter.
Although we have grown considerably in the last year we remain a tight knit team. We enjoy each other's company and share knowledge on a professional level, as well as snippets of our personal lives. I feel so honoured and grateful to know and work alongside these incredible women daily. Together we are part of this fashion revolution that is beginning throughout the world. We are at a turning point in history, where each of us individually as well as collectively are deciding what type of world we want to live in. Is a $5 t-shirt more important than the safety of the lives of those who are working to produce it? In Bangladesh garment workers are paid as little as 43 cents an hour for 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week. In our factory in Melbourne, our machinists receive above the award and the same wages as other skilled workers in Australia. I want to thank you for all of your support over this last year of our relaunch. It is because of your ongoing support that we can provide our workers with a safe and happy environment in which they are respected and appreciated while doing meaningful work. They are part of the bigger vision of transforming this industry and preserving the craftsmanship and skills of this art. Thank you for valuing the quality and care in which we create each one of your products. We are in the final stages of our Ethical Textiles Clothing Australia certification, and look forward to what the next year holds.
Best,
Jade Sarita Arnott
Arnsdorf founder and designer