CASE STUDY
Context:
Amplifying Garment Makers’ Voices: The Work of Venetia La Manna and Remember Who Made Them
Description:
Venetia La Manna is a prominent campaigner in the fair fashion movement, known for her advocacy efforts on social media platforms. She actively challenges fashion brands for their detrimental impact on the environment and exposes retailers’ unethical practices, often leading initiatives against major players in the industry. Venetia is a co-founder of Remember Who Made Them, a movement that seeks to invigorate a new solidarity economy within the fashion industry, with a focus on amplifying the voices and concerns of garment makers.
Source: ‘Remember who made them’ website homepage (link)
Remember Who Made Them is leading the charge towards a new solidarity economy within the fashion industry, prioritizing the wellbeing of workers over corporate profits, promoting greater social and environmental responsibility in the clothes we purchase, and empowering the communities in which these clothes are produced.
Remember Who Made Them addresses the critical issue of labor and dignity for garment workers, advocating for fashion brands and their owners to be held accountable and to pay fair wages. The movement seeks to elevate existing campaigns and avoid competing with them, while refusing to return to the status quo. By transforming the future of fashion, Remember Who Made Them recognizes the power of clothing as a means of self-expression and creativity, but emphasizes the importance of remembering the people behind the garments we wear.
Lesson Learnt:
The story of Venetia La Manna and Remember Who Made Them highlights the critical importance of sustainability in the fashion industry, and the power of digital media to support change. The lesson learned is that the fashion industry needs to prioritize the well-being of workers over corporate profits, promote greater social and environmental responsibility, and empower the communities in which the clothes are produced. In addition, the fashion industry must be accountable for its practices and pay fair wages to its workers. Social media and digital platforms can be powerful tools for activists and campaigners, allowing them to expose unethical practices and mobilise support for their cause. By supporting fair fashion initiatives and advocating for sustainability, we can transform the future of the fashion industry and create a more just and equitable world.