To choose ethical fashion is to appreciate the artisan, as well as the garment. Nine years ago, a building collapse at a Bangladesh clothing factory claimed the lives of 1,134 people — mostly young women.
Every year, on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, we join those who ask: who made my clothes?
Behind this seemingly simple question lies our commitment to a different kind of fashion industry – one that rejects anonymity. One in which the maker is identified by name and handmade craftsmanship is valued for its vital role in preserving culture.
Meet Dani Paraswati, a Javanese designer who discovered her passion at a young age. “My mother has been a seamstress since 1973. It was that talent that was passed down to me. Since I was a child, I often watched her work, and then I tried to make doll clothes. This interest of mine made me decide to become a designer,” says the artisan. “My goal in working with Novica is to expand marketing and expand product distribution channels overseas. My target is that my employees can still earn income during this difficult pandemic. I want to preserve traditional materials and motifs so that they are increasingly famous in the international market.”
