The fashion industry’s 4 biggest women’s empowerment programs ‘step up’ to measure impact

BSRS HER project, Gap IncS
PACE
program, Care And A better job They have teamed up for a new initiative.
Arise: Rethinking Industry to Support Equality To strengthen the impact and accelerate equality of women working in the global apparel, footwear and home goods supply chain.

of ILO
Women make up 75 percent of the 60 million garment workers worldwide – with limited mobility in their jobs, limited control over their earnings and increased risk of harassment and barriers to gender equality in supply chains.

Although many organizations have been working to improve women’s access for years, the UN Secretary-General’s address to the Commission on the status of women ahead of International Women’s Day (March 8) Antonio Gutierrez “Decades of progress are disappearing before our eyes,” he said. On the current track, UN Women 300 years away,” he said.

From collaboration to integration

Each of RISE’s four founding partners began working on gender equality around 2007 and have been collaborating on separate initiatives in exciting fashion. However, they soon realized that the same workplace training was sometimes offered in the same workplaces, which created duplication and confusion in the industry; Therefore, the founding partners decided to move from cooperation to integration.

“For a long time, we’ve been telling businesses that advancing gender equality is best achieved through collaboration. No one entity can do it alone. Thus, it quickly became clear that coming together as one entity was the only way to accelerate the advancement of gender equality in the supply chain – and RISE was born.” Christine answers.

Combining the knowledge of the founding partners

RISE brings together four organizations with 15+ years of experience implementing women’s empowerment programs across global supply chains. These organizations work with 50 of the world’s largest apparel brands and reach more than five million female employees worldwide. RISE builds on the proven approaches and expertise of its four founding organizations, delivered through a growing network of local partners. Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia,
India, Egypt And Pakistan.

“By joining together to form RISE, our industry can leverage the strongest elements of each of our proven empowerment programs for the women who work in our supply chains, deep, broad and sustainable,” he said.
Sally GilliganChief Growth Transformation Officer, Gap Inc., on behalf of PACE

Expand your influence in the industry

RISE supports brands, buyers and suppliers to empower women working in their apparel, footwear and homewares supply chains and has a wider impact on promoting gender equality in the industry as a whole. RISE pursues its mission through three main strategies: (1) strengthening the knowledge and skills of factory workers and managers; (2) changing business practices to include gender equality, and (3) influencing public policy and other key actors.

“Integrating BSR’s HERProject with other leading women’s empowerment programs is a logical and necessary next step in bringing these proven solutions to scale.”
Aaron KramerPresident and CEO of BSR. “As a combined force, RISE can drive real action and impact for both businesses and women workers by tackling the complex issues of gender equality in global apparel supply chains.

Companies supporting the development of RISE include: Abercrombie and Fitch Company,
AJ and AJ Athletica, AEO Inc (American Eagle And Ari),
best seller, Boden, Capri Holdings, The Carters, Columbia sportswear company, do, Hannah Anderson, Inditex, Macys Inc, Mark and Spencer, A new balance, Primark, PVH Corporation, Ralph Lauren, Tapestry, Inc, Target, Children’s place, The Walt Disney Company, The warehouse (NZ), Victoria’s Secret and Company, VF Corporation And Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

“This partnership is unparalleled in its ability to affect change at every level, from the organization – bringing together a diverse range of brands and retailers and industry stakeholders who all agree on the importance of working together to improve working conditions for women in the apparel sector,” he said. Connor BoyleIn charge of better work.

Changing systems and features

RISE’s capacity-building workplace programs aim to promote women’s dignity and equality in the workplace by changing both behaviors and systems. The programs expand the skills and confidence of workers to exercise choice and their rights and opportunities. The training engages male managers and colleagues to challenge social norms in the workplace.

RISE goes beyond workplace programs to drive positive change and policy reforms across the industry. Employee voice and representation at all levels, from management to project implementation, includes ensuring that the work is responsive to women’s needs and workplace priorities.

“CARE is excited to be a part of this collaborative effort to transform the apparel industry. RISE brings together industry stakeholders – brands, suppliers, women’s rights organizations and unions – to drive systemic change led by women’s voices,” he said. Lona StollVP of Innovation and Impact at CARE.

Galvanizing industry action

Brands, buyers and suppliers can join RISE and invest in a workplace program for their apparel supply chain. Programs are currently operating in Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Egypt and Pakistan.

“Now is the time to step up our support for women workers in the global apparel supply chain,” Svarer said. “RISE will benefit from the proven practices of its founding partners and help reach more women, expand to more geographies and create more change. Brands and suppliers can join RISE to take serious action on gender equality.