What’s in a Label?

Canadian Fair Trade Network

There’s often more to our clothing labels than meets the eye, and this new campaign from the Canadian Fair Trade Network is taking transparency to whole new heights – or should that be lengths? The series of printed adverts promote fairtrade buying habits by taking a hoodie, a blazer and other common items of clothing and adding a few more details about their provenance than most customers would probably bargain for. Anecdotes printed on the oversized labels describe different scenarios where clothes are typically made, and they are far from tall tales. Industrial accidents in Bangladesh, child labour in Cambodia, below-standard wages – these are just some of the issues garment workers face today. The red hoodie pictured above tells the story of Tejan:

“100% cotton. Made in Sierra Leone by Tejan. The first few times he coughed up blood he hid it from his family. They couldn’t afford medical treatment and he couldn’t risk losing his long-time job at the cotton plantation. When he fell into a seizure one day it could no longer be ignored. The diagnosis was pesticide poisoning. The lack of proper protective clothing has left him with leukemia at the age of 34. He has two daughters. One of them starts work at the factory next year.”

Each image concludes with the message that ‘This label doesn’t tell the whole story’, a reminder that there’s often a tragic legacy lurking behind the tiny tags on our clothes. In a few weeks time, you can follow the message of this campaign and turn your own shirt inside out for Fashion Revolution Day 2015, baring all to mark the two year anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

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Fun, fabrics, florals and fab fashion fits by local sewists – what a way to spend a day!

The @LibertyFabrics Showcase hosted by @2GreenZebras and @Regent_Street_Fabrics in Brisbane/Meanjin was a spectacular event. We learned the history of the iconic Liberty Fabrics from two legends, Mary-Ann Dunkley (Head of Design) and Anna Buruma (Archive Director), browsed stalls bursting with Liberty delights and cheered on our local sewist pals on the runway with the @StyleArc Fashion Parade. A little biased shoutout to our Sewing Manager Laura who graced the catwalk with her gorgeous make (check the bag and shoes!). Well done to all involved. πŸ‘πŸΌ

Melbourne/Naarm – it’s your turn this weekend. We can’t wait to see what our Southern friends create for the event. 

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#LibertyFabricsShowcase #RegentStreetFabrics #TwoGreenZebras #LibertyLondon #LibertyFabrics
Secret pjs all day everyday!

How sweet is this version of our Samford Set pattern - created in collab with Lindsey of @SewToGrow 😍

From @Claire.Creates.Clothes:

🟀🟣🟒 Colour spot blocking pregnancy friendly set 🟒🟣🟀

I wanted some #secretpyjamas that I can wear on the couch when I’m pregnant and after for breastfeeding, with a top that I can wear out of the house. Welcome the #PeppermintSamfordSet 

I made the Samford set top in a size F, one size up from my current bust and it’s the perfect amount of room for my expanding tummy, and will hopefully not be crazy oversized after pregnancy. I used a spotted linen that used to be considered good fabric, blocked with a organic linen sheet that was gifted to me for the sole purpose of being fabric by the lovely @heather_steenholdt 

The top came together super quickly and has already had lots of wear - couch, dinner and work β˜‘οΈ I even attached the buttons within a week of starting the project, who am I?!

I already had the shorts in the rust linen but never wear them because I don’t like the length or shape at all - they were a pants pattern that I just made shorter. So I cut them to have an inseam of 2.5” and added a 1.5 length ruffle cut at 3” in the contrast spot linen and love them so much more already. Although the shorts will now just be reserved for in house.

I’ve already planned 2 more Samford sets, but will size down to get more post pregnancy wear. And will tackle the pants!

Special thanks to Laura at @peppermintmagazine for sending me the Samford set instructions, you motivated me to put the buttons on before the baby actually arrives! 😁

Pattern: @PeppermintMagazine Samford set top
Size: F
Fabric: Linens

#PeppermintPatterns #PyjamasAllDay