Sweatshops.  Exploitation.  Child labour.  Everyone has heard about the more sinister aspects of the textile industry, but for most of us a practical solution remains somewhat elusive.  Short of boycotting Primark and dressing exclusively in People Tree, there is little the average person can do to ensure that their fashion remains ethically sourced.  Perhaps, though, with a little help from SIFE Cambridge and their Alora project, finding a May Ball dress with a conscience will pose less of a problem.

In Vietnam, the textile industry is booming, labour intensive, and made up mostly of women.  Exploitation remains a highly relevant issue, with many workers putting in extortionately long hours for little reward, producing mass made products for worldwide export.  Although some skilled tailors are able to ‘cut out the middle man’ by providing custom made garments for the tourist market, this requires skill and training which is sadly unavailable to the most vulnerable of Vietnam’s women, including victims of domestic abuse, HIV sufferers and single mothers.

Alora hopes to help tailors in Vietnam grow in independence and strength by facilitating the export and sale of high quality, custom made May Ball dresses to the Cambridge market.  Selling individually designed, Vietnamese silk goods, Mrs Yen is currently one of the most successful tailors in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city.  Her shop has allowed her to gain invaluable business skills, independence and, ultimately, a way out of poverty.  By selling dresses to Cambridge students, Mrs Yen hopes to expand her business and explore avenues of sale outside of the Vietnamese tourist industry.  But Alora does not stop at helping those lucky few who already have the training necessary to develop such a business.  The profit made through the sale of Mrs Yen’s dresses will be used to help women currently struggling with exploitation and poverty by providing them with the training and machinery they need to move away from mass made products, toward bespoke tailoring, a fairer income and a better quality of life.

By buying a dress through Alora, the Cambridge student does not only obtain for themselves a uniquely designed, personally tailored ball gown, nor are they simply managing to avoid putting their money into the pockets of ethically questionable businesses.  They are actively supporting the growth of establishments such as Mrs Yen’s and, by doing so, are providing a livelihood for other vulnerable women who so desperately need it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Design and Measure Session: Friday 4th March from 18.00 – 20.00, in the Buckingham Room, Magdalene College

Second Design and Measure Session: Sunday 13th March from 12.30 - 14.30, in the Buckingham Room, Magdalene College

Pricing: £75 - £90

More information and to preview designs: http://aloradressmaking.blogspot.com/

Please contact: alora.sife@gmail.com

Emily Winstanley is the Publicity Officer at SIFE Cambridge