TRANSPARENCY
As a business and as conscious designers, we are very much in our infancy, growing and learning with every turn.
As the world changes, so do we.
As technology advances, so do we.
And, just as we set out to change the Fashion Industry and demand transparency,
we hope you do too.
OUR ATELIERS
Building personal relationships with our Factories is vital to us. We are proud to call the people we work with more than our team but our friends. Our handbag makers are highly skilled and have been crafting carry-goods for many years which is evident in the quality and finesse of each of our products.
We diligently visit each factory and make it a point to build strong bonds with the founders, owners and skilled workers; as they too are a part of the A_C family.
We are certain that manufacturing in P.R.C is a good thing if done properly. And properly means respecting the rights of the men and women that we employ, giving them the means to acquire new skills and to receive education and training as well as fair wages and access to Healthcare.
To produce sustainably, we must work ethically.
CERTIFICATIONS
Certifications and Audits are a crucial part of the Social Compliance process. At A_C, we strive to work with ateliers who go above and beyond the regular certification culture and build their workplaces with ethics at the core of their ethos. These factories are not easy to find but they do exist.
The lowest wage paid by our suppliers is approximately 9% above the legal minimum wage, and the average wage is 16% above the minimum wage. All sample workers are paid 150% and 200% of regular wages for their overtime work on workdays and rest days respectively, which exceeds the statutory requirement.
Working with both suppliers and workers, we have calculated that this constitutes a living wage taking into account the principles of accepted living wage calculation methodologies. Our factory also provides generous annual leave and paid maternity leave for their workers and has a number of female-led leadership positions such as COO and Head of Production. Recently, our factory achieved a 'B' in their 2022 Amfori BSCI Audit.
This is what they have to say about it:
"Our hard work doesn't stop here and we will continue to push ourselves to achieve our goal of becoming one of the most sustainable, conscious and radically transparent factories on the Planet."
- Joey P, Factory Owner
THIS ENSURES
- Health and Safety: Employers shall provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees.
- Wages and Benefits: Employers shall pay employees sufficient wages to meet at minimum their basic needs.
- No Harassment or Abuse: All employees shall be treated with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subjected to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal abuse.
- No Forced Labour: No use of forced labour, whether it is prison, indentured or bonded labour.
- No Child Labour: No person younger than 18 years of age shall ever be employed.
OUR FACTORY'S MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT
"This statement is made pursuant to Section 54, Part 6 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps we have taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its supply chains or in any part of its business/es. We are fully aware of the importance of the Modern Slavery Act and highly appreciates this valuable approach to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from all areas of life.
We will continue to consider how best to improve staff engagement with the risks associated with Modern Slavery. Our factory strives to become the most socially compliant factory possible. In order to achieve this we will be audited annually by third parties and will be securing social compliance certifications of best fit for our manufacturing operations. We welcome all our clients to carry out their own audits & encourage all clients to visit on an annual basis."
'AHIMSA':
Because we intend to cause no harm.
We apply this word to the treatment of the planet, people and the animals. Through out the life and production of our wares, there is to be no suffering in any capacity.
'COLLECTIVE':
Because this isn't a movement exclusive to us. It requires a major shift in human behaviour in the way we produce and the way we consume.