This week in 2013, 1133 people died in the Rana Plaza catastrophe in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A further 2500 were injured while working for some of the world’s biggest fast fashion brands.
While BACO’s headquarters is a long way from the horrid injustices that plague the garment industry, we are constantly faced with the reality of how undervalued and underpaid artisans are.
Often hidden from the limelight, designers and brands fight to keep the identity of their coveted artisans a secret, in order to protect the intellectual property and creativity they are famous for. Yet many of the men and women who meticulously stitch the embroidery and the leather straps of our designer ready-to-wear and handbags are often paid the bare minimum to get their families by, living on a month-to-month basis.
When we started BACO, our focus was on underground ateliers and labels founded on handmade values. Since then, we have met so many designers and artists who are true trend purveyors — working in a sustainable way, yet are struggling to survive in a competitive global market, which is actually thirsty for fresh creativity.
This niche corner of fashion that we shine a light on has opened our eyes as to why leaders and the media need to seriously support a more ethical fashion industry that strives to greatly improve the livelihood of artisans and factory workers alike.
As the overstimulated, tech-crazed world spins dangerously out of control, we often see our fellow man drift back into the past, in search of practices of yesteryear.
This week we focus on a few artisans that satisfy man’s need for true craftsmanship.
BACI,
Sofia
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Marta Ferri: The Contemporary Atelier, Lorenzo Borghi: Old Style Milliner, Freccia Bestetti: Too International for Just Italy, Brunello Cucinelli: The King of Cashmere, The Mini World of Ginevra Dondina, Passaggio Cravatte: A Treasure Chest of Ties
