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fair wages

Anger
GlobalisationOpinions

Anger in the age of Climate Change: Fundamental change required

Anger … a strong, passionate emotion. Sometimes conducive as it gives loads of strength to fight for what we see as a ‘better world and society’. But also sometimes a shot into our own foot. In the sustainability world extemists views are common - on either side of the spectrum. Both sides advocating for fundamental change. But as it the choice of words suggests: fundamental change is only possible if we change fundamentally. All of us. Including the advocates and campaigners themselves.
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Diversity-and-Inclusion
Biz StrategyGlobalisationGovernance

Fashion Companies & their Boards of Directors: Rotten Eggs in a Diverse World

Diversity and Inclusion is a highly relevant topic not ‘just’ because it is all about equality and justice. But as long as entire parts of our global population remain disenfranchised, and desperate to just survive from day to day, tackling challenges - and in particular Climate Change - that affect all of us, indiscriminately, remains impossible. Boards of Directors set out the "Tone at the Top', also in matter of diversity and inclusion. In fashion companies, what exactly is the tone, the music, that they are creating?
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Cape Town Dancing Woman Mural
Biz StrategyGovernanceOpinions

The Colours of Us: Go serious – Or go home

This post is going to be somewhat more personal than how I usually write. Normally, I try to write and argument as factually and data driven as possible. I’m not one that feels comfortable to carry my emotions on my sleeve. And even less as some of the topics I write about are truly important to me. But: There are a couple of things that upset me in the present. They related to the #blacklivesmatter movement on the one hand, but maybe more specifically to the related discussion on #racism – globally. -> Includes a list of practical resources for corporate boards
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The Most Beautiful Job in the World - Mensitieri
Book ReviewsLabourSupply Chain

Luxury? The original gig economy

Let’s put the conclusion at the beginning: This book is a must read, for those that intend to ‘go into luxury’, fashion, or any other creative industry. But also for all those that are of the opinion that the ‘Gig Economy’ only came into being with companies like Uber, AirBnb, Just Eat and the like. In fact, luxury – and linked to it – the creative arts have been pioneering the Gig Business Model for many decades already.
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LabourSupply Chain

Cost of (Fair) Labour in Apparel (III/III)

What of all that are buyers aware of, and how do they use it? This is the second of the two questions for which the most insightful research with fairly hard data has been published by Prof. Doug Miller from Northumbria University in Newcastle. The two most relevant papers in this context are: 'What price a living wage' and 'Towards Sustainable Labour Costing in the Global Apparel Industry'
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LabourSupply Chain

Cost of (Fair) Labour in Apparel (II/III)

What do we know about how garment cost is broken down across the supply chain? This is the first of the two questions for which the most insightful research with fairly hard data has been published by Prof. Doug Miller from Northumbria University in Newcastle.
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GlobalisationLabourSupply Chain

Cost of (Fair) Labour in Apparel (I/III)

Mid last year, an interesting campaign piece was delivered to my mailbox: London based Offset Warehouse launched a capsule collection of T-shirts retailing at £4.99 (app. Euro 6, plus P&P). Now, the point is, that even if these T-shirt were sold through a major retailer, they would hardly have retailed at more than £10 - and this at a vastly superior quality then is often case.
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LabourSupply Chain

To Live Off Thin Air, Not: Fair Wages – A Primer

The wages discussion is far from over. Not 'just' when it comes to the slightly out-of-range bonuses some people in the finance industry, together with a number of high-level executives of other industries, earn. But rather globally, even in 'developed' Western markets. This applies to 'fair wages' for physically handicapped people e.g. the blind, and crosses over to living and minimum wage discussions in the countries such as the UK, the US, or Spain (white collar precariate). The fashion industry would have a lot to tell also in this context.
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