International Women's Day & Giveaway
The fashion industry’s gender equality and sustainability come hand-in-hand!
Majority of garments workers are women, who are often poorly paid, experience wage theft, work in unsafe or unsanitary factories, have a lack of opportunities for career advancement, face sexual harassment or assault and physical or psychological abuse, according to the unions and workers’ rights activists.
Despite the fashion industry’s growing climate commitments, it seems to be behind the curve when recognising that gender equality and climate change are inextricably linked. In saying that, The UN declared this year’s International Women’s Day theme to be “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” and the International Union for Conservation of Nature cautioned in 2020 that the planet’s declining health could likely exacerbate gender-based violence.
Many big fashion companies have statements on their websites about women’s rights or equal pay, but how often do you see details about what they are actually doing to achieve those ideals in their operations? The most progressive brands are shifting those dynamics and have started to work towards gender equality as part of their overall sustainability strategies.
Non-profit organisation The OR Foundation documents the environmental and social impacts of the second-hand clothing market in Accra, the capital of Ghana which is one of the biggest such markets in the world. They found that the issues of garment waste and female oppression to be two sides of the same coin. The weight of the world’s used clothing falls on the shoulders, literally, of women in the Global South.
Fashion must recognise both the long-term repercussions of historic pay inequities, or lack of paid work entirely, and the absence of major funding to develop, implement and scale initiatives dedicated to addressing gender inequality and its root causes. There’s no substitute for investment.
It’s more than a day and a slogan. There are so many ways to support women that we can celebrate on International Women's Day, but execute all year round.
Competition Rules
You must follow our @b_e_i_r_a Instagram account, like our competition post and tag one inspirational woman in your life. You may enter as many women as you like but only tag one inspirational woman per comment please.
- This giveaway competition is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram.
- The campaign will run from 8th March 8.30pm (UK time) until 22nd March 8.30 pm UK time.
- Winner name will be randomly selected.
- The winning entry must have followed the account, liked the post and tagged one inspirational woman in their life.
- If more than one inspirational female is tagged in the post then the first tagged name will be awarded the prize.
- The winner will be announced on Instagram on the 23rd March at 8.30pm.
- The winner will be allowed to select one tee shirt - from style, colour and size options.
- The prize cannot be exchanged for any other items. No cash alternative will be offered.
- The winner will be announced in a winners post and direct messaged via Instagram so Beira can arrange free UK delivery of their fabulous sweatshirt.
- Any delivery outside of the UK may be subject to an additional delivery charge.