Building a Sustainable Labour Movement to Empower Women in Local Communities

我是一名企业家，也是三个孩子的母亲，我的初创公司正在颠覆传统的、服务不足的缝纫行业。我热衷于从快时尚转向可持续发展的未来，并赋予女性成为微型企业家的权力。我的想法将带来改变、灵感和经济机会，同时回应对浪费的大规模生产服装的替代品的日益强烈的需求。**我的公司** Rebecca Page Ltd（“RP”）成立于2018年。RP创建并销售一系列简单，包括尺寸的缝纫模式。我从我的厨房餐桌开始，和一个来自11个国家的30多人的团队一起创建了RP。RP的创始人、管理团队、董事会和投资者几乎都是女性。对于我们的RP团队来说，在家工作是常态。我们本着相互支持和鼓励创新的精神，利用网络平台创建了一个高度参与、充满活力的社区。高街时装和缝纫图案迎合标准尺寸的狭窄范围。然而，67%的女性穿14码以上的衣服，所以很少有女性能找到或制作出合身的衣服。标准尺码也不能适应各种各样的体型。RP用软件解决了这个问题，该软件可以创建定制的、个性化的缝纫图案。快时尚产业是浪费的、环境灾难的，而且没有人情味。今天的女人想要做工精良、合身、独特的衣服。从千禧一代到退休人员都喜欢创造、分享想法和升级。RP为女性提供了华丽的面料、教育视频和多元化的“创客”社区。* *我的主意。**我想为那些不会自己缝纫的女性提供制作精良、合身的定制服装的体验，同时让那些会缝纫的女性发展自己的微型企业。我想建立一个市场，将当地的微型企业家和当地的消费者联系起来。购买定制单品的女性将受益于其持久的质量、与衣橱其他单品的凝聚力、独特性和有意识的选择；同时支持当地的创意和手工艺女性网络。帮助妇女从家庭中获得可持续收入，以适应家庭需求、新冠经济和其他挑战，将改变庞大创客社区的生活。他们的技能和创造力将使当地的消费者和其他人受益。我的想法将减少对快时尚的依赖，鼓励循环利用，并支持当地工业。它为时尚行业的问题提供了强有力的解决方案，比如供应链浪费和很少使用的服装的填埋处理。

**I am** an entrepreneur and mother of three, whose start-up is disrupting the traditional, underserved sewing industry. I am passionate about moving away from fast fashion to a sustainable future, and empowering women to become micro-entrepreneurs. My idea will bring change, inspiration, and economic opportunities, while answering the ever louder need for an alternative to wasteful, mass-produced clothing.**My business,** Rebecca Page Ltd ("RP"), was founded in 2018\. RP creates and sells a range of easy, inclusive-size sewing patterns. I built RP from my kitchen table to a team of over 30 in 11 countries. RP's founders, management team, board and investors are almost all female. For our RP team, working from home is the norm. We have created a highly engaged, dynamic community using online platforms in the spirit of mutual support and celebrating innovation.High street fashion and sewing patterns cater for a narrow range of standard sizes. However, 67% of women are size 14+, so few women find or make clothes that fit properly. Nor does standard sizing accommodate a large variety of body shapes. RP solves this problem with software that creates bespoke, personalised sewing patterns.The fast fashion industry is wasteful, environmentally disastrous, and impersonal. Women today want clothes that are well-made, well-fitting, and unique. People from millennials to retirees love to create, share ideas and upcycle. RP gives women access to gorgeous fabrics, educational videos, and a diverse community of fellow "makers".**My idea.** I want to offer the experience of well-made, well-fitting, bespoke garments to women who do not sew themselves -- while empowering those who do sew to develop their own micro-businesses. I want to build a marketplace that will match local micro-entrepreneurs with local consumers.The women who purchase a bespoke item will benefit from its long-lasting quality, cohesiveness with the rest of their wardrobe, uniqueness and conscious choice; while supporting a local network of creative and craftswomen.Helping women to build a sustainable income from their homes, that can accommodate the demands of family, the COVID economy and other challenges, will transform the lives of a huge community of makers. Their skills and creativity will benefit consumers and others in their local area.My idea will reduce reliance on fast-fashion, encourage recycling, and support local industry. It offers a strong solution to fashion industry problems, such as supply chain waste and landfill disposal of barely used garments.