Today 24th April seven years ago in 2013, we woke to news of the worst factory accident in the fashion industry ever. Ultimately the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory claimed 1,134 lives and injured over 2,500 more. Fashion Revolution Week was born out of this tragedy, calling us to a greater awareness of who makes our clothes, how they’re treated and calls for more transparency all round.

Am not sure there is a global business more mired in the dark history of the Industrial Revolution than fashion. Mass textile production was the ‘Holy Grail’ of late 18th, early 19th Century Britain and certainly its methods were the catalyst for industrial production of cars, clothes, beer, furniture, eggs, bottles … everything.

At Motif we’re calling for a #ManualRevolution. A movement to restore the human and environmental balance that many big industries have frankly messed up. And of course we’re starting with textiles. Fair trade, handmade textiles intended to be consumed en masse. To generate the highest positive for people and the lowest negative for our planet – that’s what we’re aiming for. And Oh! So Much More … but that’s for another post!

For now – enjoy the final work of creating fabric after all those preparatory steps. Slowed down so you can get to appreciate the amazing skills of timing and concentration needed to weave well!

To sew with our fair trade, handmade fabrics check out our Facebook Shop.

Til tomorrow and STEP 6 – just what does happen to that fabric?

Jackie Corlett
Founder & Creative Director
Motif Handmade

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