Tsandza Handweaving began in 1979 as a social enterprise providing skills development and an income source to many rural women. They place great focus on personal growth and wellbeing. Through their work, the artisans gain greater self esteem and independence, and a stronger voice within their families and communities.

Currently working with around 60 women both workshop and home based, Tsandza offers a unique opportunity for rural women that allows them to earn whilst they learn. A 6 month training programme is run in-house and on the job by senior & master Artisans who have worked with the business for as many as 30 years. The aim upon completion of their “trainee” programme, is that each new Artisan will have the knowledge, and be proficient across all aspects of production methods and materials ensuring that they are able to continue well after there training has finished. It is very important to the business that those Artisans wishing to develop their skills further have the opportunity to do so.

The entire production process is “by hand” with the use of traditional floor looms and spinning wheels. The use of biodegradable dyes , also enables the group to minimise their environmental impact.

Every single scarf is a result of commitment, teamwork and passion, providing customers with an ethically produced , beautiful quality , fashion accessory.

Things in India are getting worse, even though businesses are generally open. Several long-term staff have decided not to return to work. I don’t blame them at all. Everyone must do whatever they need to feel safe. They're missed though.

One staff member fell sick with a fever. It's a strange day when you're relived that she has typhoid! She's on treatment and recovering. It means the loss of another valued worker.

The loss of key staff has made it tricky to get the work done – But we are ok with it needing to go slow. We are a brand that advocates “slow fashion” after all.

This experience provides an opportunity to share with my customers, the beauty of slow fashion. The most important beautiful element being that safety and the well-being of my workers come first, fashion can wait. Then I can prove that a collection made with quality and in a timeless style, will till be relevant and perhaps even more endearing. Fair Trade fashion like mine is made with care and love.

There is an ever-present concern of the eventuality of a case of Covid being found in a neighbouring property. If that happens everything will be closed until any cell is fully identified and quarantined. Small areas are being shut down every day in the city. Its frightening for my production workers and it breaks my heart.

To deal with a lock-down work is being put into the hands of the tailors as much as is possible, so they can take it home and work if the workroom itself is closed.

I pray that offering employment guided by Fair Trade principles will make life a little more tolerable during this time. The dialogue between the production facility has highlighted that we are so fortunate here in Australia. Now, more than ever, the privilege we have (in comparison to my team in India) is boldly apparent. I am grateful that my little business with the support of my customers can make a difference, especially during this time.

Please pray for my team. 

Love,

Yvie xo

Dreamer and doer of a better world :).

At the end of last year, I sold my home to fulfil my dream of having a business that celebrates artisan, eco and Fair-Trade.

Starting a new business during a pandemic has been, hmmm…..interesting.  Its been a rollercoaster of emotions, while on a learning curve with unprecedented events. I have lost hair and sleep. But I have also gained self-confidence and a stronger conviction to fight for this business.

Like many other businesses, I have suffered the Covid19 unpleasantness. I had no customers for periods during the shutdown. When customers started to come back, I was only allowed to have 2 in my shop at a time. They were welcomed with hand gel and had to move around the shop at 1.5 mtrs from each other. It has been awkward and stressful navigating through this.   

My brick and mortar shop opened its doors during the last three days of Jan, so any monthly comparisons being used for eligibility for Job Keeper and rent relief are based on my February month of sales. February, being my first month of business, people were still getting to know I existed and it was a period when people were already starting to get too scared to go out. I couldn’t even have a business launch party.    

The most stressful part of my covid19 experience thus far has been that the rental relief is still under negotiation, this part has been very disheartening. And like most businesses tethering onto their existence, I am counting on it.

In the month of March, I didn’t sell one clothing item for three weeks!!!  So, I had to take a risk spending money on stock that was more relevant such as tea, facial masks and creating care packages. My goal was to keep relevant and connected to my community. It worked, because at least I was making some sales and getting noticed. As a new business, this was vital to my ongoing survival.

My staff were not eligible for job keeper, so I had to let them go. Thankfully, I am deeply in love with what I do, so working 7 days a week isn’t so bad. Every morning when I open my doors, the products make my heart flutter with joy.

During the days when I sat in isolation in my shop, I did not waste a minute – I spent it learning, designing and planning.  I can now do my own accounting to a higher level, I understand social media better, I have learnt how to build my own web site and I have started a u- tube channel.  

My customers have been AMAZING during this time.  Some of them I now affectionately call my patrons, because without them I don’t think I would still be here. For example, one customer walked in and saying “I got my government money to help the economy, so Yvie help me spend it”.

Now that that the isolation is lifting many of my customers are bringing their friends and family in to visit the shop. It is reassuring knowing that this shop is finding its way into hearts of my community.  It gives me confidence that I am not alone in my fight. I have hope and love on my side, and that is a wonderful and empowering thing.  

I started this business to prove to the world that Fair Trade is a viable business model. You could say, that if I am going to prove it, this would be the best the year to do it in.

There are no regrets and I am optimistic about the future. It might get tough, but so will I.   

The 16^th March is Freedom of Information Day, it is a date dedicated to reflecting on the concept of transparency of information. That every citizen has the right to public information. It comes from the belief that knowledge is power to make informed decisions. This quote sums it all up beautifully "The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty." (Madison), and I would like to add; the only guardian to good choices.

Today, this fashion rebel is demanding full transparency of information by ALL fashion labels. If any fashion label claims to be ethical, with-out full transparency, they are, simply not ethical and are guilty of green-washing. Because, the key action of ethical is about being, truthful and defining to the customer what ethical means, and how they are doing it. It’s a verb, not just a word.

If a business is in the pursuit of being ethical, they would be 100% transparent about their policies and practices, particularly the ecological and social costs involved with production. Why? Because they would be so darn proud of it. If they don’t know that information, or do not share it, then they don’t care about it.

My opinion is validated by The Fashion Revolution, an activist group dedicated to exposing the ugly truths of fashion with empirical data. In a recent study, they have highlighted the issue of fashion transparency. Their research involved analysing 200 of the world’s largest fashion retailers, it found that:

• ‘The average score for all brands and retailers is 21%’.
• ‘The highest scoring brands this year are Adidas, Reebok and Patagonia, who each score 64%’.
• ‘70 brands are publishing a list of their first-tier manufacturers; 38 brands are disclosing their processing facilities and 10 brands are disclosing some of the facilities or farms supplying their fibres such as viscose, cotton and wool’.
• ‘Only 6 brands disclose a method for isolating and calculating labour costs in their price negotiation with suppliers and only 4 publish percentage of supplier payments made on time’.

Source: https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/fashion-transparency-index-2019-ranks-200-brands-adidas-reebok-and-patagonia-top-scoring-but-shockingly-little-information-disclosed-on-purchasing-practices

It’s not good enough! Particularly during in these times. We need to produce and consume to make a difference, now more than ever. The world is being shattered economically and physically. And those whom will suffer the most are the ones whom are the most vulnerable, the poor, our environment and the socially disadvantaged. As companies scrabble to save a dime, it will be at the cost of someone or something. We need to demand information on consumer products (particularly in fashion). Only then can make informed decisions, so our dollar can help build our global society back, in a way that helps the most.  

Lots of love,

Yvie xo

#FreedomOfInformationDay #Moreimportantthanever #transparencyiskey #fashrev #prosumer

Note: The attached image was sourced from : https://www.fashionrevolution.org/about/transparency/

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Last year was a huge journey of personal growth for me. With bold steps forward and reluctant steps backwards.  It was an eventful year.

At the start of 2019 I finally got to visit my production facility in Lucknow, India.  I fell further in love with my production team and their amazing facility.

This year’s collection resulted in 88% sold out by the end of 2019 (with no price reduction required). In the cutthroat fashion industry that is a big deal. It gave me the confidence to believe that I understand my customers’ needs. Being a designer is a constant battle against self-doubt. I really, really needed this confidence boost.

There is always going to be a balancing act between helping people and making money on this project. However, the process is so satisfying that it is becoming the most meaningful part of my life. This project also helps to build the Aware identity. In a nutshell this year has shown me that the future financial possibilities for this pursuit have real potential.

This year I gave my online store a little more love, by revamping with a new look. This resulted in sales, even international sales. This year the plan is that my online site will be getting a whole lot more love, so I can make more of a presence online. This is the only way to survive long term in retail!

After 10 years of markets and collaborations on the 13^th of January 2020 I am going to open my very own brick and mortar retail store. You may feel that I am completely and utterly mad, but, I think that you kind of need to be in my industry 😉 !!!!

In our modern online retail world, physical stores are struggling everywhere, with an eminent recession looming. One leading economist has described it as Australia is "teetering on the edge of a recession" (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-04/economy-to-continue-teetering-on-the-edge-of-recession/11761358). In the US more than 9,300 stores were expected to close in 2019. In fact, retailers are setting a new record for store closings over the last 12 months (https://www.businessinsider.com.au/stores-closing-in-2019-list-2019-3?r=US&IR=T). Business journalists are calling this the retail apocalypse. This apocalypse has been echoed by my own experience, in the Christmas period of 2019 sales were down significantly from 2018 (in our brick and mortar store). But, over the year of 2019 Aware had the best financial results in our 10 years of business. It is such an exciting time because to me it’s a sign that overall more people are buying less, are more considered and want quality products.

Moreover, the retail industry is changing, daily, even hourly.  All the previous marketing models need to be tossed out and new ways of thinking need to be embraced. Just one example, is the number of algorithm changes for Facebook and Instagram. This however is an enormous opportunity for small and local businesses. For us, we can quickly adapt and implement new strategies to cope with the ever-constant changes. There is no time for bureaucracy – Its move on to the latest wave of opportunities or be left behind and quite possibly die!!!!!

For the past 6 years my brick and mortar experiences have been “pop up” spaces, for temporary 6 month stints in spaces that are long term vacant shops. Aware started in Sydney, then moved to the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. This is year is first time, Aware has signed a lease. The shop is in a lovely shopping centre (I told you I was mad right!). This experience was been a massive challenge and not a pleasant journey so far. Just one example of the ripple effect of this decision is that I had to sell my home. My son is very upset with me, I got my very first “I hate you mum”. My family is wonderfully supportive of my dream, however, now really think I am mad enough to be institutionalised (only slightly kidding 😉). It has been such a hard journey, there were tears. The main reason for the brutal learning curve, was due to my struggle to find any information on how it could have been done more efficiently. But as my entrepreneurial grandfather would have said “ you don’t get the honey without challenging the bees”.  

There is a positive though. This horrible experience birthed something wonderful – An opportunity to really help people do what I do. So, I started talking to my tribe of likeminded change makers and world shakers. People made up of professional writers, social advocacy influences and even a talented documentary producer. They listened, and to my delight they offered to help. In short, I am going to use my experience to create a learning module on how to start a brick and mortar. So, the horror of it all, is almost, ALMOST, worth it. The whole past few months has kind of been akin the giving birth. Now, I am able to help other “pregnant” business owners from suffering as much pain as me.

I can’t believe that in days I will be in my very own brick and mortar shop.

Do I have a sign – NO (Even though I started the process of it in September).

Do I have the shop fit approved yet – NO (The owner is on holidays) .

Do I have to pay rent – YES ( So I have to make do with what I have got).

Fortunately, all the years of doing markets in unpredictable weather and driving foot traffic into pop ups shops that had no foot traffic, make me feel confident that I can hack this situation.

Looking forward to sharing the journey with you and I hope to see you all at my (not totally ready) shop on the 13^th of January.  It will be located at Belmont Citi Centre, shop 14, 45/41 Macquarie St, Belmont NSW.

Lots of Love,

Yvie xo

#togetherwecan #changetheworld #crazypassionateaboutwhatIdo