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Business Return Garment Workers Bills: SB 62, or the Garment Workers Protection Act, meets for another vote in the California State Assembly on Tuesday and is on its way to assembly allocation.
After a trial process last year in which the bill expired, it was reintroduced in March 2021 at the start of the legislative season. It will need to go through a series of votes and be hidden in the State Assembly, before it reaches California Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Today, Los Angeles-based garment workers have relied on the state’s taxpayer-fueled Garment Restitution Fund which – as senator and bill writer Maria Elena Durazo points out – has some differences. The fund carries a balance of $700,000 — but has $7 million in unpaid garment workers claims.
Already 140 businesses — including Reformasi, Doen, Christy Dawn, Boyish, Lacausa, Mara Hoffman, Saitex, Eileen Fisher, For Days and Senza Tempo Fashion — have shown support for the bill, which would increase brand accountability for workers’ wages and eliminate the wage system. per piece (usually collecting 5 to 10 cents per garment operation) which has long survived in the industry.
As Durazo puts it, “Most small businesses led by women are leading the charge for ethical workplaces and sustainability standards in the garment industry. They support this law to protect highly skilled garment workers from loopholes that have made the industry hostile to ethical garment companies trying to eliminate sweatshops,” adding that “Made in the USA” is a marker of better quality and standards of work.
A vocal supporter of the bill, Senza Tempo Fashion founder and creative director Kristen Fanarakis said it “must pass” in order for “the country to truly become the progressive leader it claims to be in sustainability.”
Scott Wilson, founder and partner of LA-based vertically integrated manufacturer Ustrive Manufacturing, spoke out against the bill, citing issues with brand responsibility and concerns that customers will bear the brunt of rising manufacturing costs.
Ustrive is certified for the Global Organic Textile Standards and the Textile Exchange’s Organic Content Standards Certification.
Trade organizations such as the California Retailers Association are also against it, with sources saying more apparel brands are quietly protesting the bill despite publicly fighting for sustainability goals. In a letter to Durazo, the American Apparel and Footwear Association also shared concerns about the bill in its current draft.
Ugg Factory Powered Takeover: Should more sustainability enthusiasts pay attention to the plant-powered ambitions at Ugg?
Last week, Ugg held a joint art exhibition with sculpture and installation artist Meg Webster for her “Wave” exhibition on Governor’s Island in Manhattan. The zero-waste event is a nod to “Feel Good,” the brand’s sustainability platform launched in fall 2020, and Ugg’s new line of “Plant Power” footwear, which debuted earlier this year.
Three signature styles — including the Fluff Sugar sandal made with sugarcane-based EVA SugarSole alternative foam and 100 percent Tencel Lyocell from Lenzing for faux fur — comprise the capsule collection.
For the other two styles, the soles are in small quantities made of natural latex harvested from the Hevea rubber tree, which prevents deforestation because the trees are not cut for 25 years.
According to Andrea O’Donnell, president of Ugg and Koolaburra by Ugg at Deckers Brands, ambition doesn’t start and end with one capsule.
“As the first brand to make faux fur from 100 percent Tencel Lyocell, we will be launching two collections with this innovation next fall,” said O’Donnell. “We will also continue to increase the use of SugarSole across the main line, starting with Classics and sandals. At Ugg, we aim to include 50 percent certified responsible and sustainable materials in our footwear products (including recycled, renewable, regenerated and natural) by fiscal year 2022.”
The teaser comes at an exciting time for material innovation where brands like Allbirds (with a “Plant Leather” shoe coming in the fall), Gucci (with footwear made with the self-developed “Demetra” already available) and more. plans a line that removes virgin synthetics for plant-based alternatives.
Ugg recently canceled its June collaboration with Telfar and has enjoyed new relevance as Crocs, Tevas and other comfort shoes go hand in hand with fashion sets.
Ugg will expand on the innovations seen in the Plant Power three-piece collection this fall.
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