As an emerging fashion brand, Social-Work definitely captures the attention of consumers but not just with well-tailored, curated outfits that lend themselves to contemporary stylings. Instead the founders — Chenghui Zhang and Qi Wang, attempt to address a recurring issue of practice within the parameters of the industry. Looking to spotlight the workers that make the chic Spring/Summer 2019 collection possible, Social-Work calls attention to the production process.
The lookbook that showcases for the emerging fashion brand's slick new offerings contains an element that brings manufacturing to the forefront. Social-Work invited the employees who worked on the collection from a factory in Dongguan, China to proudly wear the designs in the lookbook. In addition to providing these people with insurance, a fair wage, and healthcare, the emerging fashion brand also draws attention to them via an editorial and a mini-documentary.
Photo Credits: Other/ Social-Work
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Transparency in Fashion
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a fashion brand that prioritizes transparency by highlighting the workers and production process.
- Worker Empowerment
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop initiatives and brands that empower workers in the fashion industry by providing fair wages, insurance, and healthcare.
- Ethical Fashion
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a fashion brand that focuses on ethical practices and sustainable production to meet the growing consumer demand.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fashion
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the fashion industry by incorporating worker-centric approaches and prioritizing ethical standards.
- Manufacturing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the manufacturing industry by implementing fair labor practices, worker benefits, and transparency.
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the intersection between fashion and documentary filmmaking by providing a platform for sharing the stories of garment workers.
