Politics and fashion don't usually mix well. Politicians of any stripe are not known for their style.
Public scrutiny of personal grooming and style are familiar territory for women in the public eye. It's an unfair judgment levied disproportionately on women over men in every realm of public life.
But what if we could see past the surface and examine the supply chain of even our most polished and irreproachable women leaders' apparel?
It would be a PR nightmare.
I fear, to a woman, our most progressive, climate-aware, and socially conscious politicians and business leaders would find their shopping habits at odds with their values. To no fault of their own.
Even the most equitably priced bespoke suiting, made by well compensated tailors, from the most exclusively milled fabrics, is embedded with labor and environmental exploitation somewhere within their vast supply chain. And I suspect you wouldn't have to dig too far to find it.
For candidates new to politics, especially those of modest means, their suiting choices from the better brands (B@nana, T@lbots, @nn T@ylor) are laden with synthetic fibers and toxic dyes, assembled by underpaid and overworked garment laborers.
And there are really no viable alternatives.
Organic cotton, botanical dyes, and fairly compensated labor have taken a foothold in yogawear, baby products, and some outdoor gear. But these practices have a long way to go to provide a widely available alternative in every other garment category, from underwear to suiting.
Transparency and provenance
Some politicians have made a name for themselves championing US-based manufacturing, fighting for labor rights, and promoting organic agriculture. The tension over offshoring manufacturing is nowhere more visible than on a garment label.
But I'm not aware of anyone in politics in the US who freely and openly publicizes the provenance of their wardrobe.
And I think it's because they don't know, and if they did, they would be ashamed.
To that end, Fashion Revolution has been prompting consumers to ask clothing manufacturers "Who Made My Clothes?" with the aim of promoting supply chain transparency and worker rights after the preventable death of over three thousand garment workers in Bangladesh in 2013.
Manuma and likeminded brands are building a better way to dress that is transparent, just, healthy, and even regenerative to people and planet.
Let's discuss
Have you found ways to integrate your values into your shopping habits, if not in fashion then in other product categories? Please share your tactics in the comments below, or post them on social media and tag Manuma Style.
I'm always here to answer your style and sustainability questions, so don't be shy and reach out to me in the comments, via email, or any of our social channels. What can I help you with?