I started asking a lot of questions after living in Kenya for a summer. When shopping for clothes back in the states, I no longer just glanced at the price; I glanced at the tag to find out where something was made as well.
I started to put faces behind the clothes...people with their own dreams, good days, bad days and children. One question led to another and I become more aware how the production of our clothing is linked to the well being of so many people.
These questions kept circling my head as I worked with small fair trade groups in India and Honduras. I realized that maybe the production of our clothing with small fair trade workshops could give women in developing countries an education which in turn could give them a source of income - finally, more ownership of their lives.
So I started caring about where my clothing came from.
As a girl with a fashion degree and a little bit of a fabric snob - I had a trouble finding clothes that I wanted to wear, but that were created with the producer in mind.
One summer I started Liz Alig as a collection of a few dresses - really an experiment to see if it was possible to make clothing completely out of recycled materials. When these dresses sold and people wanted more, I partnered with a group I had worked with in Honduras to produce 100 more dresses.
This first collaboration went on and we now partner with small fair trade groups in over 10 countries. We have produced thousands of pieces a season to boutiques and large retailers back to selling directly to you online. Our goal is the same - to make clothing that makes women feel confident (and comfortable) while giving those who make them a meaningful (and well paying) job. A large portion of the line is still produced with recycled materials, but we also incorporate handwoven and sustainable textiles.
It has been such a pleasure to know the people who sew our clothes for years - we are grateful for your support!
- Liz