NATIONAL: Ginger & Smart has gone one step further in promoting its ethical credentials to consumers.
The boutique womenswear label has begun affixing Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA) swing tags to all of its apparel, including garments sold through stockists such as David Jones.
The decision to adopt the swing tags follows Ginger & Smart's earning of ECA accreditation back in April 2010. The accreditation recognises a label's ethical treatment of all Australian workers employed within its supply chain.
Ginger & Smart co-designer Genevieve Smart said consumers had welcomed the development.
“They are impressed that the Ginger & Smart product is made in Australia and are also very happy to know that the garments are ethically made,” Smart said.
ECA national coordinator Emer Diviney said the well-known label's utilisation of the ECA trademark was a significant development for the not-for-profit accreditation and labelling system.
“This is the point where the initiative will really start to have an impact, when consumers can walk into a major department store, pick up a garment from a leading fashion label and see the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark,” Diviney said.
“We're very excited and hope that Ginger & Smart gain the recognition for a being a leader in this ethical fashion field.”
ECA is a joint business-union initiative and was formerly known as Homeworkers Code of Practice and the No Sweat Shop label. Other labels that have earned ECA accreditation include Bardot, Collette Dinnigan, Ampersander and Cue.