Made In Vietnam
With the world becoming increasingly smaller and our actions having more of a ripple effect then ever the importance of sustainability, ethical practices and responsibility has become increasingly important. At FAUN we value these highly. We believe clothes should be made fairly, that the people we work with we collaborate with and respect. That the pieces we produce are made to last. We believe in lifting others up. The foundation of FAUN was built on giving back and creating a company that made its own slice of change. These guiding principles are with us from design, creation and ultimately to you.
At FAUN we connect and honour our roots, both Canadian and Vietnamese. This is why we are proud to be a Canadian brand with our production site in Vietnam. With family in Vietnam, the designer, Marisa P. Clark, visits quite frequently. This has allowed her to develop a personal relationship with the production facility and its workers.
Having our sampling studio and production in Saigon we are often asked about fair working conditions. And we want to be asked, because it is something which is at the core of our beliefs. Of course there are factories in Vietnam which do not have good standards, there are sweatshops just as there are here in Canada. At FAUN Studio, we work with a select production facility that is best described as a smaller workshops of around 50 employees.
Because we work in a transparent fashion, and because we are the eyes and ears for our consumers, we consider it our role to ensure that production is carried out in not only fair working conditions, but good working conditions, with above average wages and with overtime paid to dedicated and hard working staff. It means also that we do not compete with sweatshop prices – if a shirt, ordered in 50 units is quoted at $7 a piece, it is not likely under fair working conditions, be it in Vietnam or elsewhere.
By supporting a factory with ethical and sustainable practices it aids in a future where this will not be sought but instead the norm. Much of the fashion industry happens behind closed doors. By promoting visibility of design, production and purchase this allows for a relationship between brand and customer. This further promotes ethical practices and sustainability while combating fast fashion ultimately leading to change within the industry. We strive to create these relationships, and who doesn't need a little bit more connection these days?
