The problem
Most of the world's clothing is produced by garment workers in countries like Cambodia where large corporations have all the bargaining power in a global marketplace. They tend to hire local workers to produce clothing for very low wages, knowing that they have few other options. Living on less than $5 a day and often working under shocking conditions, workers struggle to afford basic health care and education. Others have been disabled by land mines or diseases such as AIDs and must scrape out a living any way they can. Large foreign-owned clothing companies often neglect environmental issues in poor countries, typically releasing huge amounts of toxic waste chemicals into waterways, causing untold damage to human health and the environment.
So unfortunately the cheap clothes that we take for granted in the west have a hefty price tag for those less fortunate than ourselves.
But there is growing recognition in the fashion industry that we can do better, and change is on the way...
Our solution
Imagine if, instead of huge clothing factories, we had a network of community-run co-ops offering fair wages and improved working conditions, in places where people actually enjoyed working. Instead of ongoing environmental contamination legacies, we had traditional farming practices that nourished soils and helped clean up our rivers. Instead of profits being used to make large corporations even richer, they were reinvested back into local communities, to fund local projects that provide basic health care, clean water and sanitation for some of the world's poorest people.
Three Birds One Stone is a start-up social enterprise aiming to help achieve this vision, by generating sustainable employment for some of the most vulnerable groups in society, particularly women, those suffering from HIV and amputee victims of land mines. Our strategy is to develop Fairtrade, community-run co-ops that are effectively linked to a global online marketplace, thus empowering local communities to produce ethical, sustainable clothing and fashion accessories.
We believe that we can scale up our enterprise over time and build a network of community-run co-operatives across Cambodia and other countries dealing with similar issues.
Why it matters
There has never been a greater need and opportunity than right now to harness a global shift towards ethical, sustainable and purpose-driven products! The rise of online clothing stores, in combination with new technologies and an increasingly connected and socially conscious global community, provides new tools in the fight to close the gap and end poverty.
We are now at a crucial stage in the development of our project. We have connected with a group of women in Cambodia (many living with HIV) who have the skills and capacity to produce clothing and fashion accessories. We are almost ready to set up our first community-run cooperative, but we need help to purchase the initial raw materials (minimum fabric order is $7000), establish our first online store and refine our prototype designs.
100% of profits will be reinvested back into community projects that focus on maternal and reproductive health, sustainable food and fibre production, sanitation and eye care.
Who we are
The team behind Three Birds One Stone so far includes three women and one man (the stone) who collectively have a background in social work, environmental science, midwifery, maternal health, education and psychology. Plus some of us actually have sewing skills!
The team have always been passionate about women's rights and sustainability issues, but the seed was planted after travelling to Cambodia in 2016 and participating in programs centred around maternity care and the treatment of cataracts in rural villages. Many nights spent around campfires (our office) discussing the complex problems and debating potential solutions led us to say "this is definitely worth a try" and Three Birds One Stone was born.
For more information, please visit our website at www.threebirdsonestone.org.
Why Cambodia?
Cambodia has a complex set of issues that stem primarily from poverty and the effects of trauma and turmoil resulting from years of civil unrest and war. Cambodia has an appalling land mine legacy from this period, with the highest rate of amputee victims in the world. Only limited progress has been made since this time in the development of basic infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals. Exploitation of women and children and widespread human trafficking for the sex industry are a harsh reality in this country, yet the people of Cambodia are resilient and resourceful and most will seize any opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty.
How you can help
Please support us by sharing our project with your friends and supporting our campaign by purchasing one of our beautiful, handmade fashion accessories. Follow us on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threebirdsonestone1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/three.birds.one.stone/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/3birdsonestone
If you like, you can help us test and refine our initial designs. Comfortable, high quality and feel-good undergarments could be coming your way!
Or join us in Cambodia to witness our life-changing work first-hand (see Rewards for details).
We can't wait to show off some brand new (and very fun) concepts in sustainable underwear
Some of our rewards:
