DONATE DESIGN TO HEAL AFRICA

In the United States alone, fashion is a $265 billion a year industry. Fashion is a tremendous global force can have a positive or negative effect on the world. Ethical designers recognize the impact of industry processes on the environment and the livelihood of suppliers and workers who contribute to the final product. They create collections that minimize the environmental impact, and/or guarantee fair wage and working conditions.

The mission of Bel Esprit is to encourage and develop ethical practices in the fashion industry. The use of fair trade materials and labor has not only raised the living standards of the farmers and workers producing goods, but has helped entire communities as well, through reinvestment of profits to improve living conditions and education. Fair trade cooperatives and businesses have given disadvantaged and marginalized people, particularly women, economic security and survival. As more highly skilled fair wage and trade options become available, designers throughout the world will be able to source production and materials that respect the world and its inhabitants.

HEAL Africa has a training framework at the Healing Arts Center and the Women Stand Up Together program that can be developed further into sustainable businesses. With additional funding and industry support, this program has the potential to evolve into production cooperatives. Bel Esprit is committed to supporting this growth through fund-raising and consulting.

Fund raising will finance grants and micro loans to participants to establish sustainable businesses, particularly in the apparel industry. Donations of support and expertise from the fashion industry will provide additional resources to ensure the success of these businesses. Businesses that develop into fair trade production facilities equipped to manufacture apparel collections will be matched with international fashion design companies to produce their products. Businesses that develop their own product line sufficient to export beyond the local market will be assisted in bringing their product to an international market.

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$15 will pay for a child’s school fees while a woman is in training at the Healing Arts Center
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$30 will pay for the training of one woman for one month at the Healing Arts Center where she will learn basic business skills and how to sew, read, write and cook specialty goods
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$50 will provide a small grant of materials for a woman to supplement her small business
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100 will buy a woman a sewing machine to go home with once she has finished training

Bel Esprit is launching Donate Design to HEAL Africa during New York Fashion Week, February 2010, with a global t-shirt contest. Designers, artists, and t-shirt enthusiasts around the world.  The theme of the competition will be “for those who dream of a beautiful world,” with designs expressing the artists’ vision for a beautiful world.  The designs will be judged by a panel of fashion professionals, celebrities and VIPs, and will be voted on by the public worldwide.  The winning designs will earn prizes offered by sponsors and partners of the competition.  The winning designs will be presented at a fund-raising gala to take place in August/September 2010.   Media, press and corporate partners and sponsors are invited to join in the worldwide promotion of the contest.   For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bel Esprit.

Bel Esprit is inviting fashion designers to donate design to HEAL Africa.   We are asking for a sketch or photograph of a design you would like to donate, along with a production pattern.   We are also asking for patternmakers/graders to standardize the patterns for consistent sizing for the HEAL Africa collection.  If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Bel Esprit.

For more information about HEAL Africa, visit their website at:

HEAL Africa