The Fashion Impact Fund, an initiative of PVBLIC Foundation, supports fashion skills training programs led by women for women to achieve education, employment and economic inclusion.
The fund's multifaceted mission aims to advance women’s financial independence, combat poverty, discrimination and gender-based violence, and promote positive change within the fashion industry.
By investing in fashion workforce development solutions for women, we can create lasting and transformative impact on their lives, communities, and the sector globally.
OUR FOCUS.
Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore also half of its potential. Yet, 130 million girls are denied the human right to education around the world and this education gap affects their whole lives. Globally, only half of women participate in the labor force and in developing regions, up to 95% of women’s employment is informal, in jobs that are unprotected by labor laws and lack social protection.
With only 2.1% of venture capital dollars financing female-founded companies and 1.9% of charitable giving in the USA being donated to women’s and girls’ organizations, the Fashion Impact Fund is committed to support female founders leading fashion workforce opportunities for women to access education, gain employment and achieve economic inclusion.
COMMITMENT.
Educate Women through Job Training: By equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge in the fashion industry, we seek to enable them to pursue meaningful careers within the sector and achieve economic independence.
Promote Economic Inclusion: By enabling women to gain fair employment in the fashion industry, we strive to help them achieve financial stability, autonomy and economic inclusion. Financial independence is a key aspect of women's empowerment and can have a positive impact on their lives, families, and communities.
Promote Gender Equality: Our efforts contribute to advancing gender equality in the fashion industry and beyond. By providing grants for women's job training, we seek to bridge the gender gap in the sector and advocate for equal opportunities and treatment.
Support Decent Employment Opportunities: We help bridge the skills gap as the fashion workforce programs connect women with decent industry employment opportunities to earn fair wages, operate in safe and ethical conditions and achieve effective leadership. This also can lead to a reduction in unemployment rates and boost overall economic improvement.
Address Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence: The fashion industry is plagued by gender-based discrimination and violence. We address these issues by actively supporting programs that aim to create a just and equitable fashion workforce that values the safety and dignity of female workers.
Fight Poverty: We aim to alleviate poverty by providing women with the tools and opportunities to improve their financial circumstances. By investing in women's economic potential and prioritizing job skills, we contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Build a Sustainable Fashion Industry: We contribute to creating a more environmentally and socially conscious industry by investing in job training programs that implement sustainable fashion and responsible practices. The exploitation of women is frequently intertwined with other forms of exploitation, such as environmental degradation and violations of labor rights. By advocating for decent working conditions and eradicating forced labor, we can positively impact both people and the planet.
COMMITMENT.
Ayesha Barenblat
Remake - California, USA
Tamburai + Pauline Chirume
The African Academy of Fashion - Cape Town, South Africa
Dominique Drakeford + Whitney McGuire
Sustainable Brooklyn - Brooklyn, USA.
Devon Feldmeth, Ketty Promise + Lauren Shipley
Artisan Global - Gulu, Uganda
Jenny Holloway
Fashion-Enter Ltd - London, UK
Ngozi Okaro
Custom Collaborative - New York City, USA
“On behalf of the entire Custom Collaborative community, I am proud to accept this transformative support from the Fashion Impact Fund. The fund elevates and supports women, sharing the spotlight with the often overlooked. Their investment in and partnership with Custom Collaborative is a testament to the leadership and team’s commitment to supporting ethical fashion.”
- Ngozi Okaro, Custom Collaborative
“Thanks to the funding we have received from The Fashion Impact Fund, we are able to expand our collective of women, begin a new handloom training program and work strongly towards achieving SDG 5 of Gender Equality. We believe that achieving gender equality will have a butterfly effect in achieving all other Sustainable Development Goals. Gender equality is the foundation for all sustainability, which is why we are so grateful to be able to grow our collective of financially empowered women."
- Madhu Vaishnav, Saheli Women
"The Fashion Impact Fund is leading the way for women-led impact in the fashion industry across the globe. We strive to contribute to an equitable workspace, creating the opportunity for disadvantaged women to become leaders in the community. Together with the Fashion Impact Fund, we can accelerate new opportunities for women to be active participants in the economy."
- Lauren Shipley, Artisan Global
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
17 Goals for People, for Planet.
The Fashion Impact Fund is committed to advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as adopted by the United Nations Member States in 2015, by contributing to SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and the specific targets below:
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all
levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life.
Sustained and inclusive economic growth can drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standards.
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
ASS SEEN IN.
