ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
BATIK BOUTIK puts ethics first and foremost, forever.
Fashion, art and design is beautiful because of the hands that make it. Unethical labor practices and wasteful, unsustainable production is simply bad fashion. And seriously bad energy. Respecting the hardworking hands who make our designs is at the core of our vision. We aim to honour these crafts by documenting and showcasing this beautiful work whenever. It’s so important to respect the process and how slow and steady is truly the ultimate win.
Our clothing is sewn in Ghana, operating out of a local factory that follows best practices in line with our vision. They are a factory partner of Ethical Apparel Africa, an ethical sourcing company that seeks out Ghanaian manufacturers committing to complete transparency towards continuous improvement on compliance.
Compliance and empowerment programs are set that enforce ethical policies and procedure at all times, through monitoring and evaluation frameworks. You can learn about them here. Workers are respected, empowered and paid above-living wages.
Our fabrics are hand-dyed in clean and safe facilities where prices are set by the contractor and we get to visit the studio and film the process sometimes too!
We are trying to hit all the bases to make change through every aspect of the business. Some of our batik is purchased from Amenuveve, a non-profit creating social and economic advancement in a village in the Volta Region called Woadze Tatoe. Through their batik centre and funding, they have been able to build a new school and provide a borehole with access to clean drinking water. They have been able to employ 120 men and women at their built batik centre and have engaged over 1041 residents with community health initiatives. You can see more about the wonderful work they are doing here.
Our wax prints are sourced in the busting local markets of Accra and we mainly order from women-owned businesses.
Did you know that according to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, 46.4% of businesses in Ghana are owned by women, making it the highest percentage in the world!
At the end of day, we don’t think we need to be applauded for a fair exchange with the cultivators of our craft. It’s heartbreaking to think that in such a hyper-consumerist era, good practices continues to stand alone as a rarity. It shouldn’t be a big deal to pay people what they ask for. I dream of a day when ethical wages and sustainable practices are just the norm.