Kim’s Cornucopia

For those of you that don’t already know, Johnny Ruth has taken a huge step forward in the retail clothing industry and developed a standard for manufacturers that has them be accountable for the materials they use to produce their garments. In other words, we are requesting that our suppliers be able to trace the origin of their materials so that they can assure that these materials have been produced in factories that adhere to International Labour Codes. This, unfortunately, is an uncommon conversation in the retail clothing industry. We realize that becoming transparent, which this process will facilitate, is going to be a challenge for some companies. These are the companies that have never been held to these strict standards and they are afraid that their businesses will be compromised by coming on board. As a business woman I understand the fear inherent in taking risk, but as a global citizen I feel the payoff far outweighs the fear. My aim is to start a movement in Canadian retail towards a more responsible, integrity based industry where ancient practices like child labour, overworking, overcrowding, unsanitary and unsafe work environments and wages that are impossible to live on becomes a thing of the past. We would not settle for less in Canada would we? The Johnny Ruth Compliance Package acts as a voice for those in the clothing industry who have none, so now when you shop here you help yourself to amazing clothes and you help me change the world, cool eh?

In keeping with this initiative we will be introducing a new segment to the newsletter in the future that excites us big time, it’s called Companies in Compliance and will feature the forward thinking suppliers and manufacturers that have embraced this idea. as they come on board we will let you know which clothing and accessory lines are taking responsibility and drawing a line in the sand that says: No more, we are all one, we all deserve respect and compassion, at work and in life!

A huge thank you to Alison Stoodley for her work on the Compliance Package and to Maggie Hyslop for following up with our suppliers!

Love, Kim