Building a Sustainable Labour Movement to Empower Women in Local Communities

**I am** an entrepreneur and mother of three, whose start-up is disrupting the traditional, underserved sewing industry. I am passionate about moving away from fast fashion to a sustainable future, and empowering women to become micro-entrepreneurs. My idea will bring change, inspiration, and economic opportunities, while answering the ever louder need for an alternative to wasteful, mass-produced clothing.

**My business,** Rebecca Page Ltd ("RP"), was founded in 2018\. RP creates and sells a range of easy, inclusive-size sewing patterns. I built RP from my kitchen table to a team of over 30 in 11 countries. RP's founders, management team, board and investors are almost all female. For our RP team, working from home is the norm. We have created a highly engaged, dynamic community using online platforms in the spirit of mutual support and celebrating innovation.

High street fashion and sewing patterns cater for a narrow range of standard sizes. However, 67% of women are size 14+, so few women find or make clothes that fit properly. Nor does standard sizing accommodate a large variety of body shapes. RP solves this problem with software that creates bespoke, personalised sewing patterns.

The fast fashion industry is wasteful, environmentally disastrous, and impersonal. Women today want clothes that are well-made, well-fitting, and unique. People from millennials to retirees love to create, share ideas and upcycle. RP gives women access to gorgeous fabrics, educational videos, and a diverse community of fellow "makers".

**My idea.** I want to offer the experience of well-made, well-fitting, bespoke garments to women who do not sew themselves -- while empowering those who do sew to develop their own micro-businesses. I want to build a marketplace that will match local micro-entrepreneurs with local consumers.

The women who purchase a bespoke item will benefit from its long-lasting quality, cohesiveness with the rest of their wardrobe, uniqueness and conscious choice; while supporting a local network of creative and craftswomen.

Helping women to build a sustainable income from their homes, that can accommodate the demands of family, the COVID economy and other challenges, will transform the lives of a huge community of makers. Their skills and creativity will benefit consumers and others in their local area.

My idea will reduce reliance on fast-fashion, encourage recycling, and support local industry. It offers a strong solution to fashion industry problems, such as supply chain waste and landfill disposal of barely used garments.