made in africa

Designers listen up!

Xoomba is an organization who is working to integrate organic and fair trade solutions in Africa.
It makes sense. Africa can jump ahead of developed nations, weighted down by missing renewable energy infrastructures, already in place there!

I'd love to put a tag on my clothing that says: Made in Africa with organic sustainable materials!

Xoomba's goals are to keep production from raw materials to finished products in West Africa to maximize profits for the local communities and follow fair trade standards in every step of the production. An overwhelming amount of raw materials flies out of Africa without benefiting local economies (eg. 97% of Mali's cotton leaves the country in it's raw state).

It's simply been too long that subcontractors for large companies such as Gap and Nike have supported sweatshops and exploited children.

The garment industry has become too globalized with materials traveling every which way in the process of becoming a garment.

So, I know this is short notice, but you should check out tonight's line up at Galapagos in Brooklyn! Map!

XOOMBA Launch Benefit, tonight at 8PM, $15. Buy tickets!

This is an initiative to work in some of the world's poorest countries to reverse the negatives of the conventional garment industry.

Who if not us the designers and producers should listen and take action?

Tonight, performers will include Nils Nusens and his Viking Funk band, with special guests Perplex, and the incredible vocalist M (Madwoman). Famoro Dioubate, from Guinea, will also perform on balofon as a special guest for the evening.

African food, bissap (Hibiscus tea from Senegal), and Customized cookies from SUGARBUILT will also be sold for this cause.