ABLE: Paving the Way For Transparency + Ethical Clothing
I first encountered ABLE at an event in 2017, but their story begins well before that. And while they’re a local brand, their impact extends across the globe.
About ABLE
Started in 2010 as a hand-woven scarves company, ABLE is a lifestyle brand based in Nashville focused on ending generational poverty by working with women who have often overcome extraordinary circumstances. They manufacture directly in the communities they wish to impact, both locally and globally, creating jobs and ending the cycle of charity dependency. Their model is truly remarkable. I think my favorite part is that they don’t actually own any of the factories overseas (but they have an incredible auditing system to ensure working conditions are safe, ethical and fair — more on that later!). Instead, they empower the women there to create their own sustainable business in their community.
And in Nashville, they employ women at their jewelry and fulfillment center, which is connected to their flagship store, where many of the products are sold. At an event I attended in 2018, I had an opportunity to hear from two of the women making jewelry for ABLE. They shared their stories of overcoming intense circumstances and how ABLE has provided them with a safe and positive place to work and have a fresh start.
Working With Women
Whether it’s overseas or right here in Nashville, ABLE intentionally chooses to work with women because they know that when women thrive, so do the economies in which they operate. In fact, according to UNICEF, women reinvest 80 percent of their income into their families, whereas men only invest 30–40 percent of their income. And the fashion industry is the third-largest industrial industry in the world, employing more than 60 million people, over 75 percent of whom are women. Statistically, it makes sense to empower women in order to make the greatest impact on a community as a whole.
Plus, I mentioned this in my discussion of fast fashion and racism, but according to The Guardian, of the 74 million textile workers worldwide, 80% are women of color. So ABLE’s employment model not only supports women — it’s beneficial for women of color.
Making Transparency the Norm
One of their most recent ventures is their ACCOUNTABLE program, an innovative social impact reporting system that provides a transparent look at a brand’s manufacturing efforts — namely, their wages. They’ve led the industry in the charge for transparency by publishing their wages and encouraging other brands to follow suit. ABLE has a dream that in 10 years or sooner, published wages will be as common as the Nutritional Facts labels in your pantry. Throughout the development of ACCOUNTABLE, they realized that transparency around wages is one of the most effective ways to determine a brand’s impact on their workers. ABLE acknowledges they are not perfect, but strives to be perfectly transparent — and that’s something I admire and appreciate.
Your Support Matters
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we vote with our wallets! Whether we realize it or not, we are aligning ourselves and our values with the companies we support financially. That means our purchases with ABLE and other ethical brands directly supports their mission and the people they employ. Your purchase supports the fight against generational poverty, helps empower women, and enriches communities on both a local and global scale.
High-Quality Basics
I recently had the opportunity to have a one-on-one styling session with one of ABLE’s stylists, Tinsley. She picked out some incredible pieces, including both basics and some fun options that pulled me out of my oh-so-neutral comfort zone. All of their clothing is built to last, made with high-quality materials and constructed with care. I have a handful of their pieces I’ve collected over the years, and each feels thick to the touch and has remained intact after many washes and wears.
During my styling appointment, I picked out these high-rise straight-leg jeans, and this tank in both black and olive green. While I was tempted to branch out (especially with this white wide-leg crop!), I purposefully picked basics I knew I could wear again and again and again. But thankfully, all of ABLE’s pieces work so flawlessly together, in an almost “capsule wardrobe” sort of way.
Flagship Store in Nashville (Open Again!)
If you live in Nashville, their flagship store is open for both regular walk-ins and appointments with new store hours (Tuesday-Saturday 10-4) and open dressing rooms. It was so fun to be back in their store, as they’ve been closed for several months during the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, they are taking all the precautions, like only letting 5 people in at a time, offering curbside pickup, sanitizing dressing rooms between visits, requiring masks and providing a sanitation station. I felt so comfortable being there — but also had a blast trying on all the pieces Tinsley picked out for me.
Discount Code(s) for Online Shopping
You know I’m never one to push consumption on anyone, as I feel our feeds are already flooded with “swipe up” links, enticing sales and discount codes. But if you would like to purchase something from ABLE, use the code HOLLY25 for 25% off your online order on their website!
And if you’re on the hunt for a leather bag (they are known for their incredible leather bags!), use the code BIGBAGSALE for 30% off all bags, totes, wallets, clutches and other leather accessories.
Sign the Pledge
If you’re unsure about the complexities of the term “ethical clothing,” that’s okay! Simply put, “it’s good for the planet and good for people,” according to ABLE’s blog post on the subject, which goes into more detail on the subject.
And if you’re ready to commit to shopping more ethically, sign the ethical shopping pledge. You’ll also receive a monthly newsletter from ABLE with practical ideas you can implement, tips, and how-to guides for ethical shopping.
Together, we can make a difference in the fashion industry — one purchase at a time.