Maven Women
I founded Maven Women in 2016 as an ethical fashion company. Working on human and labor rights issues around the globe enabled me to understand how complex and harmful the global garment industry can be. The collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh was a turning point in global consciousness, prompting consumers to investigate the industry and demand better. It also propelled me to deeply ponder the best way to integrate my love of great style and passion for human rights.
Never one to accept that something can’t be done, I refuse to believe the status quo has to be the future. When I voiced my desire for more socially conscious apparel options I also found I was not alone. All of my friends wanted to build a socially conscious wardrobe, they just didn’t know how. These conversations also shared another common theme: limited options for well-fitting, flattering, and stylish clothing at an affordable price. The market hasn’t caught up to our desire for something better. It is still far too hard for us to make clothing purchases that value the people who work in our supply chain and their communities. The garment industry remains the second worst polluting industry in the world. Although there are a number of fantastic socially conscious brands popping up, sustainable fashion isn’t mainstream…yet. The industry can do better by both those who make clothing and those who then wear it. Let’s come together to demand better and be a force for change.
Rebecca
People & Planet
Our Materials: Our designs are made to stand the test of time, as are our incredibly comfortable materials! Our American Eco-Innovation Collection is made primarily out of organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, which also includes key labor rights standards for all processors and manufacturers. Our custom Made in America fabric is the first eco Ponte we have ever seen, a true technological innovation! It is knit and dyed by Laguna Fabrics, a Los Angeles-based family-owned and eco-conscious factory. We even have our fabric pre-shrunk through a special high-end treatment at Geltman Industries in Los Angeles, which is uncommon in this industry but important to us for our garments to fit and flatter impeccably over time. We work with our production studio to have zero waste, donating excess scraps from our product development or production to Regenerous Designs, a woman-owned, US-based social enterprise.
Our Production Studio: We are proud to partner with Los Angeles-based Lefty Production Company, a woman-owned manufacturer in Los Angeles. All staff at Lefty are paid a living wage and we are big fans of the warm, welcoming ethos of the company. Lefty shares our commitment to excellence and quality, having worked with high fashion designers like Christian Siriano and retailers like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.
Our Supply Chain: We aim to have as short and transparent a supply chain as possible. Sustainability is in our DNA and we aim to constantly make improvements in our environmental footprint and social impact. Our inaugural collection is shipped to you from Los Angeles by Elisha C., a woman-owned fair trade company whose Founder is also the Executive Director of Fair Trade LA. We purchase our recycled paper hang tags from Indie Printing, another Los Angeles company dedicated to eco-consciousness. We also use minimalist, Made in America packaging made from recycled materials when we ship our collection to you!