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Designer Profile
‘The Cat’s Tail’ is all about strange animals, funny drawings, beautiful designs, a fair trade manufacturing process and…a fascinating story. We love the comfy and cute collection offered by Helene and Anne-Charlotte, and more importantly, their ethical approach to running their business. They have succeeded in creating a business that reflects their combined skills and interests, while promoting the values of fair trade and organic produce that they so strongly believe in.
After spending many years honing her amazing design skills in a French fashion house, Anne-Charlotte decided to trade in her drawing table and computer for some sketchbooks and a big map to explore far-off lands and seek new sources of inspiration (mainly from the diverse beauty of Asia). These inspirational ideas led to the creation of a joint venture with Helene.
Helen has worked for many years with a number of NGOs after a degree in Political Science. Helene also has a love of travel and returned from trips passionate about how she would make a difference by developing an affiliation with independent organic manufacturers in North India from her small office in the Lot-et-Garonne in the South of France. ‘The Cat’s Tail’ was born.
The Fair Trade Cat…
La Queue du Chat promotes production methods that ensure a fair standard of living, a safe and pleasant working environment as well as good working conditions for employees from the local communities. The factory, located some 150km north of Mumbai, uses only organic cotton. The facilities were built in February 2005 and a total of 300 workers are employed. Female workers comprise nearly 30% of the workforce and receive equal pay to their male counterparts. All workers receive a wage well above the local salary for this sector. The atmosphere is relaxed and no penalties are applied for faulty garments produced (a common practice in the industry).
The Organic Cat…
All the cotton products are made from 100% organic cotton in the district of Dhar, in India. They are certified by AGRECO and the German label SKAL. Since spring 2007, the entire production process has received the EKO certification. The cottons is grown by 400 farmers, mostly of indigenous origin, who each own on average 15 acres of land and form part of a cooperative. The cooperative provides technical support to the group and also acts as the representative, or ‘voice’, of individual farmers regarding matters such as commercial negotiations.
Clothes made from organic cotton contain no chemicals or pesticides.
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