STORY №2.

ecova x oshadi

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

STORY №2

ecova x oshadi

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Stories Worth Wearing: The Tales Behind Our Wardrobes

98% of fashion workers are underpaid.

Let’s start changing this together.

Stories Worth Wearing:
The Tales Behind Our Wardrobes

98% of fashion workers are underpaid.

Let’s start changing this together.

One in six people in the world works in the fashion industry.

Only 2% are paid a fair living wage.

We believe there is more to a garment than its physical attributes. Each piece has a story to tell, about where it came from and where it’s going. Only once we listen can we appreciate the labor and artistry that went into it, gaining a deeper understanding of our wardrobe’s impact on the planet and its people.

Guided by this philosophy, we set out on a mission to curate a collection that would serve as a vessel for the stories of the talented people responsible for crafting our clothes.

In March 2023, we pursued a project near and dear to us, in partnership with Oshadi Collective. Two months later, we visited Oshadi to meet with the artisans and the founder, as well as to conduct the quality control of our collection and monitor the process through which it is made.

We’re excited to invite you along on our journey.

Based in South India, the seed-to-sew manufacturer is redefining industry standards in myriad ways:

By developing a vertically integrated or “farm-to-closet” supply chain, they’ve helped to solve traceability issues with organic cotton garments made from their farm.
Their artisans take three mandatory breaks per day, enjoying ethical working conditions and fair living wages, according to the Global Living Wage coalition. In December 2022, Oshadi committed to radical transparency, posting wages of each of its employees on social media. Nishanth Chopra, the founder of Oshadi, confirmed that as of May 2023, all employees were paid fair living wages.
They practice regenerative farming by nurturing soil health, using organic ingredients as opposed to pesticides, and absorbing an increased amount of carbon dioxide from the air. This holistic approach also enabled us to dye our cotton shirts organically, limiting the environmental impact every step of the way.

One in six people in the world works in the fashion industry.

Only 2% are paid a fair living wage.

We believe there is more to a garment than its physical attributes. Each piece has a story to tell, about where it came from and where it’s going. Only once we listen can we appreciate the labor and artistry that went into it, gaining a deeper understanding of our wardrobe’s impact on the planet and its people.

Guided by this philosophy, we set out on a mission to curate a collection that would serve as a vessel for the stories of the talented people responsible for crafting our clothes.

In March 2023, we pursued a project near and dear to us, in partnership with Oshadi Collective. Two months later, we visited Oshadi to meet with the artisans and the founder, as well as to conduct the quality control of our collection and monitor the process through which it is made.

We’re excited to invite you along on our journey.

Based in South India, the seed-to-sew manufacturer is redefining industry standards in myriad ways:

By developing a vertically integrated or “farm-to-closet” supply chain, they’ve helped to solve traceability issues with organic cotton garments made from their farm.
Their artisans take three mandatory breaks per day, enjoying ethical working conditions and fair living wages, according to the Global Living Wage coalition. In December 2022, Oshadi committed to radical transparency, posting wages of each of its employees on social media. Nishanth Chopra, the founder of Oshadi, confirmed that as of May 2023, all employees were paid fair living wages.
They practice regenerative farming by nurturing soil health, using organic ingredients as opposed to pesticides, and absorbing an increased amount of carbon dioxide from the air. This holistic approach also enabled us to dye our cotton shirts organically, limiting the environmental impact every step of the way.

We interviewed three artisans—Saraswathi, Ashok and Panchannan—each one involved in a different stage of production of our shirts, from farming to tailoring. They did us the honor of embroidering their names on the left sleeve of each shirt, so you’ll carry a special piece of them with you, like a badge of honor for a revolutionary future of fashion - in which all are treated fairly and equally. Keeping each artisan close to us enables us to form a deeper appreciation for the skill, tradition, and craftsmanship involved in the textile development, and make more conscious decisions around what we wear in our daily lives.

Nishanth Chopra, the founder of Oshadi, named in December 2022 by Vogue Business as a sustainability leader, has graciously agreed to sit down with us in his enchanting farm and talk all things social and environmental sustainability.