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Alice Freitas, co-founder of Rede Asta, represented Brazilian artisans at the UN headquarters in New York. At the 3rd Annual Artisan Leadership Conference by Nest, leaders of organizations and companies from 17 countries signed a code of conduct for the handmade economy. The document promotes transparency, well-being, health, safety, child protection, environmental care, and fair compensation for artisans.
The discussion is fundamental to creating the new foundations of a textile economy, which employs 300 million people around the globe but is the second most polluting industry on the planet. Major retail brands such as Patagonia, West Elm, Target, and Levi’s were present, among others, as well as designers and university representatives.
The event also marked the launch of the Nest certification seal for artisanal products, a compliance program developed to align artisanal production with the requirements of major brands and vice versa.