Our Mission
At Arras, we are committed to bringing you everyday apparel that uses responsibly sourced resources and pollutes less. Every product we make for you is created in transparent and fair systems so that we can move towards an equitable and inclusive society that honours green jobs and safeguards our planet. We advocate to make the goal of sustainability the industry norm, and not just a competitive advantage. Our clothing is designed to make you feel confident in what you wear, armed with the knowledge that it was created without exploiting workers or resources. So that you can live with a guilt-free mind, in effortless style.
In our clothes, you'll find classic styles that can be worn for years to come. We believe that outfits should be re-worn, clothing should be cared for and style should be personal- a reflection of ourselves. We like to look good because that makes us feel confident and ready to conquer the naysayers.
Started as a small business without any background in fashion, we're driven everyday by the power of self- motivation, in independent thinking and in our individual abilities to create change.
OUR COMMITMENT
At Arras we are working on the three pillars of sustainability- economic, social and environment. When you purchase an Arras product, you are contributing towards:
Dignified employment: Currently 30+ women weavers and Arras come together to bring about change in our rural communities- the bedrock of our country- by weaving cruelty-free wild Peace silk and cotton fabrics. Our team of pattern-makers and tailors in underserved urban areas of New Delhi finish add the final touches to your garments.
Honouring traditional crafts & livelihoods: Almost half of the weavers in India (~2.2 million) belong to the North East region. The absence of jobs in rural India leads to mass scale migration to urban cities that offer low paying, hand-to-mouth jobs. With disproportionate load on its finite resources, a clear path to sustainable cities and thriving rural communities is keeping alive our traditional crafts and respecting its value.
Development of a unique silk industry: A cruelty-free silk that has not gotten its due standing among fabrics deserves recognition in a world that currently runs 60% of the textile industry on synthetics.
Fair Trade principles: Our partnerships with weavers and suppliers are based on the principles of mutual trust and fair trade. Good working conditions and non-exploitative partnerships are the key for a cleaner fashion industry.
Celebrating our biodiversity: Natural resources are finite. Designing a better future is in our collective hands.
OUR MISSION
To fight for a cleaner and healthier planet through responsible consumption of eco-friendly clothing made in a sustainable production system for a better quality of life for everyone.
We are aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with current focus on the below three goals:
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
An indispensable element of our supply chain is the inclusivity of women who are able to have meaningful participation in our design process. With covid-19 we have seen the devastating impact on the poorest socio-economic sections of society. Women being the majority of the workforce in the textile industry (91% of the total weavers in NER are women) are the most vulnerable to such disasters.
We are a woman led business with 75% of our employees being women. Additionally, we collaborate with 30 women weavers in Assam who contribute to our design process. We aim to make our artisans financially independent and drive change in their communities while working to grow our community of weavers in the next 1-2 years.
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high value added and labor intensive sector
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
8.8 Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
At Arras we are dedicated to building thriving rural communities. We partner with our weavers to promote their traditional knowledge through our creations. In the still nascent handloom industry in Assam, women work from the safety of their homes with each home equipped with a traditional loom. This makes it easier for them to continue weaving for us while performing household chores and taking care of their young ones.
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
Arras’s commitment is to use sustainable fibres produced by partners who share our values of fair trade and environment conservation. All our Peace silk creations are completely handmade and are made using natural dyes. This ensures a clothing line that has significantly lower carbon footprint while ensuring the protection of finite water resources. We have undertaken the first ever Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Eri Silk. Our goal is to use 100% sustainably grown cotton by 2024.
Plastics, whether single use or in synthetic fabrics, are a no-go area for us. We are fully synthetic free in our clothes and plastic-free in our packaging.
Check out our pure, handwoven products here.
