Sustainability
Aruna was born with the desire to create sustainable employment for trafficked women seeking independence through a bright and confident future. We choose to be fully transparent from the hands that craft our products to the materials used to create them. We appreciate your desire to be a part of this mission, and we are grateful that you care to know who crafts your products and where the creation takes place. Go ahead, read on– we’re so excited to share this with you.
Let’s start with defining sustainable employment. In the ugly world of human trafficking, re-trafficking rates are high due to a lack of jobs and overwhelming poverty. The only way to combat this issue is to create lasting jobs that exist in a sustainable and encouraging environment. At Aruna, we make sure every employee’s workspace is a healthy, motivating surrounding. By creating a positive and beneficial workspace, we are creating sustainable employment marked by holistic care that provides a platform for artisans to grow and thrive through the process.
The women we employ have been freed from the brothel system and are now working within the Aruna sisterhood, receiving a fair and living wage including retirement and healthcare. They have been trained as artisans to sew exceptional products and earn a paycheck, allowing them to experience independence and to care for their families.
As much as we appreciate products, we honestly care more about people. No doubt, any craft can be tiresome and tedious. We include guided stretching throughout the workday, incorporate daily teatime (specifically chai!) per India’s culture, and host gatherings each morning to start each day with a positive message and conversation. Natural light floods the workspace and celebrations are had on birthdays. It’s cheerful and refreshing, and we are proud of that.
SUSTAINABLE AND BLUESIGN CERTIFIED FABRIC
Aruna artisans are incredible, and so are the products they create. See that little “Sustainable and Bluesign Certified fabric” icon near our products? Allow us to explain. This certification embodies ethically made products in every stage, beginning at the factory floor and following along until the final product enters the consumer’s hands. Bluesign certification guarantees that both humans and the natural environment were cared for through the manufacturing process.
Most of our fabrics and trims are Bluesign certified, and we’ll make sure to call that out for you on each product. This means that not only are our products as a whole made ethically, but the companies that provide our trims and fabrics are also behind the sustainable mission. Our products are made using best practices from beginning to end.
Parallel to respecting people, Bluesign respects the earth. By helping to decrease the many negative impacts from textile production, Bluesign follows protocols to protect our water and air, alongside reducing overall waste. Sustainable employment and sustainable products –We can’t imagine doing it any other way. Want to read more about Bluesign certification? Read here!
SUSTAINABLE AND FUNCTIONAL PRODUCTS
Aruna offers sustainable employment through the making of sustainably made products that exist to sustain your very hectic life. We know that you are running about with a to-do list a mile long, and Aruna products are made to get you confidently through your day. Sustainable products can endure different environments, elements, and abrasion. Here are some of the features we added to make your day just a bit more worry-free.
Aluminum Trims
This stuff is durable. So durable, in fact, that it is actually an aircraft-grade aluminum, meaning it has high strength, tolerance, and resists stress. In short, it’s not about to break on you. However, in the slim chance that it does, let us know. We’ll take care of it.
Fair Trade Federation Member
We are a Fair Trade verified brand, which means we 100% stand behind their mission: "The Fair Trade Federation is the trade association that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to fair trade. The Federation is part of the global fair trade movement, building equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and creating opportunities to alleviate poverty." We are so proud to be a member!
Machine Washable
Coffee spilled in your bag yet again... Toss it in the washer, swap it to the dryer, and it’ll look brand new. Our products with this designated icon are completely machine washable and dryable for those “oh-no” moments. We always recommend washing on a gentle cycle and drying on low heat.
Recycled Polyester
Surprise! Your Aruna headband is made of Fiji water bottles! Kidding. Well, not really. Recycled polyester uses PET as the raw material, which is the same material that’s used in clear, plastic bottles you buy at your local grocery. Sounds crazy, right? Keep reading... First, the bottles are collected and sterilized, and then crushed into small chips. Next, the chips are heated and passed through a machine that transforms them into strings of yarn that get wound into spools (imagine making your own spaghetti). Then, the fibers head through a crimping machine to become soft and fluffy. Finally, the yarn is baled and knitted into the polyester fabric that exists on your headband.
Reflective Stitching
Be seen at night! With a bit of added reflective stitching, your backpack becomes a stylish safety beacon in the dark. Safety first. That's the Aruna way.
Sustainable Bluesign Certified Fabric
By helping to decrease the many negative impacts from textile production, Bluesign follows protocols to protect our water and air, alongside reducing overall waste. Sustainable employment and sustainable products -- We can’t imagine doing it any other way.
Water Repellent
Forgot your umbrella? No biggie. It’s not your fault the forecast didn’t call for rain. Our water repellent fabric will shelter your belongings. Those raindrops will bead up and roll right off. Please note that water repellent is different than waterproof, so don’t go throwing your backpack in a pool.