80 years old.
89p per day.

Something has
to change.

The Unseen Appeal

This Christmas, you can help end the exploitation of fashion’s least respected workers.

Who are Homeworkers?

Hidden from view, millions of homeworkers help make the clothes sold on every high street in the UK. They work beyond factory gates, stitching, packing, and sewing clothing from their homes or small workshops and are paid just a few pence for every piece they complete.

Fashion brands deny the existence of homeworkers, and without recognition, they are unable to access basic social security nets, such as pensions, sick pay, maternity leave, or even minimum wage.

This kind of exploitation needs to end. This Christmas, you can help make that happen.

Learn more about homeworkers’ lives and hear from them directly in this video:

  • Could help a homeworker register for an artisan’s card so they can access basic social security payments.

  • Could fun a homeworkers collective to provide safety equipment for homeworkers, such as protective masks to help prevent dust inhalation.

  • Could support a homeworker collective’s community outreach work so women can access help with pains and strains in their eyes, hands, hips, legs, shoulders, and respiratory issues.

  • Could fund a homeworker collective’s outreach campaign in their community, ensuring women are aware of labour laws, workers’ rights, and basic entitlements.

The Impact of Your Donation:

To note: many of the images and stories shared throughout this campaign are not professionally sourced. They were taken and recorded by homeworkers themselves directly. Earlier this year, we equipped them with digital cameras and training sessions. The stories that came back are their truth, as they see it, everyday.

From factories…

Many homeworkers start out working in factories which employ a mostly young and female workforce. Working conditions are tough, with long hours, limited breaks, and set working patterns.

…to home-based work

After getting married, becoming pregnant, taking on caring responsibilities for elderly relatives or needing to run a household, many women are forced to turn to home-based working, even though the income is unreliable.

…to retirement

Without sick pay or pensions, many older workers rely on home-based work long into old age and have no safety net in case of ill health. Earning enough to survive can be difficult.

Change is possible

Homeworkers are demanding fair pay and better working
conditions - here’s how your donations support their cause:

  1. Strengthening homeworkers’ call for change

    Homeworkers are rising up, standing up as a collective against the powerful
    fashion industry and its entrenched exploitative practices - your donations
    provide practical support and training to strengthen their call.

  2. Investing in their rights

    Homeworkers are fighting for fundamental rights like access to social security.
    When you donate to Transform Trade, you’re supporting homeworkers to

    secure well-deserved pensions, maternity pay, and sick leave.

  3. Pressuring UK clothing companies to do better

    Fashion brands refuse to acknowledge the contribution of homeworkers which keeps them trapped in low pay and poor working conditions. Your donations help us to demand UK companies to treat homeworkers better from the other end of the supply chain.