"When every individual is self-sufficient, the entire world prospers.”

The beginning of Earth Month (and Fashion Revolution Month) is the perfect time to discuss Sustainable Development Goal 10 (if you are unfamiliar, please go back and re-familiarize yourself in our first post about the SDGs). Goal 10 is simple: “Reduce Inequality Within and Among Countries. Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people. This often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish, equality and prosperity must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status. When every individual is self-sufficient, the entire world prospers.”

Here are the specific targets that most apply to costume artists.

• Target 10.1: By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 percent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.

  • Work to ensure that everyone on our teams has a living (or thriving) wage.

  • Purchase from brands who pay a living wage to their garment workers. We must support businesses who are working in alignment with our values to see the economy that supports everyone.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

  • Prioritize purchasing from brands who pay a living or thriving wage to their garment workers to support economies that promote inclusion. Women make up an estimated 75% of global garment workers. 

• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

  • Ensure that there are equal opportunity policies in place, ensure that there is pay and labor equity across different design and production areas. Historically, many theatres have paid costume professionals less than our counterparts in other production areas, by advocating for pay equity, you are helping reach this target!

  • Purchase from brands and retailers who have equal opportunity policies and practices.

• Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.

  • Strengthen your organizational policies that protect wage equity within the arts. This is more critical than ever in a time when DEI policies are being rolled back across the country.

  • Adopt budget policies that ensure organizational dollars are being spent at values aligned businesses. I encourage everyone to do a “My Conscious Budget” audit (possible rebrand coming soon) and figure out how much you are already spending at conscious sources (second-hand, locally owned, fair trade, minority owned, etc…). From this baseline, try to increase the amount you spend at conscious sources by a small percentage each season. A good place to start might be 50% conscious sources.

I wish this effort came with funding opportunities. I’ve been searching for nearly a decade for funding for sustainable arts initiatives and have found very limited options. I hope that knowing you’re working in alignment with the best contemporary sustainability minds in the world will help you on your journey.

What are you doing this month in honor of Earth Day?

We’ll have our full round up of activities in our Newsletter on Wednesday, I can’t wait to share with you all!