Ethical Clothing Launched
Amid tensions in the Middle East, a Jewish-American businessman has boldly stepped forward to provide work for Palestinians.
Adam Neiman, founder of the sweatshop-free apparel manufacturer, Bienestar International, which produces clothing and footwear under the label No Sweat, has recently partnered up with a unionised Bethlehem factory to create a new line of yoga wear.
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He expects to roll out his organic or fair-trade cotton yoga line from the Bethlehem factory, Arja Textile and Co., on the second day of Chanukah in Israel, with clothing set to hit London stores in 2007.
Palestinian-Christian Elias Alarja, co-owner of the Bethlehem plant, said: “I’ve been trying to arrange customers outside of the country, like England and France. Even though [Neiman] is just starting out, he has very good and interesting ideas.”
Non-governmental organisations in Israel are also supportive of Neiman’s efforts, as the unemployment rate continues to soar and employees are forced to work under poor conditions in Palestinian territories.
Roy Wagner, a board member at KavLaOved, an Israeli anti-sweatshop NGO, added: “And since it’s a Jewish client that is leading this effort, it shows an extra meaning that peaceful cooperation between Jews and Arabs can take place.”
Neiman’s roster of retailers is also set to expand after officials at Boston’s Israeli Consulate introduced him to the head of the commercial mission, according to Bonnie Rose Schulman, spokeswoman for the consulate.
“We appreciate No Sweat’s effort to foster a productive economic project in Bethlehem,” Schulman said. “Israel is strongly in favor of the development of democratic values in the Palestinian Authority, and we hope that No Sweat will serve as a vehicle to reinforce these values of economic development throughout the region.”
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