Label changes lives
A Te Awamutu woman is one of the key faces behind an ethical and organic clothing label transforming the lives of Cambodian families.
Erica Gabsby is a cofounder of ReCreate, a New Zealand company with a sewing centre in Cambodia.
The company is buzzing after being named the Flick Electric People’s Choice winners of the inaugural Ceres Organics Good People Awards.
The awards recognise New Zealanders making a positive difference to the environment and people.
Erica grew up in Ashburton and has lived in Te Awamutu with her husband Wade for the last two years.
She fell in love with Cambodia after visiting the country at age 21. Since then she’s returned every year.
Erica says the country is like her second home.
Five years ago Erica opened a sewing centre in the disadvantaged community of Dey Tmey, Cambodia, with her business partner Deborah de Graaf.
“Sewing is the main industry in Cambodia,” Erica says.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity that would empower women and their families.”
Each year the centre employs students from Dey Tmey.
They are fully trained and go on to work a 32-hour week on living wages, sewing garments for the clothing label under fair trade work conditions. The employees are paid holiday leave, sick leave, maternity care and overtime pay.
“Our staff have a great work-life balance,” Erica says. “The centre also has a strong familyfriendly environment.”
Children come to work with their mums and parents receive support to send their older children to school.
“The centre doesn’t just teach employees how to sew,” Erica says.
“It also provides education in finance, healthcare, reading and writing.”
One woman, Somphor, has gone from being homeless to a homeowner.
“Before working for us, Somphor lived under a table in a nearby market with her family of four,” Erica says.
She left her monotonous job at a factory and started working for the sewing centre.
Somphor had a Year 4 primary education, was unable to read or write and had to learn how to use a pair of scissors.
Five years later, Somphor is thriving as the sewing team leader.
Her husband, Hiet, is also employed at the centre. He received full training in sewing and machine repair.
The couple’s third child spends time at the centre every day while the older children attend school.
Somphor and Hiet are now homeowners and cycle to work each day.
ReCreate makes clothing to be worn all year round, encouraging less consumption.
“The garments are made from organic, natural, and sustainably sourced material.
“It’s fair all the way through,” Erica says.
Items are packaged in recycled, reusable cotton bags and imported using a carbon-neutral shipping service. The centre reuses fabric offcuts and aims to minimise water and electricity usage.
ReCreate’s headquarters is based in New Zealand and employs seven Kiwi staff.
Erica says it’s not always easy making decisions that are fair, rather than choosing the cheapest and quickest option.
However, when she can transform the lives of women like Somphor, it makes it all worth it.
“Transformation in the fashion industry is not only possible, but essential.”
ReCreate clothing can be purchased online at recreateclothing.co.nz or from 20 New Zealand stores, including The Activist in Te Awamutu and Leven in Cambridge.