Project background

The garment and textile industry is an upcoming industry in Vietnam which mainly delivers mass-produced clothing for export. Employees of mass-production factories, largely women, are often underpaid, despite their long hours and their working conditions are routinely poor. Custom-made products provide an alternative. They require higher skill levels and experience of the tailor and are of supreme quality compared to mass-produced garments. In addition, tailors receive a fairer reward for their custom-made clothing, although the pieces remain competitively priced for European standards. By working as a tailor, women are able to support themselves and their family which is especially important for vulnerable groups that face social stigma, such as those infected with HIV, victims of abuse and domestic violence and the disabled. Alora Dresses aims to support the custom-made industry in Vietnam by providing an export market for a particular group of Vietnamese tailors. 

Ms Yen, the head tailor for the Alora Project, is an example of a woman who has thrived in the custom-made industry. Starting out as a small, independent tailor, Ms Yen slowly built up her tailor-made business to become one of the most reputable tailor shops in Hanoi. Her business helped her to escape poverty and to acquire the skills of running a business. She now has a shop in Hanoi’s central district, selling high-quality silk, Vietnamese designs and tailor-made outfits with customers from across Vietnam and foreign tourists who visit Vietnam. She now employs a variety of tailors, providing them with hands-on experience.

The Alora Project, which falls under the organisation of SIFE Cambridge - Students in Free Enterprise - aims to help more women in Vietnam, like Ms Yen, to succeed from the garment industry. The proceeds of the project will go towards a capacity building program for vulnerable women searching to work in the custom-made garment industry. Alora wishes to increase the skill level, knowledge and experience of these women by providing training and machinery. Through this, Alora seeks to expand their repertoire and empower them with the skills of working in a more sustainable and profitable environment.