Photo above from the Mindfood article on Gloriavale. We just watched the Stuff video below.  It really got us talking about modern-day slavery.  Something we are passionately against. Please read below knowing that this is our lives passion to stand against modern day slavery.  We don't mean to be judging, but we feel it there is a shocking truth here that needs to be told....

It seems absolutely absurd to wonder if we support modern day slavery!  NO WAY!  I would never support something like Gloriavale!

In Aotearoa / New Zealand we are horrified to watch people come out of a community that has held people in slavery for so long and right here in our back yard.  No, I would not support that, what a stupid question!

OK then, here is the challenge.  Stop reading this and look at your feet, look at your legs, your waist, your torso and arms. See any evidence of modern day slavery?  Who made your shoes, socks, pants, and shirt?  Do you know?  Any of your gear cost less than $10 NZD?  $5?  How many "bargains" are you purchasing?   Ever pause to ask, "Why is this stuff so cheap?"  It might be because you have unwittingly (or even fully aware - God forbid) supported modern day slavery.  Something like Gloriavale, or worse than Gloriavale, but overseas.

Maybe, you took a good hard look at yourself, considered your purchases, know where the clothes you are wearing came from and felt justified, no slavery here. If so, awesome work, ka pai!  You do not support modern day slavery!  We love that, you are one of the few that pay extra and go the extra mile to protect your follow humans from living a tragedy like in the story of Gloriavale.  We call you a hero!

We do not mean to be preachy!  We saw this news report on Gloriavale with the title "Born into Slavery..." (see video below) and the article on Stuff News with the title "Ex-Gloriavale members sue, alleging modern-day slavery" (Click here to see news article).  It made us stop and think.  Wow, modern day slavery its right here in Aotearoa / NZ, in our consumerism if we are not careful about our purchases.  We have seen first hand how this slavery looks overseas too!

Finally, we write this to say thank you to those of you who support the Fashion Revolution (Who made my clothes?), those of you who are considerate consumers, and, most of all, those of you who support us and our work to bring freedom and dignity to the area of fashion, one of the darkest modern day slave markets on the planet.  Thanks from us all at team Holi Boli and Tonic & Cloth for supporting #fearlessethicalfashion.   :)