Using Your Fashion Business As A Mouthpiece In Fighting For Women's Rights

Using Your Fashion Business As A Mouthpiece In Fighting For Women's Rights

Women In Prison Monday, 1 November 2021

A 31 minute lesson from the women's advocacy organisation Women In Prison, to support in your understanding of what the criminal justice system looks like for women, and how your fashion brand can sensitively become a mouthpiece for the issues surrounding women in prison.

Kate Fraser is the Northern Development Manager for Women In Prison, a national UK charity that is centred on women's experiences and advocacy for radical change in the criminal justice system. Purdy Sutcliffe is a Project Worker for WomenMatta, a Manchester-based women's centre that provides intense, holistic support to women affected by the criminal justice system and to those at risk.

In this Lesson, hear what the issues are within the criminal justice system specifically for women, and why support before, during and after is crucial to reducing unnecessary convictions and future additional trauma to those imprisoned and their families. From the outset this does not shout out "fashion business", but we also explore thoughts and facts on prison labour, employment in prison, and what steps you can take as a fashion entrepreneur to raise awareness and compassionately advocate for women's rights everywhere.


In this Lesson you will learn:

  • Introduction to the organisation Women In Prison
  • Key issues women in the current criminal justice system are facing
  • How to be an advocate for this and similar issues in order to support systemic change and individual protection
  • About the use of free and paid labour within the prison system for producing fashion
  • Advice on using your business as a mouthpiece for advocacy and campaigning

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