SITICH for RMG, a pilot project led by BRAC Social Innovation Lab, H&M Foundation, and The Asia Foundation, has launched an international virtual competition to identify ways to protect Bangladeshi women working in RMG and improve factory competitiveness. Innovators from all over the world are invited to contribute credible solutions that address these critical concerns. Applications are now being accepted and must be received by November 25, 2021.
Entrepreneurs can submit ideas in one of five categories: automation and efficiency, sustainability and circular fashion, product design, diversification, and raw materials, skill development and women’s careers, and the enabling environment. The themes emerged from a series of discussions, culminating in the STITCH for RMG: Global Innovation Conference in June 2021, which drew over 450 RMG customers, suppliers, industry experts, and tech innovators.
“Defining the problem is 90% of the solution. We need to reach the experts, those who already are working with workable solutions, seek their help and guidance then scale up the solution-oriented prototypes through hackathons.” – K A M Morshed, Senior Director, Advocacy for Social Change, Migration, Partnership Strengthening Unit, Social Innovation Lab, Technology, BRAC.
The competition is free to participate and welcomes ideas as well as innovations in ready prototype, pre-commercial, and post-commercial stages. Three rounds viz. the Concept Round, Pitching Round & Marketplace Round will entice written application, virtual pitching through video submission, and interaction with RMG suppliers for joint submission of Expression of Interests (EOIs). Winning six ideas will move on to the pilot execution and incubation phase. Interested innovators have to form a team of 2-3 members and submit their ideas through brac.us.skipsolabs.com/en/login/page.
“There is a real need for new approaches to support women in the future garment industry. We have high hopes that the STITCH for RMG Global Innovation Challenge will result in innovations that have the potential to improve the industry competitiveness and livelihood of women garment workers. Our long-term goal here is to prepare and equip the women to work successfully alongside AI and automation, and by this safeguard their livelihoods” says Charlotte Brunnström, Strategy Lead at H&M Foundation.
