Multi-brand online retailer, The Very Group, received the community engagements and partnerships category at the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles Awards in India, for its work in empowering young women in India's textile industry.

The award, which was presented in a virtual event, recognizes the organization's efforts to create five resource centers in southern India, which have helped to increase the understanding of 25,000 female textile industry employees and their families on labor rights.

Following the award, the retailer has already qualified for the Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards, which will take place in Bangkok on November 18, 2021.

Very’s work in India included involvement with female workers and their families, textile mill owners, and recruitment agents, which it did in collaboration with shops Next and Varner as well as NGO SAVE.

The development of village committees to ensure adherence to labor rules, awareness events on gender equality and labor welfare, and sessions on health and life skills for young women aged 12 to 17 years were among the highlights of its activities offered through its five community centers.

The group also sought to improve interactions between workers and management teams, including providing support to help workers improve their life skills, confidence, and knowledge of their rights at the textile mills.

Carly Bilsbrough, The Very Group's Head of Sustainability, said that taking on complex issues to enhance the lives of individuals in their supply chain is incredibly important to them. And, in light of recent concerns about labor rights breaches involving the hiring of women into textile mills in southern India, they made it a priority to assist them.

Bilsbrough added that they're quite proud of the project and grateful for the passion and dedication of the communities, agents, and mills with whom they've collaborated. They believe that this prize will draw even more attention to the advancement of women's labor rights in Indian textile mills, as well as in the worldwide textile sector. Their work in India isn't done yet. To address concerns identified through their worker voice app, they want to work even closer with even more industry stakeholders. They'll also increase support for migrant workers and young women in particular through community centers.