What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a shared blueprint towards ‘peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future’ (sdgs.un.org/goals). The 17 Goals are the central urgent calls to action towards all countries in creating a united front and global partnership towards effective development. They recognise the necessity for strategies in improving global health and education, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth, all whilst combatting the climate crisis, and working to preserve the environment.

At Tamay & Me, we align particularly closely with:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

According to the UN website, the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, a really shocking, but sadly not wholly surprising statistic. As a female-founded and predominantly female-led business, Tamay & Me centres around providing women the freedom to create their own livelihoods through their skills. Supporting the livelihoods of women in northern Vietnam is at the heart of our brand’s ethos. Through purchasing Tamay & Me products, you contribute towards the financial independence of women in Mien communities, enabling them to continue age-old traditions of garment production, and utilise the skills that have been passed on to them through generations. This not only provides them with decision-making powers and social protection, but also supports the building of vital physical infrastructures that ensure secure living and working conditions. This is particularly pertinent in the wake of recent natural disasters like Typhoon Yagi, as climate-change takes increasing toll on the communities of rural Vietnam.

The cultural significance of jacket production and embroidery adds a unique authenticity to our products, strengthening the special connection between producer and consumer. Therefore, ensuring fair working conditions and wages for these artisans is of the utmost importance. At Tamay & Me, responsible consumption and production are core to our values. By preserving traditional methods of garment making, our processes remain zero-waste, sustainable, and eco-friendly – an important reminder that the traditional methods are often the best, despite the rise of mechanisation and automation. Every piece is hand-dyed, handstitched, and hand-embroidered, making each item not only unique, but deeply connected to a rich cultural heritage.

As a company, we aim to maintain the utmost transparency to you, the customer, in being able to follow the lineage of your purchase – we understand that awareness of production processes, who made your clothes, and tangible connection to point of origin are what create value. Through transparency, there can be a greater sense of ‘direct trade’ that encourages more responsible consumption, and hopefully encourages a greater use of the garments you buy!