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We often don’t realize it, but in addition to workwear for adults, there is also workwear for children. We may think of a cute overall or a sturdy work jacket to play in. But there are countries where children actually have to work in this clothing. SOS Children’s Villages recently launched a collection to draw attention to this…
Anyone visiting the website workwearforkids is immediately confronted with both the cute clothing and the telling quote accompanying it:
“Clothes that shouldn’t exist for conditions that can’t be allowed.”
Although the clothing offered can be ordered and worn, this is not the purpose of the collection. The clothing is a way for the Swedish branch of SOS Children’s Villages to draw attention to child labor. Because every day, millions of children are forced to work in the mining, brick, and tobacco industries.
SOS Children’s Villages launches collection of children’s workwear
The garments are offered for the amount that children earn per year in these sectors: $865 in mining, $385 in tobacco, and only $290 in the brick industry. The descriptions of the garments show what life is like for these children.
Miner’s pants
- Designed for long days in cobalt mines.
- Reinforced knee protectors to make crawling through tunnels easier.
- Large chest pocket for storing a face mask and preventing cobalt poisoning.
- Adjustable shoulder straps suitable for children of all sizes.
- Long-distance transmitter to locate the wearer in case of a mine collapse.
The brickworker’s jacket
- Made of sturdy canvas to withstand harsh weather conditions.
- Designed for long days in brick factories.
- Reinforced wrist protectors protect the wearer from cuts and blisters, making heavy work easier.
- Openable armpits provide ventilation to cool the wearer when working near ovens.
- Special pockets to store oxygen during exhaustion, along with a face mask, prevent inhaling dust and chemicals.
The tobacco shirt
Waxed cotton to withstand pesticides and heavy rain. Colored fabric to resist excessive nicotine splatters. Reinforced wrist section to prevent cuts from knives and machetes. Special pockets to store antidotes and serums for poisonous snakes and spiders. Non-waxed back for breathability. Openable armpits provide ventilation to cool the wearer.
SOS Children’s Villages need help
If you’re interested, the clothing is available for purchase through the website workwearforkids. Please note, the clothing is only shipped to addresses in Sweden. The profit from this clothing goes to SOS Children’s Villages. You can also support the organization financially without making a purchase. The website features a QR code for transferring money.
Greetings,
Photos: SOS Children’s Villages