In order to advance gender equality and the rights of female workers in the apparel, footwear, and textile sectors, RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality) is advocating for lasting change.
In 2023, four international organizations—BSR’s HERproject, GAP Inc.’s P.A.C.E., CARE, and Better Work—joined forces to launch RISE, a collaborative initiative that aims to empower women workers, embed gender equality in business practices, and catalyse systems change against the backdrop of the global textile industry.
RISE reached about 400,000 workers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam in 2024—of whom 65 per cent were women—and is on track to reach 1.5 million workers by the end of 2026. RISE offers all-encompassing assistance, enabling female employees to advance their professional and personal development by enhancing their abilities, expertise, and self-assurance. Women indicated a 49 per cent rise in their belief in their own value after participating in RISE programs. The perception that giving women more rights comes at the expense of men decreased by 46 per cent across five countries.
According to RISE Executive Director Christine Svarer, the organisation already has over 30 members, including suppliers and buyers, which is essential for attaining significant progress on the manufacturing floor. Its programs yield tangible commercial benefits for factories: a review of 37 workplaces in six countries revealed a 30 per cent decrease in turnover rates, a rise in productivity, and a drop in rework rates from 7.2 per cent to 5.5 per cent. This demonstrates RISE’s observable influence, which we are steadily increasing as the organisation adds more members, factories, and nations.
