Fashion Revolution Week : Join the movement with Helios Eyewear
Have you heard about Fashion Revolution Week? This annual campaign takes place every end of April and aims to raise awareness about the ethical and sustainable practices in the fashion industry when producing clothing and accessories. This event is very dear to us, as it helps to shed light on how brands value people over profit and conserve and restore the environment.
The theme for this year’s Fashion Revolution movement is MANIFESTO FOR A FASHION REVOLUTION. Since Helios Eyewear is part of the global community and very much aligned with its values, we thought it would be great to share with you how our local eyewear business brings this manifesto into reality.
History of Fashion Revolution Week
The Fashion Revolution Week started as a movement in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013 where the building collapsed and killed 1134 employees and injured more than 2500 employees due to the unsafe work environment and conditions. Since 2019, Helios Eyewear has joined the movement to show who has made their eyewear, where is their eyewear made and what is their eyewear made from. As a brand, Helios Eyewear feels that it is important to be transparent to have the trust of our customers; our Helios family.
Helios Eyewear and the Manifesto
Fashion provides dignified work, from conception to creation to catwalk
We strive to provide high-quality eyewear that meets the satisfaction of our customers and market demands. Being a leader in such a competitive field demands passion and trust from all our employees. That is why it is essential to provide a safe workplace for everyone, ensuring that all the members of the Helios and Plastinax family (from the factory to the shop) are paid fairly and work in safe and healthy conditions. This includes providing protective gear, safe machinery, and proper ventilation in the factory.
Did you know? Our company, Plastinax Eyewear under the ENL Group, is listed as a Great Place To Work Mauritius! This certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience!
Fashion provides fair and equal pay
Regardless of gender, race, or other factors, Helios Eyewear ensures pay equity across all positions and employees. As an ENL brand, we fully comply with the code of ethics of the company, which promotes the fair, respectful, ethical, and equal treatment of our employees and partners.
Our values also reflect the beauty of Mauritius Island, which is strongly anchored in a rich and multicultural society. In addition to fair and equal pay, we offer benefits and incentives to our team members, such as healthcare, insurance, and bonuses.
Fashion gives people a voice, making it possible to speak up without fear
Our employees benefit from various empowering programs such as the #MyENL Buddy under the ENL Group. It is a leadership program designed to empower a peer-to-peer influencer. Their responsibilities are to encourage and help fellow colleagues understand and live fully the group’s corporate values as well as be the mediator between employees and upper management to fulfill quick actions for employee welfare throughout the year.
At Helios Eyewear, we are always looking for feedback and ideas from our community, not only our employees! We make eyewear for you, your opinions on our products and services matter to us. Do you want to be part of the conversation? Follow our Facebook page and keep your eyes out for our surveys, and Q&As, or contact us!
Fashion respects culture and heritage
Plastinax Eyewear employs skilled artisans who are then trained in various aspects of product production, from design and prototyping to molding and finishing. Our technicians have been with us on this amazing journey for more than 30 years!
Their attention to detail is evident in the innovative designs, precise measurements and impeccable finishes of our eyewear! The commitment to quality and sustainability is a testament to the dedication of our artisans. We celebrate their work and reward all our employees through end-of-year gifts, end-of-year parties, team-buildings and outings and hope that they know and feel that we are more than grateful, for all their efforts throughout the years.
Fashion stands for solidarity, inclusiveness and democracy
Fashion stands for solidarity, inclusiveness, and democracy, regardless of race, class, gender, age, shape, or ability. As a committed brand, we understand how inclusiveness and diversity play an essential role in fostering a positive and dynamic work environment for our Helios family.
We promote a healthy work-life balance. For example, we offer remote working once a week to our team which helps create a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. As a Mauritian company, we also celebrate local cultural traditions and holidays (such as Easter, Diwali, Eid and so many more). We also have a Malagasy community amongst our employees, who are able to celebrate with us but also get a day off for their Independence Day! It is important for us to honor the sense of belonging and community amongst our employees.
Fashion conserves and restores the environment
Our Eco-friendly sunglasses are made with materials that have a lower impact on the environment such as bio-based plastic polymers, recycled PET plastic bottles and even old or broken eyewear that has been recycled! Not only is it not as toxic to the environment as crude oil plastics, but it also reduces the amount of waste generated through the manufacturing process, reduces plastic pollution and additional waste in our oceans and landfills, and allows us to have a lower carbon footprint.
Do you wish to actively contribute in reducing plastic waste and your environmental impact when purchasing eyewear? Read all about our sustainable eyewear, and what your sunglasses are really made of!
Fashion never unnecessarily destroys or discards
In addition to obtaining sustainable eyewear, it is possible for anyone to directly contribute to the island’s circular economy and support your Made in Moris brand!
How? Never throw your old or broken eyewear away, if you happen to have any! You can recycle any brand of eyewear by dropping it in the Eco-Boxes found at any Helios Eyewear stores on the island, and you’ll receive a 15% discount on a new pair! Your used pair won’t be thrown away; instead, it will be recycled to make new glasses and support the circular economy in Mauritius!
Fashion is transparent and accountable
We understand that being transparent as a local business in the fashion industry is crucial in creating a sense of trust within our community. This is why we openly share information about our products, manufacturing processes, business practices, and services.
You can check out how our eyewear is produced locally, every step of the way through the Plastinax Eyewear website. Did you know that back in 2020, we also made face shields to help protect the nation during the pandemic? Not only were they produced by a small team of employees in a healthy and virus-free working environment, but they were also composed of recycled eyewear and production plastic waste!
Fashion measures success by more than just sales and profits
We believe that eye care and accessibility to eyewear are essential. It helps empower communities by improving educational outcomes, employment opportunities, health, and social inclusion. This is the purpose behind our 1for1 Giveback Program. Everybody contributes to the solidarity fund just by purchasing with us. The fund supports those in need of eye treatment and helps educate the next generation about the harmful effects of pollution and the use of plastic.
Amongst many actions, we have recently, alongside Decathlon Mauritius and the ENL Foundation, organized ‘Un Noël pour tous’ (that is “A Christmas for all”) in December 2022. This has allowed approximately one hundred children from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Mauritius to experience the magic of Christmas with a day full of fun, and sporting activities all while participating in recycling and sensitization workshops.
Through the 1for1 Giveback Program, we actively provide eye treatment and optical lenses with our partner Ezio Opticians, donate eyewear, may it be sunglasses or optical frames, and have sensitization campaigns throughout the community to ensure a happy planet.
Fashion lives to express, delight, reflect, protest and comfort
Through self-expression, creativity, connection, confidence, ethics, and sustainability, Helios Eyewear celebrates life. When it comes to eyewear, we understand that the designs are endless. We don’t only create the perfect pair, we create the perfect pair for your lifestyle. Whether you are a wild adventurer, a fashionista, a busy parent, or a stress-free islander!
Beyond the product, the brand stands up against many issues that affect our communities and our planet. We protest against fast fashion by having timeless eyewear that will not go out of trend after a certain season and against over-consumerism by providing solutions to waste created due to this and through education. Our actions go beyond these as we are always reflecting on existing issues and how to be part of the solution.
Join the Fashion Revolution Week movement and show your support for sustainable fashion! We invite you to strike a pose with one of the posters that can be downloaded on the site, or you can even make one for your Mauritian eyewear *wink wink*!
Together, let’s raise awareness about the importance of ethical and sustainable fashion practices, and inspire others to make more conscious choices for our planet. Snap a selfie and tag #FashionRevolutionWeek to show your support!