School House Prepster zip-up sweatshirt
It is perhaps the color or print that first attracts us to an item of clothing, and the way that it fits that compels us to buy it, but often times we do not consider where the product was made, if the workers who made it were paid fairly, or if the process of production was environmentally responsible. Still, even for ethical shoppers it can be difficult to find brands that both support socially conscious modes of production and, at the same time, appeal to the consumer’s taste and budget. Nevertheless, Rachel Weeks, CEO and founder of ethical fashion brand, School House, has managed encompass it all.
CEO and founder of School House, Rachel Weeks
Weeks started School House in 2007 after graduating from Duke University and moving to Sri Lanka to study socially responsible manufacturing initiatives. During her year in the country, Weeks spent time researching the apparel industry and brainstorming ideas for an ethical fashion line that would appeal to the college market.
Weeks then hired Colleen McCann, designer and consultant for Betsey Johnson, to design the line, using the money she had received as a compensation for being hit by a car during her Duke days. “I came home and got an order from Duke and we used that order to start a small living wage factory in Sri Lanka.” Living wages at that time were about 60 U.S. dollars per month. Weeks helped to increase that number to a locally defined wage of 170 dollars per month.
“We choose to focus on the labor issue and specifically to paying a living wage to those who make our products. Not only because I think it’s the right thing to do, but because I think it results in higher quality and more beautiful merchandise,” says Weeks.
School House Crew Neck T-shirt
Now, School House can be found in over 100 Universities around the country, including Yale, Harvard, and most recently Berklee. Weeks and her team set out to design a specific line for each school based on their unique DNA, and for the Berklee line it was all about honoring our musical tradition. Weeks says she wanted to come up with something that used the motif of the music note while still maintaining a modern and streetwear-inspired vibe.
Many of the items in the line are decorated with edgy stripes and colors, and youthful graphics including boom boxes, microphones, music notes, and boldly printed logos. Weeks says her favorite item is a baseball-style cap with the words “Berklee College of Music” adorned in hot pink letters. The line is now available for purchase at the Berklee Bookstore located on Boylston Street.
Most recently Weeks has decided to move the company’s manufacturing back to her home state of North Carolina. Currently all of her products are being made there, with the intent to redefine what ethical manufacturing can mean in America, sourcing local materials along the way. Weeks says she appreciates the support of her brand at Berklee and hopes students can help to continue her mission for fair fashion.
