REVEALED: How the women making Meghan’s £700 ‘ethical’ handbags are paid as little as 10 PENCE PER HOUR, as exposed in this bombshell investigation by the Mail On Sunday
- A Mail on Sunday investigation found that Cesta Collective - whose high-end designs sell for more than £700 a time - pays some of the women who make...
Meghan Markle-Backed Handbag Brand Pays Rwandan Artisans as Little as 10 Pence an Hour
Luxury Handbag Company Faces Scrutiny Over Wages Despite Duchess’s Praise for ‘Ethical Standards’
Teh Duchess of Sussex made headlines this summer when she announced her investment in Cesta Collective, a luxury handbag brand favored by Hollywood celebrities. Meghan Markle lauded the company’s “ethical standards,” emphasizing the importance of these values to her.However, a recent inquiry has revealed a stark contrast between the brand’s image and the reality faced by some of its artisans.
Cesta Collective, known for its high-end designs priced over £700, pays some of the women who meticulously craft these bags as little as 10 pence an hour.These weavers, working from their homes in remote Rwandan villages, can earn a mere 82 pence for an eight-hour workday. This figure falls substantially below the World Bank’s £1.70 daily threshold for “extreme poverty.”
Despite boasting “fair compensation practices” and hailing its artisans as “talented” and “best in class,” Cesta Collective maintains that these earnings account for other income sources for the women. the company also argues that the World Bank’s poverty line is outdated and not universally applicable to Rwandans. The World Bank, however, confirmed the accuracy of the £1.70 figure to investigators.
Meghan Markle’s endorsement of Cesta Collective as “incredible” had a significant impact on the brand’s sales. When she was photographed carrying one of their bags on a date with Prince Harry last year, the company’s co-founders reported their most profitable week ever.
Following her investment proclamation in August, the Duchess emphasized the positive impact Cesta Collective has on the lives of women, stating that this aspect was “incredibly significant” to her. This endorsement was further amplified by a feature in Vogue magazine.
[Image of Meghan Markle carrying a Cesta bag]
[Image of Rwandan artisans weaving Cesta bags]
The discrepancy between the Duchess’s praise for Cesta Collective’s ethical practices and the low wages earned by some of its artisans raises serious questions about the brand’s commitment to fair compensation. This investigation sheds light on the complex realities behind the glamorous facade of luxury fashion and the importance of scrutinizing ethical claims made by brands.
Luxury Handbags, Meager Wages: Rwandan Artisans Speak Out
A Mail on Sunday investigation reveals the stark contrast between the high price tags of Cesta collective handbags and the low wages earned by the Rwandan women who craft them.
A Mail on Sunday investigation found that Cesta Collective – whose high-end designs sell for more than £700 a time – pays some of the women who make them as little as 10 pence an hour
cesta Collective, a luxury handbag brand favored by celebrities like Meghan Markle, has built its reputation on ethically sourced, handcrafted bags. Though, a recent investigation by the Mail on Sunday has uncovered a troubling reality for the Rwandan women behind these coveted accessories.
The investigation revealed that some artisans are paid as little as 10 pence per hour, a stark contrast to the bags’ retail price, which can exceed £700.
“We are praying that maybe they can increase our wages with time, especially if our bags fetch good profits,” shared one weaver, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The women, many of whom live in remote villages with limited economic opportunities, expressed a desire for fairer compensation. They highlighted the discrepancy between their earnings and the high price tags attached to the bags they meticulously craft.
A Closer Look at the Working conditions
The Mail on Sunday spoke with several Cesta weavers across Rwanda, gaining insight into their daily lives and working conditions.
Substandard Pay: Women reported having their already meager earnings deducted if a bag was deemed unsatisfactory.
Material Costs: Some artisans are required to purchase raw materials and cover transportation costs to their remote villages, further reducing their income.
* Inconsistent Work: As independent contractors, their earnings fluctuate based on order volume, leading to financial instability.
Cesta’s Response
Cesta Collective previously claimed to pay “500-700 per cent times the national average salary of Rwanda” on its website. This statement was removed after the Mail on Sunday’s inquiry. The company’s lawyers attributed the change to a “commitment to refining how they communicate.”
A Call for Transparency and Fairness
The mail on Sunday’s investigation sheds light on the complex ethical considerations surrounding fast-fashion and the global supply chain. While Cesta Collective promotes ethical sourcing and fair labor practices, the reality for the Rwandan artisans appears to be far more nuanced.
The story raises important questions about transparency in the fashion industry and the responsibility of brands to ensure fair wages and working conditions for all those involved in their supply chains.
From Rwanda to Runway: The Ethical Dilemma Behind Meghan Markle’s Favorite Bag
Luxury fashion brand Cesta, championed by Meghan Markle, faces scrutiny over the wages paid to Rwandan artisans who handcraft its signature woven bags.
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Meghan Markle’s endorsement of Cesta, a brand known for its ethically-sourced, handcrafted bags, sent sales soaring. But behind the glamorous facade lies a complex story of global trade and the frequently enough-unequal distribution of wealth.
While Cesta emphasizes its commitment to fair trade practices and empowering women artisans in Rwanda, some weavers are raising concerns about their earnings.
One weaver,identified only as Ms. Bayisabe, told reporters that she earns as little as 82 pence for an eight-hour workday. After taxes and costs, she receives 4,300 Rwandan francs (£2.48) for weaving a small crossbody bag, which is then shipped to Italy, finished with leather, and sold for £724.
“The gap between the price [they sell for] and what we get paid is very big,” Ms. Bayisabe said.
Acknowledging that the money from Cesta has improved her life, she added: “I would hope that they can sit down and revise the prices and increase the wages a little bit, especially as the economy is so tight these days.”
Cesta maintains that it is not directly involved in setting the weavers’ fees. The company relies on All Across africa, the firm that oversees the work, to negotiate prices with the artisans.
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Ms. Bayisabe says it takes her and other weavers three days to make one bag, working up to eight hours a day, which equates to 10.3 pence per hour. While her earnings vary depending on the number of orders, she said in a good month she will make the equivalent of £34.36 before taxes.
Cesta claims that three days is the time it takes the “slowest weaver” to make the bag, and that other women are faster and therefore earn more per hour. The company also stated that the bag takes “much less than eight hours typically” to make, and that the time is not “uninterrupted” as the women have other responsibilities.The situation highlights the complex ethical considerations surrounding ethical fashion and the challenges of ensuring fair wages for artisans in developing countries. While Cesta’s commitment to empowering women is commendable, the disparity between the retail price of its bags and the wages paid to the weavers raises critically important questions about the true cost of ethical consumption.
Luxury Handbags, Low Wages: The Ethical Dilemma of a Rwandan Cooperative
A popular handbag brand, cesta, is facing renewed scrutiny over the wages paid to Rwandan artisans who handcraft its signature woven bags. While the bags retail for hundreds, even thousands of dollars, the women who create them earn a fraction of the price, raising questions about fair compensation and ethical sourcing.
The “Taco Tote,” one of Cesta’s most popular designs, sells for a staggering $863 in the United States. Yet, Didacienne Musengimana, a 30-year-old artisan who works as part of a cooperative in Rulindo, Rwanda, takes home a mere £9.22 for each bag.
Musengimana estimates that it takes her at least three days to complete a single “Taco Tote,” working up to eight hours a day. This translates to an hourly wage of roughly 38 pence after taxes and expenses, barely above the World Bank’s extreme poverty line.”Ther is nothing I can do about it, I just have to work,” musengimana said when asked about her wages. “I feel that we should be earning slightly more and maybe in the future we can earn more, but for now I understand.”
Another artisan, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed Musengimana’s sentiments. “I can’t say the money I get from the bag is bad, but an increase would be much appreciated,” she said.
The stark contrast between the artisans’ meager earnings and the luxurious lifestyles of Cesta’s founders has fueled criticism. Co-founder Emily Weinblatt Fasciano, daughter of a Harvard Medical School professor, studied at an Ivy League university and resides in a trendy Brooklyn apartment with her husband, a former Goldman Sachs executive.
Her co-founder, Sophia Ryder, boasts a similarly privileged background, having interned at Chanel and studied at a prestigious design school. Social media posts reveal Ryder enjoying skiing holidays and frequent trips to Rwanda as part of her work with Cesta.This disparity has sparked accusations of exploitation and “poverty tourism,” with critics arguing that Cesta is profiting off the image of impoverished Rwandan women while failing to provide them with a living wage.
Cesta has faced similar criticism in the past, particularly regarding its use of images of Rwandan weavers in its marketing campaigns. British fashion influencer Georgie James previously condemned the practice, stating that it was “inappropriate to use these women as a marketing tactic” and that their labor should not be “used cynically to make shopaholic western women feel better for purchasing yet another handbag.”
As consumers become increasingly conscious of ethical sourcing and fair labor practices, Cesta faces mounting pressure to address the concerns surrounding its supply chain and ensure that the women who create its coveted handbags are fairly compensated for their skilled craftsmanship.
Meghan Markle-Backed Handbag Brand Faces Scrutiny Over Rwandan Workers’ Pay
Luxury handbag brand Cesta, co-founded by Meghan Markle, is facing criticism over its labor practices in Rwanda, where women artisans craft the company’s signature woven bags.
The brand, known for its ethically sourced and handcrafted products, has come under fire for allegedly exploiting the very women it claims to empower. Concerns have been raised about low wages, inconsistent work, and the financial burden placed on artisans.
while Cesta emphasizes its commitment to “dignified employment opportunities,” reports suggest a different reality for the Rwandan weavers.
One cooperative’s financial records, reviewed by the Mail on Sunday, reveal that some artisans pay for materials, transportation, and even workshop rent out of their own wages.
Benon mugisha, an operations manager at All Across Africa, the institution that partners with Cesta in Rwanda, confirmed that weavers are not paid for bags that don’t meet Cesta’s strict quality standards.”For Cesta it must be very perfect,” Mugisha explained.
Cesta maintains that only 1% of bags are rejected and that weavers receive training to minimize waste.They also claim that rejected bags can be sold locally. Though, the inconsistency of orders, as acknowledged by Mugisha, raises concerns about the financial stability of the artisans.
“Some months we may even get no orders,” he said.
Cesta Collective issued a statement defending its practices, emphasizing its commitment to “consistent, dignified employment opportunities” and “equitable” sharing of success. They characterized recent allegations as “speculative information” and an attempt to discredit their work.
All Across africa, in a statement provided through Cesta, asserted that weavers set their own wages and that the organization is “deeply committed to empowering women, ensuring fairness and transforming lives through dignified work.”
The controversy surrounding Cesta highlights the complex ethical considerations involved in global supply chains and the ongoing debate about “poverty porn” – the exploitation of marginalized communities for profit.