Corona Update: How we support our artisans during COVID-19

Recent fashion news has been clouded with unsettling reports about big fashion retailers recklessly canceling orders, leaving their workers without job, income, or social security... This is an incredibly complex situation, but we will briefly explain what has happened in the past few months and why.

Because stores have had to close down due to government-enforced lockdowns, many companies failed to pay for orders that they placed months ago. Suppliers in the fashion industry have faced many cancellations, reduced order volumes, and extended payment terms. This has forced suppliers to lay off their employees, often without pay. Garment workers, who are often already underpaid, are pushed towards greater economic vulnerability and find themselves in a devastating position.

If you're interested in reading more about this, you can read Clean Clothes Campaign's live-blog with daily information about how COVID-19 is influencing garment workers' rights in supply chains around the world. Another insightful resource is the The State of Fashion 2020: Coronavirus Update.

At CANO, we value our artisans and want to give them security during this hectic time. That is why we committed to our pre-corona orders. And with the help of our customers, we even placed a new order. Together with our artisans, we designed new styles and launched a pre-order campaign so we could immediately give them extra support. The shoes have arrived and are now available on our website!

Our company is based in Germany, and the German government has decided to reduce the VAT by 3% until the end of the year to support the economy. Instead of using this money for our own profit, we have chosen to invest these proceeds to further improve the working conditions of our artisans. You can read more about this in our blog post.