Ethical fashion rating app to launch in NZ

Good On You app2Dunedin-based social enterprise, Sustainable Projects, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring Australia’s ethical fashion rating app, Good On You, to New Zealand.

Sustainable Projects is seeking $12,000 to develop the app specifically for New Zealand brands and consumers. The funds raised will go towards back-end app development to allow the app to work in both countries, gathering brand and retailer data, validating brand ratings, and initial support and maintenance. The app will be launched this August, pending a successful crowdfunding campaign.

“As Kiwis seek more information about the clothes they’re buying they’re finding it challenging to determine just how sustainable or ethical brands really are,” said Sustainable Projects lead catalyst, Bec McMaster.

The app will provide ethical ratings for more than 350 fashion brands available in New Zealand. The easy to use five point rating system is focused on a brand’s impact on people, the environment and animals. Ratings are informed by reputable and rigorous third party industry certifications like Fairtrade and the Global Organic Textile Standard.

“People are increasingly interested in where their money goes,” said Good On You CEO, Gordon Renouf. “We want to help them choose brands that do good for our world.”

The app can also be tailored to people’s personal style and values, which will then help the user find the closest retailer. The user can also send a message to brands inside the app, congratulating them or urging them to do better.

“Fashion is self‐expression, and it can be much more than just looking great. It can be an expression of our moral and ethical values via the products we buy,” said McMaster.

The Good On You app was launched in Australia in November 2015 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. It now has over 16,700 Australian users.

McMaster is confident there is a similar appetite for this service in New Zealand, but said it will need the support of New Zealanders from the crowdfunding campaign in order to make it possible. The Pledgeme campaign was launched on Earth Day.

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