Levi’s, VF, Deckers Help Garment Workers Get No-Cost Glasses

For many living in the U.S., wearing glasses is simply a fact of life. When Americans need a pair of readers, they can pop into a local pharmacy and purchase them at an affordable price.

But in many countries where garment workers labor and live, like Bangladesh and Vietnam, glasses, whether prescription or not, are considered a luxury good — and between 30 and 40 percent of garment workers in these countries have problems with their vision.

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According to the World Trade Statistical Review, Bangladesh exported $45 billion worth of clothing in 2022. Vietnam exported $35 billion worth. Only China and countries in the European Union bloc are bigger apparel exporters.

VisionSpring, the social enterprise that works to distribute glasses to garment workers like these, has partnered with USAID, Levi Strauss, Deckers Brands, Warby Parker and VF Corporation to create the Clear Vision Workplace alliance. The alliance allows VisionSpring to address vision issues by distributing glasses to garment workers in factories contracted with these companies, improving health and employment outcomes.

The alliance has screened 500,000 workers over four years, resulting in nearly 38 percent of those examined receiving corrective eyewear.

Ella Gudwin, VisionSpring’s CEO, said the New York nonprofit needed help from big corporations to get into the factories they’ve served.

“The factories themselves weren’t ready to talk to us at the beginning. They were like, ‘What vision problem are you talking about?’ … So we approached brands,” Gudwin told Sourcing Journal. “Levi Strauss had done an audit on their own… in a couple of countries. We approached them, and they said, ‘This is really good timing. We think we have a vision problem.’ And we said, ‘Yes, we know you do, and we can help.’”

Gudwin said VisionSpring screens all factory workers—whether they operate a sewing machine, hold a senior leadership role or clean the facilities. But the social enterprise’s practice has been to begin by screening senior leaders in the middle of the factory floor, so workers understand they won’t be retaliated against if their screening shows the need for a pair of glasses.

“We have definitely had stories of women who are terrified to get their sight checked because they don’t want to get glasses. We have had stories of women who have gone for employment and, because they wore glasses, they get offered a lower pay,” Gudwin said. “So we create a zero-punitive environment.”

A garment worker dons his new glasses in a VF Corporation supplier factory in Bangladesh.

The screenings are paid for by corporate partners including Levi Strauss, VF Corporation and Deckers Brands. Warby Parker pays for the cost of all glasses distributed by the alliance.

Gudwin explained that the majority of those screened receive their new glasses immediately. VisionSpring keeps an array of reading glasses on hand, as well as lenses with common prescriptions, which they insert into pop-in frames and give to the factory worker at the time of the screening. For those with more complicated prescriptions, it can take up to 10 days to receive the glasses.

The average cost to make each pair of glasses varies by country, but garment workers do not pay for any of the costs incurred.

A spokesperson for VF Corporation said that the program has fostered better outcomes for workers and supplier factories alike.

“We hear from our factory partners who have implemented the project that the number of defects returned from quality inspection is reduced, and overall satisfaction among workers is improved. Workers report reduced headache and fatigue due to reduced eye strain, among other benefits,” the spokesperson said.

VF Corporation declined to disclose its total funding for the grant, but the spokesperson said its efforts have resulted in nearly 140,000 worker screenings and over 44,000 pairs of glasses distributed.

The spokesperson said the Supreme and Timberland owner has participated in a number of other programs through its Worker and Community Development program. Those initiatives include a collaboration with the International Finance Corporation and the International Labor Organization to launch the Better Work Gender Equity and Returns program across VF supplier factories in Bangladesh, as well as a partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition resulting in the launch of a holistic nutrition program at VF suppliers in Bangladesh.

Deckers Brands did not respond to multiple requests to comment, but shared its enthusiasm for the program in a news release.

“We are proud to partner with VisionSpring, who shares our commitment to a more just world. Meaningful partnerships like this provide people with the resources they need to flourish—including equitable access to vision care,” said Brooke Beshai, vice president of sustainability and compliance.

Kim Almeida, director of programs for the Levi Strauss Foundation, said outcomes have been mutually beneficial for the denim company as well as its manufacturing partners.

“The Levi Strauss Foundation has supported VisionSpring since 2017 with grants totaling $550,000, which has made possible the screening of nearly 50,000 workers across Bangladesh, India and Vietnam. The results have been clear—by providing workers with eyeglasses we can have a profound impact on not only their productivity and earning capacity, but also on their ability to take care of their families and participate in all aspects of life,” Almeida said.

Almeida added that, as part of Levi Strauss & Co.’s Worker Well-being initiative, the company supports organizations like Change Associates in Bangladesh, CARE Cambodia and Life Centre in Vietnam, all of which work to improve garment workers’ health and well-being in supplier factories.

But despite its well-being standards and practices, the denim giant has faced criticism for its refusal to sign the Pakistan Accord, which legally binds its signatories to certain standards for garment workers’ safety and rights. VF Corporation and Deckers Brand have not signed the accord, either. VF and Levi Strauss are members of Nirapon, which is not legally binding.

Levi Strauss Canada has faced recent heat for its potential links to Uyghur forced labor, but has said the claims for the investigation being carried out by Canada’s Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise are based on outdated information.

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