MR: You brought up such a good point about subcontractors in the industry who take work home. The idea isn't totally getting rid of it but instead making it a transparent process and paying them a fair wage. It doesn't have to be an either/or. Why can't they just be paid what they're worth for their work?
AH: Absolutely. In certain areas, batik is a tradition that's been passed down for generations. And then, because of tourism and changing economies, that tradition is not being taught anymore because people are going into other work. So keeping it up is important. Hiring these people to do the work at rates that are living wages is the way it should be done.
MR: Yeah, especially when you factor in the discrepancy between what the subcontractors are paid — I mean, really, garment makers up and down the supply chain. But [considering] what the price tag ends up being when you see it in the store, you can't tell me that you can't afford to pay workers more.
AH: That's the other thing. It takes a lot to change the supply chains, but start it. At least start it. Because it's really cruel and lessons are not learned. But it's amazing to see garment workers, how much they have stood up for themselves in the past, and how they continue to push this movement louder. Specifically, the garment workers in LA. That [Garment Worker Protection Act] was them. They made that happen. They refused to be quiet about what was happening for years. That bill was decades in the making.
MR: That's an optimistic note to end on. We covered a lot. Is there anything else you want to add?
AH: I hope people feel they're learning something about such a powerful piece of our human experience.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
![MR: You brought up such a good point about subcontractors in the industry who take work home. The idea isn't totally getting rid of it but instead making it a transparent process and paying them a fair wage. It doesn't have to be an either/or. Why can't they just be paid what they're worth for their work?
AH: Absolutely. In certain areas, batik is a tradition that's been passed down for generations. And then, because of tourism and changing economies, that tradition is not being taught anymore because people are going into other work. So keeping it up is important. Hiring these people to do the work at rates that are living wages is the way it should be done.
MR: Yeah, especially when you factor in the discrepancy between what the subcontractors are paid — I mean, really, garment makers up and down the supply chain. But [considering] what the price tag ends up being when you see it in the store, you can't tell me that you can't afford to pay workers more.
AH: That's the other thing. It takes a lot to change the supply chains, but start it. At least start it. Because it's really cruel and lessons are not learned. But it's amazing to see garment workers, how much they have stood up for themselves in the past, and how they continue to push this movement louder. Specifically, the garment workers in LA. That [Garment Worker Protection Act] was them. They made that happen. They refused to be quiet about what was happening for years. That bill was decades in the making.
MR: That's an optimistic note to end on. We covered a lot. Is there anything else you want to add?
AH: I hope people feel they're learning something about such a powerful piece of our human experience.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/S0Jt8FJ474f52BJ9vGeTunXlobI/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2022/09/27/010/n/1922564/a6005ca29e6ebdcc_GettyImages-1242810871/i/MR-You-brought-up-such-good-point-about-subcontractors-in.jpg "MR: You brought up such a good point about subcontractors in the industry who take work home. The idea isn't totally getting rid of it but instead making it a transparent process and paying them a fair wage. It doesn't have to be an either/or. Why can't they just be paid what they're worth for their work?
AH: Absolutely. In certain areas, batik is a tradition that's been passed down for generations. And then, because of tourism and changing economies, that tradition is not being taught anymore because people are going into other work. So keeping it up is important. Hiring these people to do the work at rates that are living wages is the way it should be done.
MR: Yeah, especially when you factor in the discrepancy between what the subcontractors are paid — I mean, really, garment makers up and down the supply chain. But [considering] what the price tag ends up being when you see it in the store, you can't tell me that you can't afford to pay workers more.
AH: That's the other thing. It takes a lot to change the supply chains, but start it. At least start it. Because it's really cruel and lessons are not learned. But it's amazing to see garment workers, how much they have stood up for themselves in the past, and how they continue to push this movement louder. Specifically, the garment workers in LA. That [Garment Worker Protection Act] was them. They made that happen. They refused to be quiet about what was happening for years. That bill was decades in the making.
MR: That's an optimistic note to end on. We covered a lot. Is there anything else you want to add?
AH: I hope people feel they're learning something about such a powerful piece of our human experience.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.")
