Bono, wife promote sustainable employment with Edun

The big green movement sweeping much of the world is about more than seven-year light bulbs, eco-friendly cleaning products and sustainable farming methods. Increasingly, companies are sending clothing to market that is biodegradable and that was constructed from materials “responsibly”grown.

Edun founders Bono and wife Ali Hewson at a red-carpet event.

Some progressives are going one step further with sustainable employment. Edun is one of them. The ethical clothing company was established in 2005 by superstar entertainer Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson. The Irish couple’s goal is to promote sustainable employment in underdeveloped countries while aiding the production of socially conscious clothing.

Edun apparel is currentlymade in India, Peru and African communities in Uganda, Kenya, Tunisia, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar. One of Edun’s goals is to help erase extreme poverty in Africa by encouraging the fashion community to do business on the continent. Africa has 12% of the world population but only 2% of world trade. If the continent could get just an additional 1% of world trade, that would equal about $70 billion more in export earnings in each year - several times more than the amount Africa receives annually in international aid.

All of Edun’s t-shirts are made of 100% organic cotton. Edun’s fashion offerings for men, women and children include jackets, dresses, denim, knits, sweaters and other tops and bottoms priced from $36 to $400.

The company’s future looks promising. LVMH, parent company of Louis Vuitton and many other fashion, beauty  and retail brands, recently bought a minority share in Edun - an indication that the infant label has a lot of growth potential and could be around for a very long time.

Click on the clothing images to shop Edun.

Uhuru dress

Persephone dress

Entebbe men's crew