Women’s Invisible Labor in the Textile Industry
- Pervin Aydar
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 22
Did you know that women’s labor in the textile sector is among the most invisible forms of work worldwide?
As in many other industries, gender inequalities in textiles disproportionately affect women. Whether in India, Mexico, or Türkiye, research reveals the same recurring patterns of exploitation, inequality, and injustice.
The Case of Türkiye
In Türkiye, women’s invisibility is deeply normalized—both at home and in the workplace. Within textiles, issues such as low wages, insecure employment, and workplace discrimination undermine the immense contribution women make to the industry.
Although 79% of workers in the ready-to-wear sector are women*, their presence remains largely overlooked. Women’s invisible labor in textiles is most visible in three dimensions:
Home-Based and Informal Work: Rising labor costs often push women into home-based or informal arrangements. Home production pays only per piece and offers no social security. Informal ateliers frequently operate outside legal oversight, putting women’s health and safety at serious risk.
Low-Paid Work: Informal and uninsured jobs mean chronically low wages. Women are pressured to accept work without insurance, paid less than men for the same roles, and face unpaid overtime and unfair deductions.
Insecure Employment: Lack of insurance creates long-term insecurity. Workplace accidents leave women unprotected, and years of labor provide no pension or retirement security. Women are disproportionately confined to temporary contracts, blocking access to stable employment.
Our Approach at KEP Textile Atelier
At KEP Textile Atelier, we are committed to building an alternative model that makes women’s labor visible and valued:
Our entire team is composed of women, all employed with fair wages and full insurance.
Secure and healthy working conditions are a priority.
Working hours are flexible to match women’s life rhythms—not to extract more unpaid work, but to genuinely support their needs.
We believe in ethical, fair production that recognizes women’s labor as the foundation of the textile sector, and we work every day to create a more just and sustainable model.
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