World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) begins today and this year's WBW theme is Breastfeeding: a Key to Sustainable Development. It commemorates the start of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  — 17 goals to transform our world by the year 2030—  that were adopted by world leaders at an historic UN Summit. The theme is very much in line with Belabumbum's mission as it highlights how breastfeeding is a key element in getting us to think about how to value our wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world we share. We’re happy to see that the organizers of WBW are linking breastfeeding to the SDGs along five broad themes:

1. Nutrition and food security
2. Health, well-being, and survival
3. Environment and climate change
4. Work productivity, empowerment, social protection (The space we work in!)
5. Sustainable partnerships and rule of law

In addition to making products that support breastfeeding moms, the core of the core of Belabumbum’s mission has always been to create a business model that nurtures entrepreneurship and job security in Latin America through the production and marketing of top-quality fashion. The main idea: promote well-being all along the supply chain, from maker to wearer. In line with SDG Goal 8, Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. When I started Belabumbum in 2001, sustainability was not in fashion — our first customers, mostly wholesale accounts, were more concerned with price and production capacity. They were not looking for a scrappy startup with a social mission. So, although we’ve always been a social enterprise, I kept that aspect of our work under the radar. Fifteen years later, business models and mindsets have changed.  Initiatives like the United Nations Global Compact challenge companies to find opportunities do business responsibly and innovate around sustainability. Tragedies like the Rana Plaza collapse, scandals in the supply chains of major brands (especially around labor practices), and questions around the social and environmental impact of fast fashion have pushed mindsets in Belabumbum’s direction. Buoyed by the increased attention to ethical fashion, fair trade, and well being for all, we look forward to continuing to innovate in this arena and celebrating WBW — while we keep delivering for moms and families around the world. * World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) has been celebrated since 1992 and is the biggest social mobilization platform to promote breastfeeding. Participation has grown steadily and WBW is now celebrated in over 170 countries by more than 1.5 million individuals, with a reach of up to 30 million through mainstream and social media.  Follow #WBW2016 to learn how women around the world are commemorating.