Fourteen top Colombian manufacturers of everything from fabric to swimwear, sportswear, lingerie and accessories exhibited their enticing collections at SwimShow, Curvexpo and MAGIC for Season 2018. In addition to showcasing their products, they want the world to know the importance they place on social responsibility, innovation and sustainability, so they are giving back in a myriad of ways.

Tejidos Gulfer, a leading manufacturer of Colombian fabrics for swimwear, activewear, lingerie, shapewear and more for over 50 years, has established a program called Un Techo Para Mi País (“A Roof for My Country”). Through this program the company donates money to provide housing for the country’s poorest people, and its employees even volunteer to help build the houses. Tejidos Gulfer also provides financial assistance to underprivileged students, and mentors those who wish to start their own businesses. The company exports its fabrics to the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Mishky, the ultra-popular jewelry manufacturer, has a social responsibility program called Mi Mama Para Mi (“My Mom for Me”), in which the company trains low-income women to become skilled artisans so they can work from home while caring for their young children. This multi-beneficial system not only provides women with a skill, self-esteem and a way to make money, it keeps them close to their children so they may provide love, support and parental guidance without the need to pay for childcare.

With 24 years of experience in the shapewear industry and a presence in more than 14 countries, TrueShapers—maker of control garments for women and men—is giving back in a different way. As a recognized industry leader in high-tech control fabrics and innovative ingenuity, the company provides jobs through productivity while sparking business development and competiveness in Colombia.

Sports fabric supplier Lafayette, a 70-year-old company with more than 2,100 employees, focuses on environmental protection, including water conservation, energy optimization and waste management. In addition, they support local families with educational and professional support and services. For more information on Colombian manufacturers, visit procolombia.co.