Fast fashion retailer and global mega-brand Uniqlo's parent company is launching what might be the industry's first "social business" in Bangladesh. Called Fast Retailing Co., "the [new] company will be formed in September 2010 in Dhaka, and to demonstrate its good intentions it'll be named 'UNIQLO Social Business Bangladesh, Ltd'," says the company. Not only will "this new subsidiary company will be aimed at getting cheap clothing production facilities up and running in Bangladesh, thus helping the economy... the 'social' angle is also very high on Fast Retailing's list of priorities, and the first stated objective of the subsidiary is actually to 'help solve social problems, including those related to poverty, sanitation and education issues'."

Uniqlo recently expanded what was a bi-annual recycling program, where unused clothes were donated to populations in need, to an all-year endeavor. So far, "the clothes were sent to refugee and IDP camps in Asia and Africa, and disaster victims worldwide." Uniqlo isn't the only major brand doing its part. The Business of Fashion notes that PPR, the parent company to The Gucci Group, recently "announced its support of HOME, an environmental call-to-action by filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand." LVMH has purchased a 49% stake in NYC-based, eco-conscious brand Edun, and back across the Atlantic, factories like one established by Chid Liberty in Liberia's formerly war torn capital of Monrovia are sprouting up and garnering certifications as fair-trade facilities. The outlets are certainly there should fashion brands choose to pursue environmentally and socially sound development practices. Ideally as more time passes, an influx of eco and econ-friendly brands will follow suit. Reason enough to toast with a Belve cocktail.