Every body is a walking billboard.

The clothes people wear convey a message, according to Brody Hatch of Nude Voice Apparel.

Hatch created Nude Voice earlier this year with the intention of sending a message about the importance of ethically-sourced and socially responsible clothes.

“I’m passionate about fashion, but more importantly I’m passionate about the people involved,” the former Queen’s student said.

Nude Voice Apparel offers a variety of awareness-focused apparel, including t-shirts, accessories and sweaters.

Hatch said he wants the people behind the tag to be seen and their rights to be respected.

“These cheaply-made pieces are putting people in danger and it’s unacceptable,” he said of the recent Joe Fresh factory collapse in Bangladesh.

Having always had an issue with how we obtain clothes, Hatch said his brand puts an emphasis on the people behind the label.

“We are responsible for the fact that we accept to buy those types of clothes not knowing where it comes from,” Hatch said.

The garments are currently manufactured in Los Angeles in the same factory as American Apparel. With the brand’s upcoming changes, they plan to localize the company further by keeping it closer to home.

Nude Voice Apparel is restructuring to incorporate Canadian creators: both digital designers and those who make the garments themselves. With plans to recruit artists from across campuses or through word of mouth, Hatch is making efforts to enhance the brand’s fair trade manifesto.

By actually putting a face to the clothes – the designer’s information will be on the tag – buyers will be able know exactly who made and designed them.

In addition to being ethically sourced, Hatch created a company that gives back too.

Hatch and his business partner Miranda Caterer, who has worked at Me to We, chose sustainable organizations to collaborate with.

Each time someone buys a product, 10 per cent of the sale goes towards one of three charities – PFLAG Canada, Charity: Water or Free the Children.

The customer gets to choose.

The label filled a niche market, Hatch said. The first shirt he designed for it stated, “same sex, same rights, raise your voice.”

He said the slogan addressed how people are still persecuted for their sexual orientation.

“What if someone wanted to wear that on their shirt – that would take a lot of pride and a lot of courage,” he said. “It’s as if you were nude and when you’re nude, you bare it all.”

Nude Voice Apparel’s winter line will be out later this week, and will be available online at http://www.nudevoice.org/.