Doled out with the best of intentions, I.O.U. finds itself the victim of a tarnished reputation. Too many times has its promise not been kept, and too often has it been devalued, scribbled on a crumpled piece of paper and tossed aside.

This little acronym has been waiting for someone to come along and restore its integrity. At last, that someone is here, and her name is Kavita Parmar.

Parmar, a fashion designer with heart, teamed up with Ricky Posner to create a line of clothing, sustainable and artisan-made, called the IOU Project. A celebration of authenticity and accountability, the IOU Project emphasizes all the hard work that goes into the final product. It also pays its workers directly, without intermediaries, to make sure everyone is compensated fairly and fully.

Each piece in the clothing line, made from traditional Indian fabric in a variety of solids and madras prints, is one of a kind and tagged with a unique code. Those codes link to videos of the fabric-makers in India and the garment-makers in Europe. In a unique twist, those workers can also go online and view uploaded shots of consumers happily and proudly wearing their creations. This is especially exciting for the weavers in India, who get to see their fabric transformed into beautiful dresses, pants, and shirts.

Visit the IOU Project’s recently launched website, explore the process, and become part of this wearable celebration of individuality. Oh, and don’t worry about writing us a you-know-what.

This fashion tip is on us.