Social Business
Skeletons in the fair trade closet – A critical review ‘à la Française’
‘The hidden face of fair trade’ is a thoroughly researched, critical review of the fair trade movement and its players. With France as the primary focus, the author revisits the movement’s history, points out paradoxes and problems, and suggest what may, or not, become of it in the future.
Social businesses hands on: Helping to rebuild Tsunami stricken Eastern Japan
The coastal areas of Eastern Japan, while largely unaffected by the grade 9 earthquake from March 11th, 2011, was thoroughly washed away by the tsunami following the quake. Now that the recovery efforts are under way, also fashion companies and fashion related projects contribute their share. An overview of what is happening on the ground to-date.
Ethical Fashion & Social Enterpreneurship: The Japanese case
At the forefront of the Japanese ethical fashion movement, and commercially the most successful, are social businesses. They’re principle strategy is to build a firm base in their own national market, but beyond that Asian markets are their principle expansion area. Design is flexible, but their business principle are everything but.
Beshtar brings new perspectives to Afghanistan
The word Beshtar means ‘More’ in Dari. The idea behind the brand and its designs is to do more for the people of Afghanistan. The inspiration for Beshtar comes from the resilience of a people living in a country that has been at war for more than 30 years.
From recycled materials to Smateria
Smateria is a Cambodian upcycling bag label founded by 2 Italian women. What originally was a haphazard venture with the will to improve the lives of Cambodian women has turned by now into a successful social business.
Animanà: A vision unites Andean artisans from Venezuela to Fireland
Animanà is a calling to give the world an alternative production model that connects the market with the artisans who live in marginal areas of the Andean region. A portrait.
Veja – a 1000 miles in the Amazon’s shoes
Sneakers, or basket ball shoes, are an unlikely candidate for building a successful ethical brand, yet Veja has managed the grow in an otherwise saturated market.
The Founder Syndrome – or: for some ethical (fashion) businesses surviving means failing
The Founder Syndrome is probably the 2nd most frequent reasons why SMEs fail. The syndrome thereby refers to a steep power hierarchy in a small business, with the founder at its top.
Made in Neukölln: (Education + Integration) x Local Social Enterprise
Made in Neukölln: A social enterprise project that aims at introducing Berlin high school students to the different textile trades of the apparel, while pitching for social integration and sustainable supply chains.
TheyKey.to, Berlin: D3 – Traditions, Commitment and Best Of
Winter 2011, D3: TheKey.to, Berlin.About dynastic companies launching ethical brands, and my personal ‘Best Of’ list taken from the attending brands.
