London – Levi Strauss and Co has named 10 entrepreneurs to , its annual fellowship programme
for “socially and environmentally conscious entrepreneurs” who are looking
to create a more sustainable apparel industry.
More than 100 applicants from ten countries applied to take part in the
first-of-its-kind fellowship programme, and the ten finalists impressed
with their “bold thinking and shared commitment” to sustainable apparel
manufacturing.
The first class of the Collaboratory is comprised of 5 men and 5 women,
who have companies focusing on textiles, natural dye, merchandising,
menswear, ethical fashion, women’s empowerment and outdoor clothing.
These include Miriam Dym, founder of Dym a Californian textiles workshop
focusing on producing local, “slow” textiles, Jesus Ciriza Larraona founder
and executive director of the Colours of Nature, a natural dye company
specialising in indigo, and John Moore co-founder and creative director of
Outerknown, a sustainable menswear brand that blends function and style
starting at the supply chain.
Other entrepreneurs taking part include Wesley Owiti chief executive and
co-founder of Cherehani Africa, a social enterprise focused on women’s
empowerment and financial inclusion through sustainable fashion, Benita
Singh co-founder and chief executive of Le Souk, the first online global
textiles marketplace, and Kevin McCracken co-founder of Social Imprints, a
full-service merchandising company that employs at-risk populations.
“We’re impressed by the calibre of applications we received from around
the world and inspired by the bold thinking and shared commitment to
creating a more sustainable apparel industry,” said Chip Bergh, president
and chief executive of LS&Co. “Our goal with the Collaboratory is to fuel
the next generation of apparel makers and accelerate sustainability
innovation, and we’re excited about what this group of fellows will
accomplish.”
Each year, the Collaboratory will focus on a specific social or
environmental issue facing the industry, and this year is on reducing the
water impact of apparel manufacturing. The fellows will participate in an
exclusive workshop, designed in partnership with the Aspen Institute, where
they will create solutions to reduce their water impact in order to advance
sustainability in the apparel industry. Fellows will also work alongside at
LS&Co.’s Eureka Innovation Lab.
In addition, the fellows also have the opportunity to also receive
50,000 dollars in funding to help implement their sustainability plans
after the fellowship.
Image: courtesy of Levi’s