Founding story V: From Africa around the world
A lot has happened since our last post in the “Founding Story” series. We have become "older". Our team has grown, we have a completely new shop and new tasks have also been added. But most importantly: our range has grown significantly. The motto is no longer just African fabrics, but fabrics from all over the world. But how did it happen?
An online shop only with African fabrics? Difficult!
In the spring of 2016 we decided to no longer focus on African fabrics to put, but to expand, because let's be honest: it's really difficult to make money with an online shop only for African fabrics. We always speak of Sustainability, this also includes economic sustainability, i.e. finding a business model that is sustainable.
In addition, a second thing has become clear to us: The whole world is full of beautiful fabrics that suit us. With African fabrics, we were primarily concerned with the cultural, the meaning, which encompasses much more than just the printed patterns. They are a form of expression and communication, embody certain values and are firmly rooted on the African continent. In addition, we want to make a contribution to the fact that the substances from African production do not disappear completely and the associated ones problematically to draw attention.
The world is full of fabrics!
All over the world, and especially in southern countries, you can find small and medium-sized fabric manufacturers who produce high-quality fabrics in traditional production, mostly with reference to the local culture, e.g. in the form of certain patterns or colors. And many of these get involved, for example through the free education of girls and young women like in Togo, the exclusive use of natural fibers like in Nepal, or the use of certificates like GOTS and Fair Trade like in India. As in Africa, we can support traditional production with the trade in fabrics and help people everywhere to secure their livelihood with the traditional handicraft they have learned.
We have been able to do this for the past two years Australian cotton fabrics with Aboriginal designs include in our range, Batik fabrics from Togo and Malaysia, hand-woven Ethnic fabrics from Nepal and Guatemala, Block prints from India or Shweshwe fabrics from South Africa. All suppliers have in common that they produce unique fabrics and meet our sustainability standards in different ways. Each supplier has, so to speak, his own story, his own True Story.
Find suppliers
Of course, we want to continue adding more fabrics to our range in the future. We always need help from the community, because many of our current suppliers have emerged from contacts with our followers. And who knows - maybe one or the other can give a tip in the comment of this article. We would be glad!
