ABOUT US
& WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT
Who we are, why we started, what we have accomplished, and what we expect to achieve.
There's a lot of information on this page, use the menu below to navigate to your desired section.
So, Who are We and Why Are We Here?
BUILT
DIFFERENT
Values based, from the ground up
#FairTrade, #FairPay, #Sustainable... sometimes it seems like a lot of brands toss these hashtags and buzzwords around like confetti without showing us a transparent view into the impact they say they have.
We wanted to take things several steps forward and truly allow our customers and clients a clear view into what we mean when we say we trade fairly, pay equitably, and create long term profitable growth for our artisan partners.
We understand how saturated these subjects may seem considering the landscape of these kinds of conversations. And while efforts by others are valid and necessary, many times, the intention of the impact falls flat. There are several reasons why this happens, which we will help you understand as you navigate through this page.
Because we understand the nature of the profound challenges of working with these kinds of groups, we also know how to manage them and have successfully integrated this layer of partnership into our business model.
Let us show you how...
Before you continue to learn more about us,
we highly recommend you watch the short video below,
Why I Started- A note from Founder Lorena Miranda Bendeck.
This short video offers an understanding of the core of our "Why" as a business.
How Do We Reinvest?
When we first created our company, we did so knowing that we wanted to be a values based luxury brand that would serve as part of the solution to unfair business practices and inequitable pay. Despite incredible challenges, we've been able to make some major impacts of positive change while sticking to our beliefs and mission.
Here's Our Story.
The Rebuilding of the Victoria Business & Design Center
The crux of our privately funded efforts in Ghana via our Victoria Project
How Do We Pay Fairly?
True Luxury Uplifts the Wearer and the Maker
When we are formulating our pay structure, one important thing we keep in mind is how long it takes to produce a product and how many can be produced within a week/month. Our goal is to pay our makers a livable wage that helps break the chains of generational poverty. With this formula in mind, we oftentimes end up paying our makers up to 5 times market value for the items produced.
To learn more about how we pay, the impact our jobs have on the communities we source form, and the challenges we sometimes face trying to do the right thing, visit our Blog.
Sustainability
True Luxury Takes Time
Fashion is a very dirty industry. We understand the impact that fast fashion and just-in-time production has on our planet. That is why we pride ourselves in being "slow" producers and offering limited quantities.
We do everything we can to be as sustainable as possible. From the places we source raw materials to reducing how much and how often we print in office, our company is committed to being a part of the solution.
KENYA
The Makers
MEET THE FOUNDERS
The women behind the Why.
THE TEAM
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Operating from a headquarters thousands of miles away from our artisan partners presents significant challenges, particularly due to language barriers and time differences. However, we've overcome these obstacles by partnering with dedicated individuals who assist us in bridging these gaps. Together, we collaborate to build sustainable businesses that positively impact their communities.
Business Development and Coordinator- Ghana
Abraham Akalankum
As the Business Developer and Coordinator in Ghana, Abraham is directly responsible for organizing the weaving teams, ensuring the weaver verification process, reporting their pay, and managing the quality of all of the items made for Sonder and Holliday in Ghana. Currently, he is also serving as the liaison between our team in the United States and the engineers and builders working on the reconstruction of the Victoria Business and Design Center that is being financed by our privately funded reinvestment program, The Victoria Project.
Head Artisan and Creative Director - Colombia
Juan Sebastian Màrquez
In charge of managing purchase orders, organizing the workload for our exclusive artisans teams and overseeing all creative aspects to our Colombian made products, Juan Sebastian is a key component to our success in Colombia. With a keen eye for detail and and impeccable method of weaving, Juan is not only one of the youngest artisans in the group but he is also so good, he has been selected to teach the next generation of makers.
Product Development and Quality control- Kenya
To Be Determined
Coming Soon.
