Supply Chain

Indigenous Taps Crowdfunding to Finance Fair Trade and Supply Chain Transparency Tool

Fair trade and organic fashion company INDIGENOUS has launched an Indiegogo campaign to crowdsource funds to increase access to The Fair Trace Tool and fund social impact research with artisans and farmers to bring the story of fair trade and supply chain transparency to the consumer at the point of purchase.

By Mike Hower | Published 11 years ago | About a 2 minute read

The Fair Trace Tool, co-developed by INDIGENOUS and Worldways Social Marketing, is designed to connect consumers with the artisans, farmers and laborers who produce the goods they purchase. By scanning a Quick-Response (QR) code, the consumer can be connected to the maker of the product, view their story in a video, see the supply chain maps and access social impact data collected directly from the artisans.

The campaign aims to raise $30,000 to help customize the tool for brands that cannot afford the technology and to set up a fund for ongoing social impact research.

Organizations including SourceMap, Good World Solutions and Grameen helped to integrate their own offerings into the tool, INDIGENOUS says.

“We invite everyone who cares about fair trade to contribute to this campaign,” said INDIGENOUS co-founder Scott Leonard.

Many consumers want to make more socially conscious purchases, but lack the information to help make the decision, INDIGENOUS says. Many companies have deep fair trade missions and lack to the resources to tell the story. The Fair Trace Tool answers both needs by bringing the fair trade mission to the consumer in an engaging manner. Before even buying the product, the consumer can visualize the impact their purchase will have on the people who make the product.

The campaign runs from September 30-October 30, and has raised $5,721 of its $30,000 goal as of October 8.

Earlier this year, INDIGENOUS announced that it has helped 75 percent of the artisans in its supply chain escape the risk of poverty and many have achieved milestones of financial security, with some even starting their own artisan workshops. The brand says it has promoted fair trade and organic fashion for nearly two decades, and is featured in over 500 boutiques and several catalogs; the company also produces for Eileen Fisher.

Mike Hower

Founder & Principal Consultant, Hower Impact

Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact — a boutique consultancy delivering best-in-class strategic communication advisory and support for corporate sustainability, ESG and climate tech.

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Mike Hower