Amanda Judge Talks About How Her ‘Poverty Reduction Business’ Has Grown Into a ‘Fashion Business’
It was after college that the 26-year-old Amanda Judge wanted to start something new in life, something that could make her happy. With a desire to create a positive impact on the world, she left the U.S. and flew to Latin America to find inspiration.
When she saw how talented artisans in Latin Americans were, she decided to do some research about their lives. That was when she learned that most of them were at the verge of poverty. With the knowledge she acquired during her master's degree in economic development, she decided to help these people by giving them a more stable and just opportunity to earn for their living. That's when she created Faire Collection, her trade accessories business.
"I realized that if I could spend more time in more markets around the world and meet more artisans, it would be a really happy life," Amanda Judge said in an interview posted in The Story Exchange.
To gather enough information for her business and to be able to meet more business owners and artisans, she decided to stay longer in Latin America than she has expected. She wanted to know and understand the Latin culture deeper that's why she also studied to speak their language, the Spanish. The more she had spent time with the place, the more she believed that her business idea will prosper and succeed in the world market.
As she wandered around the streets of Latin America, she became more in love with its atmosphere and became more inspired to start her business. She also got the chance to know more about the lives of local artisans. She found out they don't have enough opportunity to offer their products to the market. And "they were forced to give whatever price the middle man asked."
With the heart to help these people, she started her Faire Collection with just a capital of $10,000. After six years, with more than 15 major clients including DKNY, J.Jill and Anthropologie, her annual revenue has reached more than $1.5 million.
As posted by Shop Faire, though the company has already earning fame in the business and fashion world, the Fair Trade's mission still revolves around the same thing: to help elevate the "lives of our artisan partners by providing dignified wages and holistic social programs that provide a path out of poverty."
"It started as a poverty reduction business but has grown into fashion business," Judge added.
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