The Business Of Ethical Fashion: Opportunities In The Ethical Space - Part 3

Guest Post By Yona Lo, Content Marketing Intern at Brave Soles

In the previous post, talking about all the difficulties of starting an ethical business may have made the idea too daunting to even think about. But despite all those challenges, people here love what they do. They are passionate, inspired and ready to turn their vision into a reality. For them, creating change is enough. 

1. Uncharted Potential 

As opposed to large companies that are always on the hunt for the most cost-effective route, one great thing about these ethical companies is that they’re not blindsided by profit. Instead, they seek out business ventures that are meaningful and do good. These hidden gems of opportunity are excitingly unconventional and often take these brands all over the world, resulting in unique products and beautiful brand stories. They’re out there, if you’re willing to look.

Because of this ethical perspective, we’re exploring options that would have otherwise been overlooked. It takes extra work to identify these communities and to create a platform so we can start working with these women, but it was so worth it in the end because it’s what’s giving us this competitive edge. In the long run, it works in our favour because these women have skill sets that are really unique, compared to the more conventional products out there.

– Dana Kandalaft (Tight Knit Syria) 

2. Collaboration Central, a Friendship Facility

If there’s one thing that should convince you to enter a space, it’s knowing that everyone is welcome. People here want to create better alternatives, and they’re always looking to offer a hand to help you do the same.

The collaborative space is wide open. One thing that’s cool about social entrepreneurs and ethical businesses is they’re coming in with a different mindset. Obviously with business, there’s a certain level of competition, but a lot of these brands are super collaborative, and we see this at the Marketplace. Vendors go around to talk, to meet, and form cool partnerships. They lift each other up instead of being competitive in the ethical space. I think that’s the biggest opportunity; the people in this space are wiling to help each other, which is really cool.

– Sarah Judd (Buy Good. Feel Good.) 

3. Untapped Market

For every one person who enjoys shopping ethical-made, there are several others who would love to do the same but cannot, due to the limited range of products, styles, and prices. In other words, the space for ethical fashion has yet to develop to the scale at which it is accessible to everyone who wishes to take part in it. By considering the different needs of various lifestyles, the space for shopping ethically can be opened up to marginalized markets.

There is a massive white space of people who look like you and me, with budgets like yours and mine, with friends like the friends that we have, who want to participate in helping to create a more equitable world, but have been limited with our options because of anything from body type and size, to disability, or affordability.

– Christal Earle (Brave Soles)

With the growing awareness for conscious consumerism, exciting things are happening as more and more people turn to sustainable, local, and ethically-made items. There is definitely a growing demand, but will we meet it?