People Tree is one of the pioneering brands in sustainable fashion which was created by Safia Minney in the early 90s in Japan. With over 20 years of experience, the company currently has its headquarters in the United Kingdom and a production chain in countries such as Bangladesh and India. The brand is defined by its support of eco-conscious fashion, and also by its support for fair trade, providing decent working conditions to more than 10 international distributors and producers. As a mission, People Tree aims to support its different collaborators to develop a dignified business activity that allows them economic independence; to defend the environment and natural resources, and to become sustainable fashion suppliers for all those consumers of ecological and ethical textile products. With a range of apparel for both women and men, the brand's main target audience would be women between 30 and 45 years of age, with an intermediate professional activity and a medium consumption horizon. The purchase motivations of this type of target audience for People Tree are related to personal values and their role in society.
Partnering with Creative Handicrafts Creative Handicrafts is a social enterprise created in 1984 to empower underprivileged women in the slum communities of Bombay or Mumbai, India. It was founded by Spanish missionary, Isabel Martin, from the congregation of the Missionaries of Christ Jesus and a group of women from the slums of Mumbai. Most of the women in the slums were victims of domestic violence and extreme poverty. The most fortunate were those who were able to find salaried work, though often insufficient to support their families. The central idea was that the affected women themselves would achieve economic independence through a project of their own, escaping the situation of domination and mistreatment by their husbands, and being able to fight for their own and their children's education. The organization starts from the principle that economic independence is the first step towards self-sufficiency and autonomy. Creative Handicrafts trains women to produce textile products and market them as a means of earning a living. The ultimate goal is to build sustainable communities based on respect for the human person and the elimination of discrimination based on caste, gender, or religion. Acknowledging its mission of empowering women, People Tree partners with Creative Handicrafts, giving women from less fortunate backgrounds a continuous flow of orders. The apparel brand gives these women an opportunity to learn and become financially independent. People Tree’s orders encourage these women to strive to continue to learn new technical and tailoring skills to constantly improve and make more beautiful garments.
Partners with Fair Trade Dedicated to providing ethically produced fashion collections to the consumer, People Tree is an ardent supporter of movements that promote fair wages and careful manufacturing with respect to the individual and the planet. The brand partners with Fair Trade certified farmers and artisans in the manufacture of its ethically produced sustainable fashion. In addition, the company emphasizes the importance of eco-conscious practices. People Tree garments are made with pesticide-free organic cotton or a TENCEL™ blend, a soft, synthetic finish that drapes well and wicks away moisture. The company is also pioneering the first integrated supply chain with certified GOTS as well as Fair Trade organic cotton from farm to finished product. Offerings for the summer months are incredibly whimsical, tailored, vibrant and affordable. This makes consuming ethically produced fashion not only eco-sustainable but also worthwhile in terms of style. In addition, People Tree’s wardrobe stables are made using organic essentials, including TENCEL™ Lyocell luxe, and its season collaborations with the V&A and BBC Earth are all verified by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO).