‘My children’s school uniforms inspired my ethical clothing business’
JO SALTER, 50, WHO LIVES IN SUFFOLK WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN, FOUNDED ETHICAL CLOTHING COMPANY WHEREDOESITCOMEFROM.CO.UK
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN FAIR TRADE. I WORKED FOR BT FOR MANY YEARS, BUT I WAS OFTEN INVOLVED IN CHARITY FUNDRAISING AND ALSO DID A PART-TIME POSTGRADUATE DEGREE ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IT’S ABOUT JUSTICE, REALLY. I’LL NEVER FORGET WATCHING TV ON A
RED NOSE DAY WHEN AN AFRICAN WOMAN SAID TO THE VIEWERS, “IT’S JUST CHANCE THAT YOU LIVE THERE AND I’M HERE.” I WAS VERY STRUCK BY THAT.
BUYING MY CHILDREN’S SCHOOL UNIFORM GAVE ME THE IDEA – BY THEN I’D LEFT BT AS I WANTED TO WORK FOR MYSELF. THE UNIFORMS WERE MADE OF CHEAP, HORRIBLE E STUFF AND I STARTED THINKING, “WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?” THE LABELS MAY SAY MADE IN CHINA, BUT THERE’S NO TRACEABILITY. WHO IS CREATING THE CLOTHES, WHAT ARE THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS? I HAD THE IDEA OF SELLING WELL DESIGNED, LONG-LASTING CLOTHING WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHO MADE IT, WHERE AND HOW. I STARTED CONNECTING WITH CO-OPERATIVES IN INDIA AND AFRICA, AND MY FIRST COLLECTION WAS LAUNCHED IN 2014. EVERY ITEM HAS A CODE ON THE LABEL THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO THE WEBSITE AND SEE ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN MAKING IT AND READ ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
AFTER WE WERE UP AND RUNNING, I HEARD ABOUT THE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS AND WAS ACCEPTED ON TO A PROGRAMME. YOU GO TO A MEETING EVERY MONTH FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS, EACH ONE LED BY AN EXPERT IN A DIFFERENT AREA, SUCH AS BRANDING, FINANCE AND MARKETING.
THE OTHER ENTREPRENEURS ON THE COURSE WERE ALL AMAZING – SO MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND SO MUCH ENERGY. WE HAD A RULE THAT WHAT GOT SAID IN THE ROOM STAYED IN THE ROOM SO WE COULD GIVE AND GET HONEST FEEDBACK. “IS MY LOGO ANY GOOD?”, “IS THE PHOTOGRAPHY TERRIBLE?” IF ONE OF US WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME, WE COULD SPILL IT
OUT WITHOUT IT COMING BACK TO HAUNT US.
I HAVEN’T HAD ANY GRANTS OR LOANS. I BOUGHT THE FIRST STOCK FROM FAMILY SAVINGS (WHICH WILL BE PAID BACK!) AND I WORK FROM HOME. I COVER MY COSTS, BUT REINVEST ANY PROFIT TO GROW THE BUSINESS. BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ON A PART-TIME ASSISTANT.
MY OLD JOB WITH BT NOW SEEMS SUCH A LONG TIME AGO. HAVING A PASSION FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS SO EXCITING – IT FEELS GREAT TO BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THE WORLD. >>
‘The SSE programme was inspiring’