S02 Episode 91 | PROUD MARY + ARTISAN MADE VS ETHICAL PRODUCTION
In episode 91, Kestrel welcomes Harper Poe, the founder of Proud Mary, to the show. By partnering with global artisans to design modern goods using age-old techniques, Proud Mary grants local artisans an exponentially larger audience, while bolstering the creative industry within their communities.
"People are going to keep buying clothes - that's not going to slow down, I don't think ... I think it's hard from a marketing point of view when both of those things are lumped together because artisan made and factory production are two very different things."
-Harper Poe, founder of Proud Mary
PROUD MARY
Throughout this episode, Kestrel and Harper discuss the evolution of Proud Mary, and the newest direction Harper has taken the company in shifting to a direct-to-consumer model. They also explore the intricate differences between artisan made and ethical factory production, especially when it comes to whether or not this is something shoppers are paying close attention to.
The below thoughts, ideas + organizations were brought up in this chat:
Aid To Artisans, a group Proud Mary worked with in their early years
Nest, a group Proud Mary worked with in their early years
Design Sponge, mentioned by Harper as part of the early blogger craze
West African Trade Hub, helped Proud Mary develop a partnership with an artisan group in Mali
Units / Multiples, modular clothing store in the '80s
Interview of Kestrel on Proud Mary, which outlines several topics discussed in this chat
Proud Mary's Rafia Shoe Styles, a popular item
Proud Mary's knitwear collection, made in Bolivia
This week's Conscious Chatter episode is brought to you by:
Soluna Collective is is an eco and ethical design company that makes products for your home. They respect the environment and the people living in it.
Shop Kestrel's Faves From Soluna Collective
Kestrel asked Soluna Collective's founders Audrey + Michael why they created the brand. Here's what they had to say:
"We have a passion for design. Design is our expression and it drives our exploration. To us, design is a form of communication that has no boundaries. We have always believed that our design should be respectful of the environment and the people living in it."