Soul Economy

Rise Up Productions manufactures and designs ethical and sustainable products with profits directed to registered environmental, humanitarian, medical research and aid organisations. Their product range includes fashion, school uniforms, linen and promotional apparel. All products are carbon neutral with the most popular being recycled thongs, caps and school uniforms. Soul Economy was very pleased to have the opportunity to speak to owner and Soulful Entrepreneur, Bronwyn, who “walks the talk” by even riding her bike to many meetings.

1. What inspired you to start Rise Up Productions? What is your vision for the company?
I was working as a consultant to the mining industry, and was frustrated by the lack of ethically produced t-shirt options for my teenage son. In my search for an ethical and sustainable clothing supplier I was astonished to find how hard it was. I couldn’t find a supply chain that met the standards that I believe are important, so I created my own.

Initially it was a hobby as I worked to fill the gap in the boys pj’s market and raise some money for charity. Before long I was so committed to offering consumers the choice to make a real difference to the world that I sold my family home to fund the growing range of products and run the business full time.

My vision was to establish a profit for purpose company that designs and produces a range of sustainable and ethically manufactured products. These products were to include school and corporate uniforms, caps and promotional products with direct profits going to registered humanitarian, aid, environmental and medical research organisations. These organisations include Habitat for Humanity Australia, Opportunity International Australia, Oxfam Australia and World Vision.

Ultimately I want to see Australians take up the challenge to be, as individuals engineers of positive social and environmental change. We can do this corporately or individually and it is my vision that one day there will be a truly ethical and sustainable alternative to everything we use. I see Rise Up as providing many of those choices.

2. It is admirable that Rise Up is a sustainable business itself, that you “walk the talk”, how do you achieve this?
In running a sustainable business, I realise that I need to walk the walk. I have assessed every element of Rise Up supply chain to ensure we have a broad and positive global socio-economic impact within a minimal environmental footprint. We have stringent ethical manufacturing guidelines and Rise Up is an independently certified low Co2 company.

All products are carbon neutral. We have undertaken a thorough independent carbon footprint assessment. We minimise our carbon use through organic farming methods, sea freight (longer lead times but better for the planet), energy efficient or green energy factories, offset travel and best practice office practices. We offset the carbon that cannot be removed out of our processes through an independent carbon trading program.

I ride my bike to many meetings ensuring that I “walk the talk”. I put my heels in my bag and a have series of dresses that I can roll up and pop over my singlet top and bike shorts. I have even worked out a way to ensure that I don’t have helmet hair!

3. Tell us about the product range. What are the most popular products?
Rise Up Productions products include a range of fashion, school uniforms, linen and promotional apparel. We will also be launching a men’s sleepwear range in September.

Below is information on Rise Up thongs that is the most popular product, caps and school uniforms.

Rise Up Thongs providing employment
The thongs are the most popular product that we sell. The story behind our thongs is inspiring and shows that people can change the world they live in by what they buy. The recyclable thongs, made from 70 per cent recycled material are assembled by poor people living in China who are paid a reasonable wage and not made to work excessive hours. These recycled materials are derived from excess materials from the manufacturing of other rubber or EVO foam products. With landfill being a significant issue and recycling a catch cry of the naughties (00’s) it is amazing that we can recycle industrial waste for us to wear on our feet.

The choice to buy a new pair of thongs that are made by people who are paid and treated fairly for their work supports the environment and the workers. It is also helping create jobs and alleviate poverty in India through Opportunity International Australia. The profits that we make by selling our thongs is given to Opportunity International helping them provide financial services to the poor and train them in basic business practices so that they can work their way out of poverty. We assist Opportunity International help the people in India start or expand a business which will enable them to develop a steady income, provide nutritious meals and education for their children, and create community-wide change.

The impact that something as simple as a pair of thongs is having on alleviating poverty in India is amazing, and it is clear that we all have the potential to change the world through our choices as consumers.

Caps bringing financial independence
Our caps are produced in Bangladesh using Fairtrade certified cotton sourced from India. The manufacturing complies with ILO standards for the payment of decent wages, and truly supports employees who need to change their circumstances by working in a supportive and appropriately paid environment.

Fairtrade organic school uniforms bringing hope
Our school uniforms and some promotional clothing are produced in Tirupur, India. The women who make them are deaf, dumb, blind and economically disadvantaged. The factory is certified SKAL ECO Sustainable Textile and are in the process of achieving SA 8000 certification.

In addition to also gaining Fairtrade certification for their organic cotton, we have achieved certification under the IMO Social & FairTrade Certification. Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing rights of, marginalised producers and workers especially in low-income regions.

Fairtrade certified cotton addresses the development needs of small holder cotton farmers in developing countries who are facing poverty. Fairtrade certification ensures these farmers are paid a fair price for their cotton and a Fairtrade premium to be invested in the social, environmental and economic development of their communities.

4. How do people find out about your products?
Rise Up has a website http://www.riseup.com.au that has all of our products and allows people to purchase them online. We are also beginning to stock into a range of online and physical stores across Australia. This information is also available on the website.The website also has information on our certifications and ecologically sustainable farming practices.

5. It is very exciting to hear that you are opening a store in mid-July, tell us a little more about this?
We are extremely excited to be opening a Rise Up store which will be a shop front located at 69 Regent Street, Chippendale (right near Central Station). The store will sell a range of Rise Up labels and allow customers to make purchases that change the world they live in.

6. What have been your greatest challenges in setting up Rise Up Productions?
As with many businesses, the journey has been fraught with challenges. For example the recyclable thongs which are made from 70 per cent recycled material took eight goes before they were made correctly. They are made in China via an aid organisation and were printed upside down; the glossy girls’ straps were put on the men’s thongs; the colours were all wrong.

However I stuck with it, and now they are one of the most popular items that we sell.

Another key challenge has been funding the amazing opportunities and demand which exists for products such as our. The size of the Australian market makes it a little harder to start with products which have been made and sold into Europe and North America for a few years now as volumes necessary to make the products cheap enough to be accessible by most people are too high for us. This will change over time. For example, for the factory to provide continuous employment of their poor workers, consistent and long runs of production are necessary. This means that we must buy our eco mugs (mugs made from crushed natural minerals and natural dyes) in lots of 500 as an absolute minimum. It is not a great price at that volume and as we are entering an emerging industry with not a great deal of information in the market place to explain the value in such products, we struggle to find the capital up front to pay for the volumes. If we were to buy 5000 mugs, we would have a great price and the benefit to the poor is better — longer stable employment, however funding this is a challenge. I am not a multi national company with deep pockets. I’m a single mum with a good idea and loads of passion and drive ?

7. What have been your greatest successes?
My greatest success is establishing Rise Up as a company that is having a positive impact on the environment and communities in less fortunate countries. I believe that my true success lies in the difference that Rise Up is making in the lives of people around the world by helping create employment and alleviate poverty.

I have succeeded in fulfilling my vision of establishing a company that designs and produces a range of sustainable and ethically manufactured products where direct profits going to registered humanitarian, aid, environmental and medical research organisations.

8. It is wonderful to see that Rise Up products are not only fairtrade and sustainable but are supported by a range of certifications, can you tell us a little about these?

Raw Materials
Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the environment but also about protecting the health of farmers and their families. Organic farming methods are vital to the health of farmers, garment handlers, their families, their communities their ecosystems.

Trade
Fairtrade Certified cotton addresses the development needs of small holder cotton farmers in developing countries who are facing poverty. Fairtrade certification ensures these farmers are paid a fair price for their cotton and a Fairtrade premium to be invested in the social, environmental and economic development of their communities. In addition Fairtrade Cotton certification requires registration of the whole garment and textiles supply chain based on independent verification that the operators are meeting basic ILO conventions. Our FLO certification is no: 18588

Manufacture
Exploitation is common in the textile industry across the globe. Even in Australia it is a significant issue. The No Sweat Shop label is a joint industry-union initiative ensuring garments are made under Award conditions. Our Australian made products are all made in our No Sweatshop certified facility.

Legacy
Being carbon neutral is about taking responsibility for the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. Rise Up is a certified Low Co2 corporation and our products are carbon neutral. We have undertaken a thorough independent carbon footprint

9. Would you be able to share some of the good news about the communities that are being supported by your work?
The opportunities that we are providing to communities in countries such as India is amazing. Seeing the impact that we are having on many lives makes the hard work worth it.

One of the women who make the caps is Rahela. She is typical of many Bangladeshi women employed in the factory. She was born in a small village in the southern part of Bangladesh. Her father farmed one acre of land. Rahela’s mother died when she was six years old and when her father remarried she was taken out of school so that she could help with the housework. She was married at 16 and the subject of severe domestic violence.

She became pregnant and after the birth of her son, her husband decided he wanted to get rid of her. To save her life, her step-mother suggested Rahela, leave her son with her in the village and go to work in the city. Rahela felt she had no choice so she took a ship to Dhaka and stayed with an aunt until she got a job in the garment factory which makes Rise Up caps.

Rahela started working as a helper (trainee) for Tk. 950 a month which at that time was around US$ 20. After few months, she had made enough money to support her son so she briefly returned to the village and returned to Dhaka with him.

After a year she was promoted to machine operator. This was first time she had a sewing machine to herself which is considered a sign of success. Now, six years after her journey to Dhaka, she earns Tk. 2800 — US$ 40 — a month and can afford to send her son to school as she is now financially independent.

10. What advice would you give to others keen on starting their own responsible businesses?
I would advise people to establish a business that they are passionate about. If you love what you are doing you will naturally put all of your energy into your business and see your hard work result in success. It is also important for people who are just starting their business to not give up. There are continually going to be challenges that you face but I have found that there is always a way to overcome these obstacles even though at times you just can’t imagine what it will be. Finally, gather seriously intelligent and unapologetically honest people who believe in your vision around you who will tell you the facts because passion alone and good intentions do not make a business work. What you do with those facts is up to you, but blindness to business reality is dangerous.

Now we here at Soul Economy like to get to know our soulful entrepreneurs a little better, so on a more personal note we have 5 quick questions:

1. What is your favourite restaurant?
Well, I must admit that I LOVE food and have a few favourite places. For Thai, I love Spice I Am in Surry Hills (great value, brilliant food), for Japanese I just love Toko again in Surry Hills. I was there last night and ended up singing the happy birthday to the person next to us (long communal table) and all of us being in hysterics from the antics of the hilarious gay couple next to us. Everyone compares the food they get and we ended up sharing what everyone chose…even though we’d never met them before! My daughter and I love Tapenade in Paddington and my favourite Italian would be Limonchello Ristorante in Double Bay. My total favourite for very special occasions is The Pier Restaurant in Double Bay or Level 41 in Sydney . Though, I could probably say that about Bathers in Balmoral and Icebergs in Bondi. Now, cafes….I could go on about them too. I love good coffee and there are some great favourites in Melbourne and Sydney for me. If you wanted a list of great cheap eats…I can tell you where to go as well ? I cooked at home for 20 years and then decided that I was over that! I still cook but any time I can afford to eat out, I do.

2. What do you enjoy doing apart from running Rise Up Productions?
I eat out! And then I exercise to work off what I ate. I have a boat which is my true recreation. There is nothing like sitting on the boat somewhere on Sydney Harbour with friends and family nibbling on some simple fresh food, sipping some great champagne after wakeboarding, snorkeling or just swimming in the various fab spots. It’s not a big fancy boat — but it is a space where people come together and relax, chat and connect. I enjoy reading, walking my dog, visiting galleries (especially when I travel) and hanging out with my kids. I help out at my local church cafe once a week. I did a barista course and get a chance to serve people who are often not doing so great in life.

3. Where is your favourite travel destination?
The South of France, Italy, India and Bangladesh. I do have trouble choosing a favourite as I find the world a fascinating place and enjoy different places for very different reasons. I love the old cities and the art in the South of France and Italy. I love the crazy contrasts and intense humanity in India and Bangladesh. You cannot experience those places without being changed…every time. I am grounded each time I visit knowing that the people I see and those I meet are just like me, but I was born through no choice of my own in a different post code. With that comes responsibility. I take that very seriously.

4. What do you do to relax?
Go out on the boat with just me, my dog and my book. In winter, I find a cosy little cafe with a view and read a book or go to the art gallery and just meander.

5. Do you have someone you look up to or admire?
My parents were social entrepreneurs and were great role models. They instilled in me a sense of community and connectedness with the poor and disadvantaged. They also showed me how to work hard and be totally devoted to a cause on a very practical level. They were (my father died in 1992 but my mother is still doing amazing things) action oriented and constantly challenged status quo.

Rise Up Productions
PO Box 472
Rose Bay NSW 2029 Australia
P: +61 (0)403 642 888
W: www.riseupproductions.com

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