How Bachhara raised $8,000 to fund an ethical fashion startup in Bangladesh
Amanda Ryan was inspired to start Bachhara, an ethical fashion line, while she was in Bangladesh helping to run a free school for slum children. In the wake of the garment factory tragedy in Bangladesh, even more of an emphasis needs to be placed on manufacturing clothing in an ethical manner. Instead of treating workers as a means to an end, Bachhara exists solely to empower and educate women via fashion. Amanda raised over $8,000 to bring her stunning 2013 Summer Collection to Australia and remind Australians that, by purchasing her clothing, they are contributing to a better way of delivering fashion to the public.
You raised over $8,000 to bring your 2013 Summer Collection to Australia. Can you take us through the campaign process? Is there anything you did to prepare leading up to the launch? What strategies worked particularly well during your campaign?
We certainly could have launched a much bigger campaign but as our first time trying this platform and with the limited resources we had, we used our mainly our internal networks. We contacted our newsletter and supporter lists and gave shout outs on our online social media platforms. Bachhara had an advantage with this as we already have some very dedicated women and great men who support our work and have done since our beginning. We love our community at Bachhara and are so proud to have been able to achieve such great results because of them.
What was it about your experience in Bangladesh that inspired you to start Bachhara?
There were three main things that influenced my decision to start Bachhara. The first being my frustration of running a small grassroots school that was always in desperate need for funding to get by every month, making it next to impossible for us to make the changes and improvements we could see we needed to make. I was learning the hard way that relying on charitible funds is really not a sustainable way to be running a school. We had 600 plus students lining up to get admission into our school and we only had the means to accept 40. Our school is in the Rayer Bazar slum which has a population of over 20,000 people and to have to turn away children that would have given anything for a chance to attend school was heart breaking. This is the reason why I became so interested in social enterprise, if we could generate enough of our own income we would be much more empowered to run our organisation and school the way we desired and needed.
The second reason was that most of our students were in the desperate situation they were in because they came from homes with single or widowed mothers (the single women were usually child brides that were abandoned by their husbands once they aged). As women earn significantly less money than men in Bangladesh and are also usually the sole care taker of their children, the mothers of our students would struggle to make enough money to pay rent and feed their families with the most basic meals each month. This meant that a lot of the time the children, our students, would have to go out and work either begging or collecting rubbish to contribute to their families survival. Because of this they would come to their classes tired and would never be able to do the homework they needed to do and would fall behind. I went to Bangladesh to help Jaago because I believe every child has the right to be a child and to have dreams. Sadly a small percentage of children all over the world actually get to live their lives like this.
The third reason was because many of the children's mothers became my friends and as I learnt about their lives and their stories, I saw a fight and a drive in them that I had never seen in anyone before. These women were so determined and were prepared to do anything for their children and families' survival. I knew if only given a chance they could move mountains for their families and their communities as a whole. Women are amazing creatures and when times are tough you really see our natural strength and power shining through.
What made you choose crowdfunding as a means to fund your project?
I have never done a fundraiser for Bachhara before as in the beginning I was so determined to make Bachhara a self sufficient enterprise that I didn't want to even receive charitable donations to get started. Instead I started our work off by taking personal loans and support from angel backers. As I have come to navigate the reality of running an ethical fashion line and social enterprise, I have come to know that you do need support and probably always will need support, at least at the very beginning. Both fashion and social entrepreneurship are tough industries to be in, but oh so very inspiring.
I believe in order for life to flow there needs to be an equal balance of giving and receiving. I love that with the StartSomeGood platform, it is not just about charitably donating money and feeling good; you also receive something tangible back for your money and time. This is very important to me. With this form of giving, giving gains more momentum rather then depleting and burning up. Since our campaign finished, I have had some of our supporters ask to me to donate their reward to another cause we support within Australia. A gift that keeps on giving is the best gift of all. I felt this form of fundraising was also very important as our women who work in the Bachhara sewing centre don't need or want a free ride or sympathy--they just desire respect and an opportunity to show how highly capable they are.
What advice do you have for crowd funding rookies looking to launch a campaign for the first time?
Really work on your campaign plan and use as many different mediums of connecting with people as possible. Don't only rely on social media, and don't post the same thing every day. Show the true you and shine on.
What's next for Bachhara? And, of course, how can readers get their hands on your beautiful 2013 Summer Collection?
Bachhara's next collection that Startsomegood contributed to making happen will be available in September, just in time for Australian Spring fashion season. You can get your hands on it on our e-boutique shop.bachhara.com. I'm currently pregnant and about to take time off to bring my baby earthside, so you never know--perhaps maternity and baby wear may be in the pipeline.
On behalf of myself and the entire Bachhara team in Australia and Bangladesh we would love to thank Startsomegood and all of our contributors for their amazing support. Our experience has given all of us an injection of inspiration to continue the work we do!
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Inspired by Amanda's story? What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.
