We now have the capacity to expand our partnerships
Soko Kenya was founded in 2009 with a vision to provide the fashion industry with a manufacturing solution with social and environmental issues at the heart of its business. CEO Joanna Maiden speaks to Fibre2Fashion about fair pay, sustainability, training and more.
How and why did you start Soko? And why Kenya?
Sixteen years ago, as part of my university dissertation, I decided to research the fashion industry supply chain and I quickly learnt about the lack of transparency in the industry and the huge challenges around labour and the environment.
Towards the end of my Fashion degree, I realised that it may be possible to connect my longing to support social justice and poverty reduction with my love of all things fashion.
Later I had an amazing opportunity to visit Kenya as part of my work with the Ethical Fashion Forum. One of the senior members of the team had fallen sick and couldn’t make the trip and so I was offered the spot. My husband joined me as the photographer for the trip and we both fell in love with Kenya immediately. There was so much to fall in love with… the warmth, energy and vibrancy of the people, the colours and scenery, the buzz of the cities, and overall, the feeling that this could be a place where I could make a difference. I had the opportunity to be a link between the wealth of the West and the dynamic can-do attitude of this amazing developing country.
This was the start of my path, and I am proud to have spent the past 13 years working to now employ 150 people through our ethical factory and providing training and washable sanitary pads to thousands of people in our community.
What does the word ‘Soko’ mean?
Soko in Swahili means ‘A marketplace of trade’. I love that word because it means bringing talented people together.
What was the size of the team when you started? What is the strength now?
We started our journey with just four people and now we employ a team of 150.
Was it hard to find clients or partners who concur with the ethos of your company and paying fair when there are other marginal options available?
We have been really encouraged by several fashion forward brands who share our values and ethos and who are also committed to making a social impact. With our new factory space and ever-growing team, we now have the capacity to expand our partnerships and are inviting established brands to work with us.
How do you incorporate sustainability, fair pay and safer work conditions into your operations? Give us a few examples.
At Soko Kenya, we make a difference in 4 ways:
Sustainability – We up-cycle our fabric waste, we collect rainwater for use in the factory, and 25 per cent of our power usage is solar.
Education – We provide ongoing skills development, in-house training and career progression opportunities as the business grows.
Health and Wellbeing – We provide our team members with a free lunch at work, support and flexibility for mothers, free pre-school care for the under 4’s and medical cover.
Finance – We pay a living wage and provide financial literacy training.
In addition, around eight years ago we established Soko Community Trust, an independent charity that delivers two projects:
Stitching Academy – A four month sewing training programme that provides people with the skills they need to secure employment or start their own business. Over 300 young people have graduated through our programme; two thirds of which are employed or have started their own business.
Kujuwa Initiative – Our social enterprise producing washable sanitary pads using up-cycled waste materials from our Soko Kenya factory. We provide training in sexual health and rights and menstrual hygiene management in schools, after school clubs and residential camps for girls and boys, teachers and families.
What are the top three challenges of being an environmentally and socially conscious apparel manufacturer?
At Soko Kenya we are committed to ensure that our way of working is enhancing life, adding value to customers and minimising our environmental footprint. We are proud of what we have achieved so far but our greatest challenge (and opportunity) is that there is always more to do.
Who are your major clients and which regions do you export the most to?
We work with a range of clients from high street retailers to luxury brands translating their design concepts into beautiful lasting pieces of clothing. We have been producing for ASOS Made In Kenya for 13 years now, alongside luxury brands such as Zuri Kenya, Eliza Christoph and Aspiga. We export to the UK, Europe and the US.
What is your production capacity? What is the average order quantity and lead time?
Our production capacity is 80,000 units per year and can produce a sample in 2 weeks. Our lead times are specific to the requirements of the client and the size of the order. We work collaboratively with each client to ensure we meet their needs.
What has been your growth story for the last two years? Please share a few figures.
We are growing steadily. Three years ago, we moved to our current factory in Kikambala with 50 people and now employ 150.
Are there any criteria that you look for before partnering with a brand or retailer? If yes, please share details
Yes, ideally a brand would have been established for at least two years.
What is next in the pipeline for Soko? Do you plan to start your own brand any time soon?
We are really excited to build more partnerships with brands that are aligned to our values and to support them to grow by offering quality manufacturing. I’m in conversation with a few of my dream list brands and I hope to see collaborations coming live with them in the next year.
Last year we added an industrial washing facility and in-house pattern cutting and grading to our offering. We plan to add a screen-printing facility and are expanding our sustainable fabric sourcing knowledge in order to support the brands we work with.
For our team we are implementing a pension scheme so that we can support them to have financial security beyond the time they’re in employment.
On the charity side we’re developing corporate partnership opportunities in order to grow our impact in the communities we work alongside.
In terms of creating an own brand, that’s been a conversation that has been rolling around for years… who knows. Watch this space!
Published on: 21/07/2022
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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