Source: Ethical Fashion | Organic Wear
Purple Impression, the first Muslim ethical and sustainable fashion business, was founded in 2013 by Drakshan Khan and Afshan Mahmood Khan with the goal of producing meaningful clothes. Driven by pride and love for the embroidered clothes they’d donned since childhood, and realizing the harsh reality faced by the skilled artisans behind the brilliant work, the sister duo set out to create a brand aimed at preserving tradition, upholding Islamic values, and protecting the environment.
The Drive: What was the Trigger?
Discovering the Harsh Realities: Darkness behind the Vibrance!
In an interview with Ashan Khan, she made a statement so powerful and strong that it deserves a legacy of its own. When talking about what set her onto this path, she mentioned conscience, education, deep concerns, and female empowerment. She said,
“You can’t empower a woman in one country while harming a woman in another.”.
Both the sisters had a clear set goal, a deep melancholy in their hearts, which drove them towards this mission. Unsettled by the relation between the hard work—that went behind this cultural embroidery—and the unfair compensation the women were given for their brilliant craftsmanship, the sisters felt a need to bring a change. Tackling unhealthy environments, unfair wages, and unappreciation of the traditional and delicate work became their core mission.
A work that required weeks to finish in an environment that was killing their health, compensated for only fifty cents?
Well, that was just not going to work.
Mission: Its More than Just Fashion
Preserving Environment, Valuing Skills, and Empowering Women!
Drashkan and Afshan set out to create a fashion legacy, centering their mission around five major key goals.
- Creating a fashion brand that is ethical and sustainable.
- Preserving the brilliant traditional hand embroidery from Multan, Pakistan.
- Ensure fair wages and employment for women artisans, promoting women’s empowerment and worker rights.
- Ensuring environmental sustainability through eco-friendly fabrics and zero-waste manufacturing.
- Empower Pakistani women by providing them with income opportunities.
Using traditional embroidery, the talented women craftsmen working with the organization bring the clothing to life once it has been created and manufactured in the United States.
Source: Drakshan Khan, Founder, Purple Impression
The Challenges: A Thorny Road
The Right Path is Always the Hardest to Travel!
Venturing into such an idea had setbacks and hurdles of its own. Trends, luxury brands, and fast fashion industries suppress and demote the idea of sustainable fashion. The modern fashion industry is driven by profit and fast fashion. Fair labor practices and profitable modern trends cannot co-exist easily.
The sisters also expressed a multitude of concerns, like marketing difficulties, where it was not easy to find influencers who shared the values of Purple Impression. Women all over a region have varying standards of modesty, and it became difficult to create a product that could fulfill the image of modesty for all those women. Eco-friendly and sustainable fashion is not cost-friendly, especially since the buyers are unaware of the impact that trend-driven fashion has on the environment and workforce. Lack of awareness and unestablished markets are just two more of the many challenges that come with a business based on values and ethical standards.
Conclusion: Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
The founders expressed regret for seeking perfection in everything that caused them to miss opportunities because they felt like they were not ready yet. Their advice for the young minds starting out was always to stay rooted to three qualities: persistence, flexibility, and staying true to your values.
“Being an entrepreneur is a tough road, and the only thing that will keep you on track is your passion for what you do.”
Other than that, they gave credit to their business mentors, whom they called “pillars.” Having a reliable network and not shying away from asking for help from seniors in the field is a must-have skill.
Contact
Official Page: Purple Impression
Phone: +1 650-488-4796
Email: info@aksfairtrade.com
LinkedIn: Purple Impression | LinkedIn
Co-Founders of Purple Impression | Afshan Khan (Left) | Darkshan Khan (Right)
