Koko Collective offers you bandanas, collars, leads and poo bag carriers. Their designs are lovely and offer a unique option of patterns.
Who is Behind Koko Collative?
Clara Jackson, a jewellery designer from London, is a lovely lady who is the person behind this brand.
The idea came when Clara went out to India in 2016 to volunteer with charity Calcutta Rescue in Kolkata.
Who is Calcutta Rescue?
Calcutta Rescue is a charity in Kolkata, founded by legendary UK doctor Jack Preger. Jack started working with the poorest of the poor in the city in 1979. The charity provides free healthcare, education and other support for thousands of the city’s most deprived people.
One of its projects is a fair-trade accredited handicraft workshop and training centre for ex-students and former patients who would otherwise have great difficulty finding employment.
How Does Koko Collective Support the Charity?
While volunteering within this charity Clara realised that she wanted to share her knowledge of design and to develop the skills of staff. The idea was to create design-led products that would offer a unique ethical alternative to the high-street.
After several months of designing, sourcing materials and testing, it was clear that Clara’s partnership with the charity was flourishing and she decided to invest her time and savings into creating Koko Collective.
Koko Collective’s long-term aim is to help the artisans of Calcutta Rescue create a sustainable work and supply chain which will provide rewarding work for more people.
In the future Koko Collective hopes to also work with other fair-trade organisations that share their vision in providing conscious, transparent and ethically traded goods that benefit marginalised people in the developing world.
What Are The Products Made From?
Koko Collective uses recycled bicycle tube which is a great alternative to leather! The fabrics are cotton and are woven by ladies in rural India. The metal findings are bought in bulk from suppliers in India (not recycled/repurposed)
Ikat is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles. The weavers use resist dyeing on the yarns prior to weaving the fabric.
All their products are made by a fair trade accredited workshop in Kolkata run by a charity. The only material in the pet accessories that is recycled/repurposed is the bicycle tube. Clara previously used recycled Sari’s, however they were not durable enough.
