PROMO: SOKO interview, the smart Jewelry label

Soko is a jewellery brand with a difference. Not only do they rejuvenate our perceptions of African craft by elevating their skills but tackle the often exploiting relationship with less developed countries and trading. After recognising these issues three intelligent women came together and co-founded Soko in 2011 and pioneered a new model for international trade. Soko works with less equipped communities around the globe to create beautiful jewellery that is sustainable, fair trade and promotes economical opportunities for those in need without compromising on quality. Fashioning a better world Soko has taken the infamous smart phone and turned it into a tool that cuts out the middle man and allows for their Artisans to communicate and trade directly with the brand themselves. Gwen is the President & COO and I turned to the lady herself to talk in detail about the brand's model, their impact and why brand's like Soko are so important.

What is Soko all about?

Soko is an innovation in global fashion and technology: An online store that directly connects consumers to global makers and ethical handcrafted jewellery from the developing world. Www.shopsoko.com is the destination for shoppers to discover stunning handcrafted accessories from all over the world and purchase them directly from their designers. Using Soko on a simple mobile phone, designers and artisans in the developing world can upload and sell their jewellery pieces online, with no need for a computer or a bank account.

How does Soko work with the Artisans? 

The Soko solution transforms the ubiquitous mobile phone into a tool that expands access to economic opportunity for artisans in underserved communities, disrupting the traditional export supply chain to revolutionize the way money and goods are transacted into a peer-to-peer exchange. This new technology revolutionizes international trade, cutting out the middlemen to create economic opportunity, reducing logistical costs and increasing profits for artisans.

How are you promoting economic opportunities?

Soko provides a way for artisans to improve their livelihoods by removing the middlemen to directly access global consumers online. Over 85% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa are self-employed in the informal economy - many produce crafts and handmade goods to make or supplement very small incomes. But their sales are limited to inconsistent local demand or other markets all too often via extortionate middlemen. All this empowers women and ensures that the majority of the profits stay with the artisans and in the local community.

How are your products fair trade?

Soko and Soko artisans follow the principles of fair trade. Our artisans always receive the entire price they set for the goods they produce. Through our artisan selection process, we work to ensure our artisan partners are providing safe working conditions and fair wages to any employees they may work with.

How is Soko sustainable?

Style can be smart. Soko brings you the opportunity to dazzle your wardrobe with stunning ethically produced jewelry never before available on the international marketplace, while empowering artisans to become successful global entrepreneurs. All of the jewelry on Soko is made by hand out of locally sourced and oftentimes upcycled materials - such as beautiful beads created from reused paper or statement pieces made of horn and bone upcycled from the butchery. Not only are the creations unique and exquisite, they demonstrate the resourcefulness of our artisans and encourage a sustainable future.

What is the impact of Soko?

Soko is a social enterprise, as we believe that market principles and self-sustainability are key to ongoing impact. Our unique technology platform allows artisans in the developing world to create online storefronts, sell to global shoppers, and get paid directly, all just using simple mobile phone, even if they do not have access to a computer or a bank account. This innovation, and our drive to continue building innovative solutions to promote the work of artisans, is at the heart of Soko.

Why are brands like Soko important to the fashion industry?

Companies like Soko are important because they are providing affordable, fashionable options with the added emotional premium of shopping ethically without compromising trend or style. The fashion industry is one of the most pollutive and unethical out there. We have all heard the stories from Bangladesh, India, China, and Latin America about the inhumane and toxic working conditions the producer of garments and accessories are exposed to. Thankfully, the ethical fashion movement is promoting transparency and ethical practices, normalizing the right for consumers to be informed of and enriched by the provenance of their goods.

On a personal point, which is your favourite Soko piece?

This is nearly impossible to answer!! Perhaps the Kiji horn necklace… 

Head to SOKO to shop their gorgeous and guilt free collection