Chid Liberty freely admits that, as a kid, he didnt really understand where he came from. The son of an exiled Liberian diplomat, he lived his life abroad in Germany and the United States, where his dad taught African history. Surrounded by a social circle comprised largely of other African diplomats and their families, it never occurred to the budding entrepreneur the privilege into which hed been born. I thought Africans drove Benzes and dressed up every day and went to the best schools, he says of his worldview at the time. It even messed up my orientation on things like race, because we had all different kinds of people working in my house as a kid--German, Indian, Turkish--and all of them were serving us in some way. So I just kind of grew up thinking that Africans were at the top of the food chain.
It wasnt until around seventh grade, when he read about the actual conditions of life in Liberia, that his perceptions began to change. When I read only 2% of people have a telephone, I was so confused, he says. I started to really understand my place.
When Liberty was 18, his father passed away, and he started to itch to go back. But it was the efforts of Nobel Peace Prize winners Leymah Gbowee, President Ellen Sirleaf, and the Liberian Womens Peace Movement--which helped end 15 years of civil war--that set the wheels in motion for his return. I just thought that was really cool from a social change standpoint, Liberty says. I was in Silicon Valley working with tech startups as a finance person, and I thought, All right, well, I think I can apply that skill to providing economic opportunities for women. And decided to come here and try, in an industry that I knew absolutely nothing about.
Liberty and Justice, the company he co-founded with Adam Butlein in 2010, is now Africas first fair-trade-certified apparel manufacturer, making tops and bottoms for brands like Prana, FEED Projects, Haggar, and other large buyers in the U.S. The workers at the company's factories in Liberia and Ghana are 90% female, and paid 20% higher wages than their peers on average. Together, the employees also own a 49% stake in the enterprise, while L and Js 51% gets channelled back into community development.
We really try to be worker focused, Liberty says, and we actually think thats what gave us a cutting edge at the end of the day: having really devoted workers. People dont really believe in these types of factories in Africa, because they believe that African workers arent motivated. I think thats hogwash.
Still, hes not exaggerating when he says he knew nothing about the industry at first. For example, when he first sold the idea to investors--convincing some heavy hitters in the impact capital world to travel to Liberia to see what they were creating--he didnt exactly have everything up and running. In fact, he didnt even have a factory yet. I knew my aunt had a building that I might be able to use, he says. But no lease on the building, no. No nothing. Just some emails back and forth."
Eventually, he did raise money from those same investors, but it took more than a year of additional relationship-building to repair the damage and do the convincing.
Some of the company's early mistakes, however, turned out to be unlikely advantages. We hired an amazing consultant who came to set up the factory, train the workers, so on and so forth, Liberty remembers. But as soon as they got in there, they told us how backwards we were.
They had done pretty much everything wrong, including hiring an initial workforce of women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. For the typical garment factory, Liberty says, the average age is probably 23. I just assumed any able-bodied person could sew. I didnt realize that, in China, its like an Olympic sport, and thats how they get the productivity numbers. Our trainer felt like we might as well get rid of everybody.
Instead, Liberty decided to bite the bullet and really invest in the workforce he had in place, a risk that has indeed led to competitive productivity levels, as well as pretty inspiring workplace vibe. These older women really set the culture of the Liberian Womens Sewing Project, our first factory, Liberty says. They come to work an hour early--we never asked them to do that--they pray and sing together before they get on the machines, theyre very serious about the details of how your uniform should look, and you just wouldnt have gotten that out of a bunch of 19-year-old girls the first time so thats a mistake that turned out pretty well.
View post:
Africa's First Fair–Trade Garment Manufacturer Is A Model For Women's Empowerment
- Grateful Dead Liberty Video [Last Updated On: April 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 1st, 2011]
- Brian May, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai - Liberty [Last Updated On: April 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 1st, 2011]
- New York City's Statue of Liberty - 2 Minute Tour [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Ayn Rand - Liberty vs Socialism [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Jordan Page "Liberty" (Acoustic Version) [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Interview - Naomi Wolf - Give Me Liberty [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- For Liberty Trailer - Let It Not Be Said We Did Nothing [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Gene Pitney - (The Man Who Shot) Liiberty Valance [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2011]
- Heavenly - Liberty [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2011]
- Patriotic Tribute to our Military-Song-"Liberty"-Ronnie Kimball-FREE DOWNLOAD@www.ReachHigher.com [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2011]
- The Time for Liberty [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2011]
- Liberty and Economics [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2011]
- StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - Cinematic Trailer [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2011]
- 10 - Liberty [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2011]
- andiamo! - Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2011]
- Stratovarius - Liberty [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2011]
- Heavy Rain in Liberty City: Episode 1 (Grand Theft Auto IV Machinima) [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2011]
- Kelly Jones - Liberty [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2011]
- John Adams. Liberty will reign. [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2011]
- For Liberty Re-cut - Ron Paul 2012 Handout DVD HD [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2011]
- The Philosophy of Liberty: Property [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2011]
- Ron Paul on Liberty Dollar Raid [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Freedom and Liberty - Funeral Dress [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Liberty X - Just A Little [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Review: The "Liberty I" Ultra Compact Compound Bow vs. "Razor Edge" and "Slingbow" [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Patrick Henry - Give me Liberty or give me Death [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2011]
- Lambo Quad by Liberty Walk [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2011]
- Got Liberty? [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- David Copperfield - Vanishing the Statue of Liberty [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- The Philosophy of Liberty: Plunder [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- China 9 Liberty 37 [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2011]
- GTA Liberty City Stories Theme Song - Dark March - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Pentagon Reports Army Mascot 'Liberty' Killed in Iraq - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Son's of Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- Liberty`s Kids: #05 "Midnight Ride" (1/2) - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- The Philosophy of Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - Protoss Gameplay Video - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Steve Vai - Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- Duran Duran - Serious - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- I Pledge to Join Young Americans for Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- Grave Digger : Liberty Or Death - Video [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- GTA IV: Liberty Suburbs (Grand Theft Auto in Real Life) - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Occupy My Life (Marriage Proposal at Liberty Plaza) - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Give me liberty or give me DEATH! - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Walter E Williams - Economics of Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2011]
- Ron Paul 2012: In Defense of Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2011]
- Heavy Rain in Liberty City: Episode 2 (Grand Theft Auto IV Machinima) - Video [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- The Levellers - Liberty Song - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- Time Out's guide to Harrods, Liberty, LN-CC and Coco de Mer - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- Liberty`s Kids: #01 "The Boston Tea Party" (2/2) - Video [Last Updated On: December 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 3rd, 2011]
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - "Liberty is too Precious a thing to be buried in books" - Video [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2011]
- Chasing Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2011]
- Liberty X - Just A Little - Video [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2011]
- Steve Vai, Brian May [Last Updated On: January 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 7th, 2012]
- Madness - The Liberty Of Norton Folgate (Moodboard) - Video [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2012]
- The (Expanded) Philosophy of Liberty - Video [Last Updated On: January 23rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 23rd, 2012]
- Liberty - Prototype - Video [Last Updated On: January 23rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 23rd, 2012]
- Miley Cyrus Rock Mafia - IT'S A LIBERTY WALK! - Video [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2012]
- USS Liberty Dead in the Water (Full Movie) Americans Murdered by Israel - Video [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2012]
- Madness - The Liberty of Norton Folgate Live - Video [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2012]
- Miley Cyrus- Liberty Walk (Lyrics on screen + HQ) [Full] - Video [Last Updated On: January 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 27th, 2012]
- Liberty wins NCWA National Duals [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2012]
- Government steps up Jeep Liberty air bag probe [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2012]
- U.S. regulators upgrade Jeep Liberty airbag probe [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2012]
- Alleged squatters caught in soldier's Liberty Co. home [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
- Liberty Power Earns "A+" Rating from the Better Business Bureau [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2012]
- Liberty’s Melton signs with Texas State [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2012]
- Liberty girls top Lee’s Summit on last-second shot [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2012]
- Liberty Property Earnings Preview [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- Boys basketball | Olentangy Liberty 57, Westerville North 51: Stingy defense lifts Liberty [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- Taking Liberties [Full Film] - Video [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Webinar Highlights Predictive Modeling’s Key Role in Better Managing Total Workers ... [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- American Liberty Petroleum Corp. Adds New Oil Discovery Lease & Exercises Option to Receive Assignment of 3 Oil & Gas ... [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2012]
- Liberty residents debate 911 dispatch [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2012]
- Liberty 911 talk draws crowd [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2012]
- Liberty girls drop KingCo title game [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2012]
- Liberty All-Star(R) Growth Fund, Inc. January 2012 Monthly Update [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2012]
- Liberty Mines Announces 2012 Operational and Exploration Targets [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2012]
- Liberty Charter girls on a perfect run [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2012]
- Liberty Wharf has completed office leasing [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2012]