Sustainable Bamboo Clothing
Mabboo is a susatinable bamboo clothing company. Which aims to start and lead a sustainable bamboo clothing revolution.
About You
Background Information
First Name
Ed
Last Name
Cheney
Twitter URL
@mabboobamboo
Facebook URL
The competition is only open to people between 18-34 years-old and resident in UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark or the Netherlands. Does this apply to you
Country of residence of entrepreneur
UK
Tell us about your personal background. Why are you passionate about this issue? Making an idea a reality takes innovation, dedication and strong leadership. Do you have the necessary entrepreneurial skills to realize your vision?
Graduated in History with Chinese studies. Went to work in China for 2 and a half years. Came across how sustainable bamboo is, and heard it was being made into a fabric! Concept of a new super-soft and sustainable bamboo clothing company was hatched called Mabboo. Been trading 15 months now, still very much in start-up phase but looking to become the most high quality, sustainable and low impact clothing on the planet!
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Mabboo Limited
Organization Website
Organization Country
United Kingdom, BST, Bristol
Country where this project is creating social impact
United Kingdom, BST, Bristol
Is your organization a
For‐profit
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Innovation
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Cotton and poly fibres are tragically polluting to our planet. Although only 2.4% of the world's cropland is planted with cotton, it accounts for 24% of the world’s pesticide market and 11% of sale of global pesticides. 73% of global cotton harvest comes from areas under irrigation.
Bamboo grows 100% organically without the need of any additional pesticides or fertilisers, and improtantly the need for any additional water. It can take upto 1000l of water to produce just 1 cotton T-shirt!
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Bamboo clothing is the solution. Bamboo is the world's fastest growing plant, some species can reach the height of a double decker bus in a week. Importantly this growth is 100% organic.
Advancements are currently being made to be able to process bamboo into a super-soft usable fabric which is also a 100% organic process where no harmful chemicals are used in the manufcaturing process. The challenge is to make people more conscious of the processes and pollution behind what they are wearing.
The more people are aware of bamboo as a fabric the more commonly used it will become which could transform the textile inductry.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
You cannot have a very sutainable plant, which is then manufactured sutainably, without then ensuring fair trade working conditions are in place. A completely transparent and traceable supply chain is what we're aiming for as a business. From bamboo growth right through to delivery of the final product.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Mabboo has identified competitors as those companies involved in either solely selling bamboo clothing, or selling ethical clothing from other sustainable sources.
BAM established 2006 in Richmond UK. The most extensive product range of any bamboo, or ethical clothing company. This comprises 34 different products ranging from standard t-shirts and tops to base layers, walking socks, hat and scarf sets, yoga and towel sets.
Howies established 1995 in Cardigan UK. Impressive ethical trading policy and outlook which the brand has had
since day one of trading. Very transparent Very transparent company in respect to how and where their products are sourced from.
Select the stage that best applies to your business
Operating for 1-5 years
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
What is the social impact you have had to date and how you measure it?
We are helping to spread eco-consciousness with our products. Every person who buys one of our products will hopefully help spread a more sustainable stance to consumersism.
Our supplier is IMO Certified (3rd party certification for social accountability and fair trade in agriculture, manufacturing and trading operations), OEKO-Tex 1000 Certified (testing, auditing and certification system for environmentally-friendly production sites throughout the textile processing chain).
Sustainability
How does your model address financial, social, and environmental sustainability?
Bamboo is the most sustainable plant on earth and grows 100% organically requiring no additional water.
Our supplier holds IMO Certification(3rd party certification for social accountability and fair trade in agriculture, manufacturing and trading operations), OEKO-Tex 1000 (testing, auditing and certification system for environmentally-friendly production sites throughout the textile processing chain).
Awareness & learning
How do you see social entrepreneurship contributing to the improvement of developing countries?
Social entrepreneurship has the potential to completely revolutionise how traditional business models work. A model where we are working with the same vision and beliefs which are not purely driven by profits has to be the way forward.
What aspects of your stay in Uganda as part of the competition do you think you will find most challenging and rewarding?
Seeing abject poverty first hand would be both distressing and frustrating. However seeing the opportunities of how people can be empowered by fair entreprise would be inspiring and rewarding.
