Shoe Company The Root Collective Announces B Corporation Certification
Towson, MD (PRWEB) March 26, 2015 -- The Root Collective announced today that is has become a certified B Corporation, joining more than 1,200 other businesses worldwide as an impact company. B Labs is a nonprofit organization that assesses and analyzes a company’s impact through rigorous and specific assessments, and are rated on transparency, accountability and performance.
The Root Collective launched in 2013 as a social enterprise, partnering with small-scale artisan businesses in developing countries. The goal was to provide access to a buying market and promote change through economic development. They are known as an ethical fashion shoe company that offers women’s handmade flats in classic designs with timeless colors. The Root Collective believes in uplifting communities from within, empowering entrepreneurs who understand their own culture and community. Their model to fight poverty and gang violence through dignified jobs and opportunity is resonating with consumers looking to spend their money in ways that matter.
“Becoming a certified B Corporation is an important next step in the growth of The Root Collective,” stated Bethany Tran, founder and designer-in-chief of The Root Collective. “Not only does this give us a third-party stamp of approval, but it also provides a roadmap for growth and moving forward that puts impact ahead of profits and social responsibility at the forefront of our business model.”
The Root Collective is excited as to what the certification means to the business as it grows, and the continued impact being made in rural and urban slum communities in Guatemala. The model to use business as a platform for change will continue to grow, with the plan to expand into other communities and other artisan businesses. This will also provide more conscientious options for consumers in the US and around the world. The cry for conscious brands is continuing to grow as consumers are becoming more aware of where their goods are coming from, and the conditions of the workers who make them. The Root Collective is excited to be at the forefront of social impact businesses and answering that ask from consumers.
“This is the way business should be run,” explained Tran. “We should be challenging corporations to improve their models and being conscious of how the running of their business is impacting the world around them. It is critical to human rights everywhere.”
Products from The Root Collective are available online at therootcollective.com and select stores around the US and New Zealand.
About B Labs
B Labs is the nonprofit behind the B Corporation certification. They are dedicated to leading the global movement to redefine success in business, where sustainability is the primary goal. B Labs uses the B Corporation assessment to measure businesses against rigorous standards of transparency, social and environmental performance and accountability.
About The Root Collective
The Root Collective is a social impact company dedicated to uplifting rural and urban slum communities from within by empowering small-scale artisan businesses and giving them access to a buying market. The Root Collective offers fashion-first, high quality shoes and accessories that are created in timeless design and beautiful colors. They have a design philosophy where pieces are designed in the USA with the consumer in mind to ensure wearable and ethically produced goods. They also donate back a portion of each sale to nonprofits working in the same communities that their partner artisans live.
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Bethany Tran, The Root Collective, http://therootcollective.com, +1 (610) 428-5545, [email protected]
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