The Gen.T honouree and R.A.W. Prize winner tells us how she built new social enterprise All Together in under 52 hours
The Ready For Launch series asks questions of entrepreneurs to get the inside story behind a new startup or product launch.
Environmentalist and entrepreneur Sissi Chao's startup REmakeHub uses hi-tech recycled materials and creative upcycling to reduce textile waste in the fashion industry. Her production lines in China can transform used coffee grounds into watches, turn discarded fishing nets into sunglasses, and even make shirt buttons out of expired milk.
In response to the coronavirus crisis, and the millions of disposal face masks that are thrown away daily, the R.A.W. Prize winner has taken action, launching a new line of reusable masks called All Together.
Here, we talk to Chao to learn the story behind the new brand.
Can you introduce All Together in one sentence?
In one sentence? I haven't thought about that yet! It's a reusable mask to bring happiness and smiles to the world.
Who is the target consumer and what’s the value proposition?
It’s an initiative under REmakeHub; not a new startup. We are selling B2B, to corporates who want to buy reusable masks in bulk for their staff or customers. We cover our costs only; we’re not making a profit on these.
Lots of factories are closing [in China] because of Covid-19 and people are losing their jobs. We wanted to create jobs in the local community, to empower those ladies and provide them with an income.
Also, for every five masks we sell B2B, we donate one to Africa, mostly to Kenya. The pandemic response is relatively under control in Asia, but Africa is struggling. Plus, Ebola is now back in the region too. These are the most vulnerable people, so that’s where we wanted to direct the donations.
See also: Talking Points: R.A.W. Prize Winner Sissi Chao On Turning Trash Into Treasure