Black-Owned Clothing Repairs App Is First In Industry To Attain B Corp Status
UK-based Black-owned platform Sojo has become the first fashion repairs and alterations platform to achieve B Corp certification.
Certified B Corps are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
The B Corp Community is a global movement of businesses that provide leadership by demonstrating their commitment to people and the planet.
There are over 7,800 B Corps worldwide, across 161 industries in 92 countries, with over 708,300 workers.
Sojo achieved 86.8 points, above the B Corp pass mark of 80 and the fashion industry average of 80.9.
Sojo
Sojo is a Deliveroo-style clothing repair and alterations collection and delivery app dedicated to making clothes work for customers.
Founder Josephine Philips was driven by a belief in a slower and more considered approach to society’s relationship with fashion, leading her to start Sojo in 2021.
The app connects users to local seamstress or tailoring businesses and collects items via bicycle.
It aims to increase the longevity and circularity of consumers’ wardrobes by making clothing alterations and repairs easy and hassle-free.
The Sojo team comprises of over 20 people working out of London, including tailors, riders, technologists, and creatives working to accelerate change.
Sojo works with zero and low-emission courier service DPD Green for deliveries outside London.
Achieving B Corp Certification
The platform told Drapers that the circular nature of its repair service was a crucial part of its success in achieving B Corp certification.
Other factors helping it reach the status were its 100% recyclable and compostable packaging, 100% renewable energy used to power its studio, the reuse of textile offcuts to complete other repairs, and being as circular as possible.
They also minimize waste and have zero-emission cargo bike deliveries.
“I’ve always thought that it’s so important in the sustainability space that the work you’re doing is assessed and validated by external parties,” said Philips.
“I’ve watched many companies I admire and look up to go through the process and achieve B Corp status and I’ve always wanted Sojo to be part of the roster. It’s such a great community of companies trying to do things better, and it’s really great that we’ve managed to get their stamp of approval that we’re doing business right.”
