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New fashion label, Boulevar, supports Sew Women Can through COVID-19

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13 July 2020

Last week we sat down with Tom Phillips, Founder of Boulèvar and AFL star. Boulèvar is a new brand challenging the fashion industry with products that are diverse and cultural in nature.

 

The brand is committed to improving both the lives of customers and the sustainability of the planet and chose Sew Women Can as one of the first causes to support as part of their Boulèvolve initiative. Throughout June and July, 10% of all profits are being donated to enable So They Can to make and distribute thousands of masks to vulnerable communities in East Africa.

 

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We’re so grateful for your generosity during this difficult time. Why did you choose to support STC’s COVID-19 response?

Tom Phillips, Founder, Boulèvar (TP): Boulèvar is building a strong social impact model, as we are super interested and committed towards our fashion identity representing more than the products we create. For us, this was an immediate and vital response to a problem that will hit the African continent the hardest. We understand that many small decisions that customers make can have a lasting impact on the lives of the most vulnerable people in our global community. So They Can and Boulèvar are both aligned on making a powerful and sustainable impact.

 

 

How did you first find out about So They Can’s work?

TP: When researching and looking at organisations that we wanted to work with to provide greater social and environmental value, STC stood out straight away. We loved the way So They Can empowered and supported women and had a holistic approach towards their responses, especially during this COVID-19 crisis.”

 

 

We love that you actively give back as a business. What inspired this?

TP: We understand that the world is evolving at a quicker pace than ever, and fashion is no exception. We want to represent a brand that empowers our youth in Australia and eventually across the globe, and to do this we have a vision to stand for something more than our high quality materials. We want to associate with high quality people and build a powerful movement of people that are concious and aware of the impact they can have on others around them. We encourage people to find their strength and purpose from within, to be themselves, to be Boulèvar.

 

 

When did you establish Boulèvar?
TP: Boulèvar was a passion project for about a year, with research and development being the processes early on. There were many things to get organised and ready as a team before our launch, which took place earlier this year in February. We have taken a hit with COVID-19 but have adapted and found some innovative ways of progressing through a harsh time for a start up business! It’s all been terrific learning and we have found that collaboration is super powerful to achieve shared visions and goals, and to empower our collective customers.

 

 

What’s the main mission and drive behind the label?
TP: Boulèvar exists to go beyond the traditional parameters of fashion. We want to Boulèvolve, and we urge our community to come on the journey with us. We want our community to not only look good and feel good in Boulèvar, but to also be doing good, for themselves and for others. What does it mean to do good? Well it’s different for every individual. We encourage our Boulèvar community to think bigger picture, and put their own realities into perspective.”

 

From day to day, we want to give customers a sense of confidence and a spring in their step, encourage them to be ambitious, whilst developing a strong purpose for themselves and how they can have an impact on the wider communities around them.

 

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At So They Can, we are constantly blown away by the generosity of businesses like Boulèvar who are donating what they can to support our important work in East Africa. If you’re interested in ways your business can get involved, click here to read about our business fundraising and workplace giving programs. 

 

You can keep up to date with our COVID-19 response and ongoing work to break the poverty cycle in East Africa by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

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So They Can commits to accountability We want to be one of the most trustworthy non-profit organisations in Australasia, and we want to know how everything we do is helping our partner communities. It is important for any non-profit organisation to know exactly what is working so we can focus our attention on projects that deliver great results. We also need to know which projects are not working, so we can improve or stop them. We are designing a new system to capture the most important data and measure our success. “We need to identify successes and gaps.” – Wilson Kaijage, So They Can Tanzania MEL Officer Last week representatives from So They Can International, So They Can Kenya, and So They Can Tanzania gathered with international experts in Arusha, Tanzania for a 2 day Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) workshop hosted by Penny Verdich, Growth Coaching International and Terri Anderson, STC International Tanzania Country Director and MEL Manager. “Monitoring and evaluation cannot be separated from accountability.” – Elizabeth Kisio, So They Can Kenya MEL Officer Attendees created a template for the new system which will measure data at the beginning, middle and end of each So They Can project. Ongoing staff training and organisational evaluation will make sure these systems get better and better. Measuring and proving our achievements will help us give children access to quality education. It will also give our donors and partners confidence in our performance.

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