At the Jacksons, Louise believes that employment leads to independence, empowerment and status. This is why, for more that twelve years now, Louise and her team have been working relentlessly, designing products with a forever concern for their artisans and environment. Their mission and ambitions always have their friends and the planet at heart, as they strive to prove that mindful fashion is possible.

While they started this incredible adventure with a 100 women, they can now proudly say that The Jacksons provides 1,500 artisans with work all year round. A further 4,000 people are given employment opportunities through the production of jute cord, bead work and embroidery. In this partnership, artisans are being paid directly, which gives them more freedom / choices regarding their daily lives and the future.

The majority of The Jacksons products are made from jute - a plant that is completely rain fed and requires no additional energy. Making jute products virtually carbon free. The jute plants starts absorbing carbon after only a few weeks of growth, this acting as a carbon sink.

The Jacksons Boutique Website

As the shop has evolved over the years, it has grown to represent a spirit of uniqueness and sustainability that goes beyond fashion trends. We interviewed Louise for Cloisters. 

What were your passions when you were growing up?

I’d love to say that I always knew what I wanted to do so I had many passions but – I didn’t! I was happy hanging out with friends. I did always know that the world I lived in was small and that there was a much bigger world round the corner, so going travelling and seeing how big, how extreme, how beautiful the world actually was – was life-changing.

Whereabouts is The Jacksons located and does it have an online presence?

Our shop & studio are located on All Saints Road, just off Portobello Road. We also have a website: www.thejacksons.co.uk

The Jacksons is best known for your jute bags, but tell us about the range of other products you sell?

The Jacksons range is all about colours and creativity – anything that can create a bit of a smile. The jute bags are the bulk of our production but we’re so glad to see how our beads & placemats ranges have also grown in the past couple of years. Our latest addition to the range is our pop star decorations that have been taking over many Christmas trees – it’s sweet how they have got themselves their own fan club!

There’s a new homewares collection coming to further broaden our range. We’ve also got our own shop in which we sell a range of dresses, jumpers, skirts and coats etc. We try to buy ‘sustainable’ brands – if there is such a thing.

What year did you first go out to Bangladesh and what do trips these involve now?

I first went out to Bangladesh in 2008. I normally go with Vinnie, my great friend who I’ve been working with for about 20 years. Our trips to Bangladesh always involve motor bikes to visit some of the jute centres – we work with around. 60 villages so we have quite a big outreach and some distances to cover – I am never happier than on a motor bike so I love this part. Our wonderful producers often invite us into their homes – which is such an honour and we get to meet the extended family. There’s a lot of laughing and sharing pictures of our families, taking selfies and chatting – all patiently translated by my manager, SonJoy. And always food, so I never come back any thinner from my trips. Vinnie manages the production and I go to workshops where we are developing new products. We went in September and started at 8am, speaking with USA clients before they went to sleep and finished around 10 at night speaking with the UK office before it closed for the day. It was exhausting and exhilarating – I can’t speak for a few days when I get home which drives my family mad.

How many women do you employ in Bangladesh?

1800 women for at least 11 months of the year but we work on a more casual basis with over 6,000 people.

What does secure employment mean to this community of artisan women and their families in rural Bangladesh?

Its life changing! It means a guaranteed supply of food, clothing, etc. Basics that I have always taken for granted. The women that we work with are paid directly – rather than their families or husbands – money in your hand is status. It is power – it means freedom to make your own choices, buy your own provisions and pay for your daughters’ education. Every daughter of every women that we work with now stays at school till they are 18 – previously they would leave at 14. We even have a small number of young women that have gone on to university – unheard of even as recently as six years ago.

Talk us through the design process for your jute bags?

We make the initial design in London – a paper pattern which we draw onto, add measurements and any other details, then we email it over. After the first sample is made in Bangladesh then it’s a lot of Photoshop work and WhatsApp messaging early each morning.

Which brands do you stock and why?

Alex Monroe, Baum und Pferdgarten, Celia B, Chloe Stora, Dilli Grey, DL1961, Ecoalf, Hartford, Idano, Jaquote, JEFF, Jumper1234, Mishky, Ottod’Ame, POM Amsterdam, Stella Forest, Stripe & Stare, Volantis and Xiwij. We stock them because they are different from what you find on the High Street and yet conscious towards our environment – we always try to buy ‘sustainable’ fashion and items that are heirlooms.

Where do you ship to around the world?

Luckily – everywhere.

What inspires you?

People and car boot sales.