Several years ago, while working in Asia, Jute & Jackfruit founder Shana Yansen, encountered two parallel forces: an enormous garment industry (thousands of young women and men employed) and an increasing strain on the environment. From the extensive pesticides and water needed for crop growing, to exploitation of young men and women at various stages of production, the industry presented seemingly endless opportunities for improvement.

Eagerly asking, how can this be done better? Shana set out on a mission to find a better way.

Remembering back to her days as a health educator in a mountainous Honduran village, Shana sought inspiration from the many women artisans, leaders and small business owners that she met at that time. Recalling how empowered the women became after small improvements in their livelihood, Shana sought to recreate a model whereby women artisans and business owners improve their livelihood while doing so in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

Jute & Jackfruit
JJF thus formed with the goal of offering exquisite, modern products while simultaneously investing in the environment and people at every stage.

Shana quickly began identifying producers who combine eco-smart materials with micro-craftsmanship and fair trade. Of particular interest to Jute & Jackfruit is an investment in resource-poor settings. Jute & Jackfruit's selection of Nahui Ollin recycled candy wrapper handbags is a great example of this.

Made by Mayan men and women in Mexico, each bag is hand woven, requires between 1-4 days to make, and uses recycled candy wrappers. Factory-reject wrappers that otherwise would be burned or sent to a landfill, are woven using traditional Mayan weaving techniques into very stylish, one-of-a-kind timeless handbags.

Another producer, Indigenous, is a wonderful example of Jute & Jackfruit's core philosophy. Indigenous employs over 200 women's weaving groups in Peru, relies on traditional weaving and looming techniques and uses only premium quality sustainable fabrics such as certified organic cotton, merino wool and alpaca. Indigenous is also a longstanding member of Fair Trade Federation.

Jute & Jackfruit strives to offer the most beautiful, limited-edition, eco-chic clothing and gifts for its customers . Devoted to conserving natural resources, investing in communities, and creating stunning products, Jute & Jackfruit is confident that you will love what you see. Plus, you will feel great about of your contribution to the environment and sustainability through your purchases at Jute & Jackfruit.

What about the name?
Jute is one of the most important natural fibers cultivated in the world today next to cotton. It is highly sustainable, widely available across Asia, naturally biodegradable, and requires little or no pesticides for growth. Jackfruit, on the other hand, is a tropical fruit: juicy, sumptuous, seasonal and fun. Together, the two create a fabulously dynamic duo.

Our Community
Education about smart environmental and social production is integral to the mission of Jute & Jackfruit. Toward this end, Jute & Jackfruit runs two blogs to connect with readers and customers and to increase awareness on eco-fashion, sustainability and fair trade. Specifically, the Jute & Jackfruit Blog is devoted to our designers, producers and materials used. Green Cotton on the other hand, is focused on eco-fashion and fabrics more broadly. We invite you to follow both of these as well as join us on Facebook!