Choose Haiti x Carribean Craft x World Vision x Clinton Foundation x GAP X Forever21 x Maiden Nation x Glamour Magazine X Chan Luu X UN Ethical Fashion Initiative X Sean Penn’s JPHRO X Gloria Steinem X Yoko Ono X Lauren Bush x Kate Spade’s On Purpose 

Since 2010 UU leadership has been involved in connecting artisans from communities recovering from crisis access to global markets. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, UU co-founded an initiative with Magalie Dresse of Caribbean Craft to support rebuilding Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. UU created a campaign and oversaw the bringing together of local and international businesses, artisans, displaced Haitians, governments, and NGOs. In partnership with Caribbean Craft, the Haiti government, World Vision, and the Clinton Foundation, Choose Haiti produced bracelets made from 100% recycled water bottles and newspapers from the streets of Port au Prince. Displaced Haitians living in tent camps were hired to collect the water bottles and assemble the bracelets. Sold at the GAP, Forever21, Footlocker, and dozens of other retailers, the initiative brought revenue to Haitian artisans through an unusual collaboration of people and organizations.

Though Choose Haiti efforts were met with initial success, after the first orders were sold, the media shifted away from the Haiti crisis, and retailers refused a second round of orders. Consumers had begun to experience “cause fatigue.” Determined to find new solutions to the problem, UU came up with a new venture called Maiden Nation. Co-founded with social entrepreneurs Willa Shallit and Juliana Umi, Maiden Nation became a marketplace sourcing jewelry made by artisans from around the world. Maiden Nation launched in conjunction with Glamour’s Woman of the Year Award, in cooperation with Chan Luu, the United Nation’s Ethical Fashion Initiative and Sean Penn’s JPHRO women’s coop. Maiden Nation featured an impressive mix of artisans worldwide, the first-ever product by feminist icon Gloria Steinem and other luminaries such as Yoko One, Lauren Bush and Rachel Roy.

In addition, UU worked with Kate Spade’s On Purpose, a program aiming to incubate artisan business, supported by the local community and competitive in global markets. Much more than a jobs program, On Purpose reflects an unusually comprehensive investment by Kate Spade in the local community. Uncommon Union was enlisted to build a better understanding of the model, its benefits and possibilities so that others in the professional and international community would emulate and support it.

Uncommon Union played several key roles:

Strategic Planning: Developed the branding and marketing plan for Choose Haiti and Maiden Nation.
Execution and Management: Coordinated artisans and businesses to sell products through multiple channels.
Public Relations: Managed communications and secured global media coverage.
Product Branding and Marketing: Helped artisans brand and market products for commercial sales.
Partnership and Resource Mobilization: Attracted support from government officials and businesses.