Three core passions inspired founder, Shana Yansen to start Jute and Jackfruit. These three passions tie into the company's core mission, to be:
Smart, Sustainable and
Chic.
Smart. The first inspiration, Smart, started more than 10 years ago while Shana served in the Peace Corps in Honduras as child survival and HIV/AIDS volunteer. While focused on community outreach in child survival education and reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS, Shana taught workshops to midwives and community health volunteers and courses to young adults. During her time in Honduras, she was asked to co-chair a Women in Development group. Deciding to make the annual conference theme ‘Women Leaders of Honduras’, the conference ended up serving as the core inspiration behind Jute and Jackfruit. Through the experience of working with talented, dynamic women in the country from small business owners and entrepreneurs to strong community leaders, Shana discovered that women who were making their own craft or product as a small business owners and/or working in a cooperative had significant transformations in their lives. Not only did these women experience positively economic growth, but their self-esteem increased as well as their confidence, health and happiness. Marveling at the beautiful handmade products that many of these women made, Shana knew that someday she would start a company on this premise: empowering women worldwide, both here in the US and overseas economically and personally, especially those with less resources.
Sustainable. The second inspiration, Sustainable, took hold several years ago while Shana was working in Asia. After serving in the Peace Corps, Shana obtained a Masters in International Health Science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Wanting to gain more experience in Asia, Shana worked for a Johns Hopkins center doing strategic communication in public health throughout Asia. She had the opportunity to work in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and other parts of Asia focusing on maternal and newborn health, youth development, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Through her work in Asia, Shana increasingly became concerned about strains on the environment-- from water and sanitation crises and urban overcrowding to growing joblessness and contaminated air, soil and water. During this time, Shana also intersected with the garment industry through her research and work and grew increasingly concerned and motivated to make change. Learning of the age at many young girls start working in factories, their working conditions and lack of opportunities, combined with environmental issues associated with the apparel industry, Shana decided that she needed to do something. She began by researching the textile industry, environmental impacts associated with conventional cotton production (such as the fact that one T-shirt typically requires 1/3 of a pound of pesticides to make) as well as the overall toxicity of the industry and decided that a more sustainable, eco-friendly and ethical solution was needed.
Chic. By offering the most stylish eco-fashion available, Jute and Jackfruit demonstrates its commitment to great style, fashion and fit. Shana has always been inspired by great design, style and fashion and knew that if she was going to start an ethical and sustainable business that style and quality would need to be at the forefront. Change would not happen overnight, but in order for it to take hold, the fashion would need to be as good if not better than its competition. Bringing chic, eco and ethical together was the final fun and engaging step for Shana as she starting Jute and Jackfruit. As a result, Jute and Jackfruit’s collections are stylish, fashion forward and often handmade, limited edition.
Pulling these three passions together: Smart, Sustainable and Chic, Shana formed Jute and Jackfruit. Jute and Jackfruit is an environmentally and socially conscious online boutique selling limited edition, handmade clothing, jewelry and handbags. Jute and Jackfruit is also an approved member of
Green America and a member of
One Percent for the Planet, donating one percent of revenue to environmental and social causes. For more on the company, visit
About Us.
