whomadeyourpants?
Over the last few weeks, some messages have been trickling out form a man I have admired hugely for years. Messages that made me think things were not good. Frankly, when founder of a company you love tells you he’s leaving, it’s hard not to be disturbed.
This post http://brainfood.howies.co.uk/2009/10/11295/ from David Hieatt of howies has had me in tears every time I read it. You see, I love howies, I have loved them since I first saw their ‘brandwashed’ slogan T shirt (which I have STILL not managed to get hold of). I love that they ooze passion and love and commitment and thoughtfulness and tenderness and care and joy and play. I love their no quibble officer dibble guarantee and the rocking chair test. And their Chevron bag and bike tyre belts. And when I had the chance to meet David and Claire at the DO lectures in 2008, I was as star struck as when I stood next to Shami Chakrabati at a protest. Or as star struck as I might have been had I ever had the chance to meet New Kids on the Block when I was about 12.
David has left howies, the company he and Claire set up and have poured their lives into. Reading his words, ‘If you find something you love, you should never sell your love.’ sent me googling and the hairs on the back of my neck atingling. And thinking, ‘Please no, please no, please don’t let howies be sold.’
I found out that my fandom had been rather lax and that on the 4th December 2006, David had announced on the howies brainfood pages that they were selling part of the business to Timberland. Other pages I found hinted that a majority stake was sold, and that the deal hadn’t worked out quote how the Hieatts wanted. In some ways the detail is irrelevant to me. What I’m feeling is sad and sorry and like I want to give David a hug because it sounds to me like he is feeling sad. And, y’see, I’m setting up a business too and the thought of it going a way I couldn’t bear, to the extent that I had to leave or hate it, is truly, truly, awful.
howies features heavily in my list of inspirations for whomadeyourpants? I loved that they thought business could make positive changes and needn’t be pilloried just for being business. I loved that they strove for transparency and they thought, like me, that high quality, long lasting products, are the way forward. That products can be beautiful, sustainable, challenging, and enjoyable – not just a cheap thrill for a weekend and then binned when a seam tears. These things are all part of the whomadeyourpants? story too, as is ( I hope) the feeling of belonging – I loved feeling part of the howies family and hope people feel that way about us too.
But there has always been one key difference. whomadeyourpants? was formed specifically as a worker co-op to make sure that we can pass on maximum benefit to the workers, We’re not just about great pants. We’re about empowering women right here in the UK by providing up front training and then giving them a job – and offering membership of a worker co-op, whereby they can get profit share and be part shaping the direction of the business is, to me, a key part of that empowerment. Some (not all) of the women we work with, in the words of a colleague, had a life of ‘things being done to, for or around them’ – they have not been able to take responsibility for anything. I believe that people work best when challenged and that we all have strengths to play to. We can all cope with responsibility and we ought all have the chance to prove to ourselves and everyone else what we can do. Alongside making utterly gorgeous ethical pants, I really want to pass on a little bit of the joy that comes from becoming empowered – it was passed on to me in 2008 and I want to share it.
I’d not for one minute suggest that howies would have been better as a co-op as it is still, in my mind, an almost perfect example of what I love. But I hope and wish that I never feel the same way about whomadeyourpants? as I’m imagining David feels now. I hope I never have to make that choice. I’m so sad to hear he has left, but so pleased he was there. Howies has been a guiding light for me in forming whomadeyourpants? And keeping true to my vision when it gets knocked or questioned and when things get hard. For that gift of inspiration, for blazing that trail, I will always be grateful.
David’s talked about ’sitting in my shed with Sonny (my dog) working away on the future’ and I truly hope he is happy and productive there – I have no doubt he will be. David, with love – thank you.
Tags: clothing, Enterprise