BANAGO asks Kickstarter to Help Rescue Typhoon Victims
The newest release by fashion company BanagoTM is no ordinary limited edition. Banago and the artisans who create its unique accessories have showcased their talent to the world as part of a new recovery strategy to restore hope for over 400 woman artisans and their families.
Banago will be the first to use Kickstarter to ask backers to help rebuild their cottage industry – Banago founder and survivor Renée Patron shares her amazing story in this video: https://bit.ly/banago3cm
Banago’s success could help revolutionize the way donors sponsor post-disaster recovery – potentially big news for regions bearing their unfair share of climate change and for donors hoping to find ways of getting better connected with real beneficiaries.
Banago [ba-nah-go] is a collection of hand-woven bags and home accessories, expertly hand crafted by artisans in Eastern Samar – less than a day’s drive from Manila. Each piece is a beautiful handmade work of art, bringing island chic to the city while enabling Banago to give back.
- Before typhoon Haiyan devastated the eastern Philippines in November of 2013, Banago founder Renée Patron had built and expanded Banago into a cottage industry until it provided livelihood for over four hundred women and their families in the community where she grew up.
- This program was unheard of in 2005 when Renée began teaching weavers, mostly women, to become self-employed business owners and to work within the safety of their own homes. Banago artisans became leaders in their communities and helped grow genuine opportunity.
- A taste of success: Banago products were once readily available in high-end retail stores around the globe including J. Crew, Anthropologie, Nordstrom’s and Macy’s plus many others.
- Tragically,Banago lost its entire production network and facilities, including the homes of all of its artisans. Renée herself fought for her life in the storm along with the more than 14 million Haiyan victims. Many now cope with the loss of family members (est. 6,300 killed), the loss of income (over 50% of livelihoods), and the loss of an economy (est. $35 billion USD in damages). International aid has been withdrawn and there is little or no help from the national government.
- Banago’sTM leadership is determined to honor the spirit of the ancient painted warriors embodied in its vibrant designs. With the help Livelihood UnitedTM, a US based nonprofit, Banago will engage the wonderful KickStarter.com community in an effort to raise enough money for a full recovery.
- Livelihood restoration like never before: If Banago’s campaign is successful it may help change the way people look at post-disaster livelihood restoration. Banago backers will be the first ever to use Kickstarter to invest in the recovery of a proven business while gaining access to new and highly prized merchandise – And a successful campaign could be expanded to help many others elsewhere.
The Banago Kickstarter campaign went public on August 19, 2014 and success would:
- Restore the livelihoods of more than 400 artisan weavers.
- Provide their families (1840 local Filipinos) with food for now and income for the future.
- Make sure that their children (more than 900 of them) are able to get an education.
You can check out Banago’s campaign and survival video here: https://bit.ly/banago3cm.
On behalf of Banago and the people of Eastern Samar, Thank you for reading and sharing this story.
