Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Barnes.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I sort of backed my way into the fashion world. My background is in Architecture and Design, and over the years, I’ve grown more and more concerned about environmental and human rights issues. These interests really culminated for me back in 2016 when I saw the documentary True Cost by Andrew Morgan, which exposes the fashion industry as an exploiter – both of people as well as of earth’s resources. Our modern society is REALLY good at cognitively separating products from where they come from and how they are made. Our economic model seeks to drive down prices lower and lower at all costs, so long as the price tag is lower for the purchaser.
Learning the truths of where clothing comes from has changed the way that I evaluate what I purchase. I can either support 1) Subpar working conditions where laborers cannot afford their basic needs and where the material sourcing and manufacturing create waste and pollution, ultimately ending back in our bodies via our water supply or 2) A system where laborers can make a fair wage and a manufacturing process that treats the earth as the limited resource it is. Purchasing can no longer be about “what is the best deal,” as cost is inextricably linked to a greater price paid. This greater price includes the quality of life of those making the clothing as well as the degradation of our planet for the sake of accumulating more and more. I started searching for ethically-made clothing and found it took much time and research to find what I call “clean” alternatives to fast fashion. Over time, I built up a library of brands and products to which I could turn. While these issues of ethics are not exclusive to the fashion industry – they are true of many industries – I found the offerings in the fashion world to be lacking. A need existed for a user-friendly, streamlined platform for clothing where ethics and sustainability was considered. My background in design and my millennial age also added a few more criteria in my wish list: I wanted pieces that were modern without being trendy and that were affordable for a young professional. No “$200 for a t-shirt” allowed!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a bit of a bumpy road – largely because I’ve had to learn every step of the way. It just started with an idea. Between that idea and now has been a series of hundreds of baby steps. I started with learning about how the fashion industry works and how to start a business. Then, I had to move into learning practical things like when to build an app, how to build website, how to get user input, and how to set up relationships with brands. I’ve been grateful to the many people that have given me feedback, so I’ve been able to tweak and edit along the way.
I’ve definitely discovered that the stories behind our products is a force to be reckoned with – consumers truly do care. I have found the entrepreneur community to be incredibly welcoming! I’ve had so many conversations with people, who are just available and willing to offer advice from their experience. A few specific thanks: First, to Jason Taylor for giving me a free table at Code Launch 2019. Being part of the application process helped me further develop my pitch deck. Being an exhibitor helped me to better articulate to others what I’m doing and why I’m doing it! Thanks also to Impact Ventures for including me in their 2020 accelerator program startup track. It enabled me to learn much in a short amount of time, alongside other inspiring founders.
As you know, we’re big fans of Factor Shop. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Factor Shop is a platform that curates ethically and sustainably-made clothing for the modern woman. Every product on our website has been pre-vetted. Our vetting principles create a baseline to which products must conform to be represented on our site. We are known for our Instagram-like format to our site, which makes it feel like a boutique shop. We tell you about each brand’s mission, so you can get a sense for the story behind the piece, and offer search filters that make it easy to narrow to your needs. We are proud that we are making it easy for consumers to shop better.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
I sort of get a thrill out of risk… all except for one category of risk and that is financial! I’ve focused on doing as much as I can for as long as I can with a limited budget. That method has been helpful to iterate on and develop an idea without being tied to a specific financial investment and thus the outcome. I do think that taking risks is often the path to the next step of growth.
Contact Info:
- Email: sara@thefactorshop.com
- Website: www.thefactorshop.com
- Instagram: thefactorshop
Image Credits:
Gracemade, Amour Vert, Camper, Vetta, and LACAUSA
