MIT Solve

Solution overview

Our Solution

Da Tribu

Tagline

Forest fashion weaving sustainable future

Pitch us on your solution

Da Tribu is a brand of Sustainable Fashion accessories made in the Amazon to the world. We seek to address the negative impacts on fast fashion that encourages accelerated consumption and entails precarious working conditions, low wages, excessive water consumption, harming nature and therefore humans. Concerned about this reality, Da Tribu builds a new way of fashion for the future. Our products carry the knowledges of the forest and the design as differential. Handmade fashion, vegan, with appreciation of local production, and sustainable consumption practices. The fashion industry is the second most polluting in the world. And more people committed to others and the planet, seek products with social and environmental commitment, family economy by strengthening the production chain. Our solution is to have positive impacts in the entire chain, from riverine communities to thousands of conscious consumers around the world.

Film your elevator pitch

What is the problem you are solving?

The fashion industry is the 2nd most polluting in the world, still based on the linear mode of production, where globally produces 1.5 billion tons of waste. Annually,30% of the pollution of rivers and seas comes from the process of dyeing jeans, 80% are dumped in landfills and dumps. In Brazil, only 3% is recycled, and on a global scale 52%. When compared to Brazil, Germany is in 1st place in the international ranking of selective garbage collection, it recycles 53.1% more than Brazil. This system, in the long term, contributes to the depletion of the raw material of natural origin and to the increase of the costs incurred by the companies when buying it, and in the short term, it generates wastes harmful to the environment.

Who are you serving?

Community: At the top of the production chain we have the community of Pedra Branca, located on the island of Cotijuba, in the Amazon, where two families (20 people) are positively impacted by the renewable extraction of latex (natural rubber) that we use in the manufacture of our fashion accessories (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, etc). This partnership, in addition to generating a new income for the community, brings a new value to the extraction of latex in the Amazon, (the traditional extraction consists of exploitation in the harvest for the automobile industry) rescues the ancestral knowledge of the forest peoples, guaranteeing quality of life and self-esteem of this population. User: final consumers, especially women, when they acquire our products, carry together intangible values that strengthen the circular economy and become drivers of the future, as "guardians" of the forest standing and a fashion that also values beauty and power feminine

What is your solution?

As a solution to the negative impacts generated by fast fashion, Da Tribu is committed to the principles of circular economy ensuring to: eliminate the productive process of the concepts of garbage and pollution; Maintain products, materials and energy in use and regenerate ecosystems through standing forest maintenance, valorization of indigenous peoples' knowledge, fair price, and transparent value chain. Da Tribu produces its parts of the forest socio-biodiversity generating positive social impact to the communities in the Amazon. Among its differentials is the production of its raw material, which exists through the partnership with the extractive community of Pedra Branca, in the Environmental Protection Area (APA in Portuguese) of the Island of Cotijuba (State of Pará), which provides latex ) and the production of the rubberized wires for the creation of the accessories of its main collection: "Pontear". Since 2014, when the collection has emerged, up to now, more than 60 thousand meters of wire have been produced, generating income of R $ 75 thousand for the community. In these four years more than five thousand pieces were sold. Among necklaces, tiaras, rings and bracelets. In addition to "Pontear", there is also the "Sumos Solares" collection, which uses recycled paper and other techniques for reusing paper. And also reused wood parts which by itself adds value to the pieces and integrates accessories design and product finishing, as well as impacting families. Da Tribu is specialized in creating sustainable bridges and finding partners as full of affection, as its own core, creating unique objects that have in the creativity and raw materials, the exponents that differentiate us. With beauty, creativity, authenticity and, in particular, women's freedom, Da Tribu continues to improve a brand that knows its social importance and values mutual growth among all its partners. Its inspiration is allied to the respect and ancestry of the forest peoples, bringing with them the traits of contemporary and empowered women. Living concepts that make their products much more than objects of consumption, but of values, pillars of the new era, a fashion that reveals the essence and the production processes and of all those involved.

Select only the most relevant.

Increase production of renewable and recyclable raw materials for products and packaging
Design and produce mass-market clothing and apparel through circular processes

Where is your solution team headquartered?

Belém, PA, Brasil

Our solution's stage of development:

Growth

More about your solution

Select one of the below:

New business model or process

Describe what makes your solution innovative.

Fashion industry today, especially the accessories, has its production coming from the oil and derivatives industry, this industry is based on linear economy and the total disregard for the disposal and the environment, from the way it produces until the final cycle of the product. Da Tribu builds a new path to fashion, aiming a fashion value, which it uses a renewable raw material, vegan, zero impact to nature, combining social technology and innovative design in the creation of its collections, where, in addition of generating income to riverine populations, also contributes to the formation of new consumers who are more conscious and engaged with the human being and the planet. In Brazil, Da Tribu is a reference in Creative Economy and several awards have validated our innovative potential (social and creative).

Describe the core technology that your solution utilizes.

Da Tribu is a social enterprise in the Amazon that produces sustainable fashion accessories, committed to the human being who produces it and with the maintenance of the standing forest. The differential of the brand is the use of social technology (latex) generating a new era for Amazonian rubber, which adds to the ancestral values, the natural vulcanization of the raw material, resulting in a sustainable vegan product with a differentiated design. Da Tribu, thinking of solving its productive capacity, also created a machine to give scalability to the yarn production, and to solve the seasonality of the production and harvest of the latex, as a consequence, the effective increase of income of the community.

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Indigenous Knowledge

Why do you expect your solution to address the problem?

Da Tribu believes that its solution solves the fashion problem, as it does not contribute to the generation of polluting waste to the environment, does not exploit cheap labor, and mainly is not involved in the predatory and inhuman cycle of industrial fashion. Our artisan process at scale production respects and commits itself to the valorization of the forest peoples, in a harmonic and collaborative chain, generating income and quality of life for these riverside families, and contributing to the most critical and committed consumer sharing and the social and environmental transformation of the planet. In this 5 years of operation with this social technology, we have contributed to the preservation of the Environmental Protection Area of the Island of Cotijuba / PA (Brazil) which is more valued and recognized for its power, as well as the expansion of families involved in this chain. Over 5,000 customers have already been positively impacted by our products, becoming aware of and contributing to the preservation of nature and people, while feeling more beautiful and free from the fashion imposed by industry trends.

Select the key characteristics of the population your solution serves.

Women & Girls
Rural Residents
Low-Income
Minorities/Previously Excluded Populations

In which countries do you currently operate?

Brazil

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Brazil

How many people are you currently serving with your solution? How many will you be serving in one year? How about in five years?

In the community, we currently serve approximately 25 people, who are involved in the process of latex extraction and production of rubberized wires and in the finishings with reuse wood. The end users, so far we have already impacted more than 5 thousand customers with the sales of our products. In 2020: we intend to double these results and in 2025, we aim to positively impact 1,000 community members from the Amazon region and 50,000 clients at the base, expanding the business to the international market

What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?

We hope to improve the lives of the forest peoples by improving their quality of food, shelter, intellectual formation and, especially, by adding to the knowledge of the Amazon. bags, wallets, shoes, etc. Da Tribu today offers to increase its production and entry into new niches as well as continue to contribute to more sustainable consumer practices, valuing the chain always committed to a sustainable fashion . In 2019, we expanded the brand's operations in to the national territory, preparing the international expansion for 2025, consolidating the brand as a reference in sustainable fashion in Brazil and in the world.

What are the barriers that currently exist for you to accomplish your goals for the next year and for the next five years?

In addition to the difficulties of attracting financial resources to expand the business, we face cultural barriers, because the aggressive form of the fashion industry that offers its products at low prices, the C and D class consumers still can not value sustainable products. The Brazilian market today has been going to a more sustainable consumption practice, where 45% of consumers, from all stages of life, are very motivated by the concrete benefits offered by sustainable products and services. Da Tribu is back in a projection for the next 5 years, to meet the most receptive public in the AB class and represents 52% more conscious consumers. The capture of resources will enable the breakdown of cultural barriers and facilitate the reach through a transparent communication that reveals the productive chain and commitment of all with the future of the life of the planet to contribute with the information and awareness of new niches.

How are you planning to overcome these barriers?

Through a direct and transparent communication we seek the formation of a more conscious consumer, sensitizing and loyalating this audience. In order to do this, we carry out the direct sale (B & C and B & B) of our products to reinvest in the brand, as well as the acceleration programs that we are already incubating for the improvement of strategies and investment in the business.

If your solution has a website, provide a link here:

http://datribu.com/

If your solution proposes an app that is available, provide a link to your app online or in an app store here:

http://datribu.com/

If you have additional video, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link to your video here:

About your team

Select an option below:

For-Profit

If you selected Other, please explain here.

não se adequa

How many people work on your solution team?

- Comercial e Gestão - Tainah Fagundes - Publicitária - 12 anos - Gestora de Projetos Criativos na área da cultura. Criação

- Kátia Fagundes - 10 anos - Criação de coleções e consultora de projetos/materiais reciclados/experimentação de novas matérias-primas. Comunicação - Sâmia Batista

- Publicitária/Doutoranda em Design/UERJ- 15 anos - Desenvolvimento de projetos corporativo e sociais

- Comunidade: 20 pessoas na extração e produção dos fios emborrachados

- 2 Artesãos tercerizados na montagem das peças

For how many years have you been working on your solution?

5 anos

Why are you and your team best-placed to deliver this solution?

- Comercial e Gestão - Tainah Fagundes - Publicitária - 12 anos - Gestora de Projetos Criativos na área da cultura. Criação

- Kátia Fagundes - 10 anos - Criação de coleções e consultora de projetos/materiais reciclados/experimentação de novas matérias-primas. Comunicação - Sâmia Batista

- Publicitária/Doutoranda em Design/UERJ- 15 anos - Desenvolvimento de projetos corporativo e sociais

- Comunidade: 20 pessoas na extração e produção dos fios emborrachados

- 2 Artesãos tercerizados na montagem das peças

With what organizations are you currently partnering, if any? How are you working with them?

Estamos em dois programas de aceleração: RedBull Amaphiko (https://www.redbull.com/br-pt/events/Red-Bull-Amaphiko-Academy-Inscricoes-2019/Inscricao-Red-Bull-Amaphiko-2019) e PPA - Programa Parceiros da Amazônia - IDESAM (http://aceleracao.ppa.org.br/)

Já estamos rodando o negócio. Atualmente o modelo é a venda direta que atuamos na comercialização dos produtos para venda online (e-commerce da marca - B&C) e revenda (lojas e museus - B&B).

Your business model & funding

Partnership potential

Why are you applying to Solve?

We are submitting the project because we believe in the pioneering and differentiation of our business in the national and international market for the sustainable fashion segment. We are in the stage of Growth, we have already tested our business with the sale of more than 5 thousand products. We have the potential to impact and measure these indicators. Thus, we believe that the selection in this challenge will provide more knowledge and experience in our entrepreneurial journey, as well as the resource that the edict offers will be covered in the expansion and solutions of the problems.

What types of connections and partnerships would be most catalytic for your solution?

Business model
Distribution
Funding and revenue model
Talent or board members
Media and speaking opportunities

If you selected Other, please explain here.

N/A

With what organizations would you like to partner, and how would you like to partner with them?

international market / Distribution Channels

Colabs with Fashion Retail Brands like C&A and Hering

https://www.cea.com.br/

https://www.hering.com.br/store/

If you would like to apply for the AI Innovations Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution. If you are not already using AI in your solution, explain why it is necessary for your solution to be successful and how you plan to incorporate it.

N/A

If you would like to apply for the GM Prize on Circular Economy, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution.

We would like to apply for the GM Prize for Circular Economy to receive investment to expand in the Brazilian market and reach the international market, increasing production volume, consequently generating greater impact in the community, and serving more Amazon communities through sales of our accessories and the creation of new sustainable fashion products.

If you would like to apply for the Innovation for Women Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution.

N/A

If you would like to apply for the Innospark Ventures Prize, describe how you and your team will utilize the prize to advance your solution. If your solution utilizes data, describe how you will ensure that the data is sourced, maintained, and used ethically and responsibly.

N/A