Piece & Co.

Piece & Co. was established in 2011 by founder Kathleen Wright, operating as a for-profit, social-impact enterprise connecting female artisans in developing nations with major fashion and retail brands. Wright's background in business development and her experience with a non-profit providing micro-loans to women in Africa informed the company's direction. She identified that consistent market access, rather than just capital, was the primary barrier to sustainable income for these artisans. The company's core business was supplying unique, handcrafted, and sustainable fabrics to the fashion industry, thereby creating a reliable source of employment for women in countries such as Bolivia, India, and Zambia.

The business model centered on acting as a B2B platform that bridged the gap between artisanal co-operatives and large-scale retailers. Piece & Co. sourced and developed fabric collections with these artisan groups and then sold the textiles to prominent fashion houses. This approach provided brands with a way to differentiate their products and incorporate sustainable and ethically sourced materials into their supply chains. By 2016, the company had established operations in 16 countries, employing over 5,000 artisans. Clients included notable names like Nike, Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, J. Crew, and Supreme. The company also engaged in direct-to-consumer collaborations, such as a capsule collection with Shopbop featuring designers like Alice + Olivia and Mara Hoffman.

Financially, Piece & Co. was venture-backed, having raised a total of $4.37 million through several funding rounds, including a Series A in December 2015 and a Series B in November 2016. The company initially participated in an accelerator/incubator program in September 2012. Despite its early traction and partnerships, public records indicate that Piece & Co. ceased operations around August 2019.

Keywords: sustainable fabrics, artisan textiles, social impact fashion, ethical sourcing, B2B textile platform, female artisan empowerment, global supply chain, fashion sustainability, handcrafted fabrics, retail partnerships, venture-backed, Kathleen Wright, Diane von Furstenberg, J. Crew, ethical manufacturing, textile sourcing, impact investing, fashion supply chain, artisan co-operatives, social enterprise