Social venture to revolutionize apparel manufacturing in the US

20 Jan '11

3 min read

Two former Dow Jones executives have launched a social venture with the goal of addressing issues that face single mothers who are poverty-stricken in the United States. Founders Tom Aley and Darr Aley have formed Moms and Jobs, a for-profit company that provides sustainable employment opportunities, complete coverage of childcare, and career development for single mothers in the apparel manufacturing sector.

MoJo takes most of its profit from sales of the products to help finance these and other benefits. The balance of its profit is used for purchasing raw material and is used to hire new employees.

MoJo has launched its first in what will be a series of celebrity "Designers-In-Residence" with the announcement that Dakini founders Kip and Katlyn Schultz have partnered to design MoJo's 2011 Winter apparel and accessory product line. This line debuts at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City that starts Wednesday ( Jan 19 ) and goes through Sunday ( Jan 23 ).

"The economics of a single-parent family mean that single mothers are disproportionately represented among the poor," says Katlyn Schultz, "and among U.S. households headed by single mothers, 27% live below the poverty line, compared to 12% of male-headed families. MoJo is helping to eradicate this pervasive social problem through business innovation, and we are proud to be their launch partners."

The Dakini-designed line utilizes new materials manufactured by MoJo partner Polartec, including their Recycled Stripe Microfleece and 300 Series fabrics. The use of these recycled materials aligns with MoJo's goal of leveraging sustainable practices throughout its supply chain. The line includes men's, women's, and children's fleece jackets, vests, turtlenecks, and 1/4 zips along with mittens, hats, and scarves. MoJo will also be introducing a new line of accessories that includes wallets and a variety of computer and mobile equipment storage cases.

"Women with dependent children comprise two-thirds of the poor population. A big part of the problem is that daycare costs for even one child can consume the majority of a woman's salary, making it feel difficult to justify returning to the workforce from a personal and financial standpoint," says Darr Aley, Co-Chairman of MoJo. "We are excited about Dakini's involvement and hope that together we can help build awareness of this massive American concern and revolutionize apparel manufacturing in the U.S. with the coverage of these vital benefits."

The company launched its first manufacturing facility in Lowell, Massachusetts in July of 2010 and has quickly expanded. In addition to selling to retailers, the company has a line of both college and corporate apparel that serves organizations that care about socially responsible practices. Among their 100 (+) customers are F500 companies Morgan Stanley, Accenture, Deutsche Bank, and Diageo. They intend to expand their facilities across the country, including their next stop in 2011, San Francisco, where they already have a business office.

Moms and Jobs Inc

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