Skip to main content

Luke Swanson’s Tripty Project aims to benefit, celebrate Bangladeshi culture

tripty project feature tripty2

Let’s say for instance you have a hankering for a cheeseburger. Do you opt for a cheap, quickly made option from McDonald’s or would you, perhaps, instead enjoy a handmade, quality-made burger from a lesser known establishment? Obviously for most people, the answer to this question would almost universally point towards the latter of these options. Simply put, people enjoy quality over quantity. So why don’t more people use this line of reasoning for something like the type of clothing or accessories they wear? In time, this is one of the very questions entrepreneur Luke Swanson hopes to answer with his fair trade, responsibly-sourced supply chain company, the Tripty Project.

Following roughly two years of work in the environmental science industry in Bangladesh, Swanson decided he wanted to create something which possessed the ability to make a positive impact on the communities in Bangladesh. After witnessing a number of non-governmental organizations misspending money within the country — and seeing firsthand the kind of fallout created by the horrific Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 — creating positive business was paramount for Swanson.

Related Videos
Tripty3

“We tried to come up with an idea to work with local organizations that already had a small thing going in the area,” Swanson tells The Manual. “We wanted to make those companies more resilient.”

Born from this notion was one of the pillars of the Tripty Project’s entire philosophy, Slow Fashion. A direct response to Fast Fashion — think H&M, Gap, etc. — Swanson intended to avoid pushing out low quality, poorly sourced goods just to save a few cents on each unit. Instead, Swanson and co-founder Brooke McEver wanted to focus on the brand’s process, concentrating on quality of materials and developing something which doesn’t foster continuous consumption. The goal was to create a sustainable company that boosts the culture, society, and environment of Bangladesh for its locals. Today, the duo personally sources the materials used for each project — currently the Tripty Project offers jackets, quilts, and backpacks — and strives to remain as innovative with its use of fabrics as possible.

Related: Portland brands take center stage with MadeHere PDX

Though the concept for the company officially came to be some two and a half years ago, Swanson admits the company has become more formal over the past year and a half. After toying with the branding and developing a sustainable business plan, Swanson and McEver took the Tripty Project to the popular crowdfunding site, Kickstarter. The initial hope was that a project such as theirs would show people an ethical supply chain isn’t entirely far-fetched but rather, completely feasible. Once the Kickstarter campaign came to a close, it had successfully raised over $34k in funding.

Tripty1

Armed with the funding necessary to bring this concept to a wider audience, as well as a passion for making a genuine difference in a marginalized country like Bangladesh, the Tripty Project achieves goodwill while providing a desirable product. Fast Fashion may have the notoriety today, but once people realize they don’t have to settle for something akin to the fast food of clothing, it’s companies like the Tripty Project that will be waiting there with open arms.

Editors' Recommendations

Why DXL is the Best Online Store to Shop for Big + Tall Men
A man wearing jeans and polo for big frames outside a storefront with a streetlight.

As a tall, stocky man with broad shoulders, it can be tough finding shirts or clothes that fit just right. Even at most "Big and Tall" stores, it's difficult to find the right styles and quality of apparel. That is unfortunate because your style says a lot about you.

Cue DXL, one of the largest and best online stores to shop for big men's clothing. They offer a vast selection of complete styles made of quality fabrics, many of which are wrinkle-resistant. That means they look great right out of the dryer and don't need much finagling. From casual shirts to polos, and swimwear to jeans, they have something for every personality.
Why DXL Is the Best Online Store for Big + Tall Men

Read more
Zara Athleticz: Functional Performance In Minimalist, Sustainable Style
Zara athletes take to the streets, sporting its new Athleticz line.

Zara athletes take to the streets, sporting its new Athleticz line.

If there is a brand that knows how to adapt to sports trends, it would be Zara. The largest company in the Inditex Group’s eight retail lines, Zara is in a permanent state of renewal, managing up to 20 clothing collections a year. And Inditex, the largest retailer in the world, already has a long history of collections in which sport is the main protagonist, most recently with its home gym fitness equipment. 

Read more
Inside Tentree’s Fully Biodegradable Fall Jacket and Sustainably Sourced Line
Tentree's fully-biodegradable Nimbus Rain Jacket made of all compostable materials.

Tentree's sustainably-sourced, waterproof Nimbus Rain Jacket.

According to an EPA Office of Solid Waste assessment, the average American keeps an article of clothing for about three years. When these old clothes are tossed in the trash, they’re either burned, contributing to climate change through carbon dioxide emission, or they end up in a landfill, where they decompose for about 200 years, emitting carbon dioxide and even more potent methane gas. 

Read more