Katie Schmidt, Founder of Passion Lillie (Interview 34/100)

Folks, today we have Katie Schmidt, Founder of Passion Lillie, a Fair Trade apparel brand really leveraging their brand to advocate for fair trade to push the industry in a more socially responsible and sustainable direction. She talks a lot about Fair Trade today and how that’s become a large priority in her decision making and operating process. There are links to Fair Trade as well as Passion Lillie in the show notes and the company mentions page. She also gives a well deserved and timely shout out to Joy McBrien, the Founder of Fair Anita, a jewelry & accessory brand also with a strong Fair Trade Federation foundation and based in Minnesota, so we’ve also added links to check out and support Fair Anita. 

Katie talks about how Passion Lillie started, how the industry has changed over time, and the impact that the Fair Trade Federation has had on herself and the business over the past 13 years. We talk about challenges, being adaptable, but also about how advocacy through community contributes to positive changes. 

She talks very highly about being part of The Fair Trade Federation and how it touches so many aspects of her business. It helps with advocacy and outreach. It helps shape internal company culture and processes. It helps with decisions about materials, partners, and manufacturing. As much as certifications and organizations like The Fair Trade Federation are known for being trusted sources of reputation that some customers look for in order to get a sense of company values, it’s also a tremendous assistance to help companies follow a blueprint that allows them to function in a socially responsible and sustainable way. It’s a resource for all helping companies like Passion Lillie to expand their reach and influence to push the boundaries of the apparel industry in a positive direction.

Katie also talks about the community of like-minded leaders and organizations that she’s become connected to through retail relationships, advocacy, and connecting to other Fair Trade businesses. Her shout out is to a kindred spirit of a business called Fair Anita based in Minnesota selling jewelry, accessories, and gifts while also giving back to the community and being mindful of their impact. It’s businesses like these and leaders like these folks that give us a little ray of hope that we can make a positive impact. 

Shout out to: 

• Joy O’Brien, Founder of Fair Anita

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