Green Business Model: Indigenous Designs

Joining us this week is Scott Leonard, CEO and Co-founder of Indigenous Designs Corporation, a leading apparel brand and producer of hand-knit, natural fiber clothing. Scott is responsible for directing the Indigenous Brand identity and Indigenous private label production model. Founded in 1994, Indigenous Designs develops and markets premium quality apparel to high-end fashion retailers around the world. These fine garments are designed in-house and produced to specification by artisan cooperatives located primarily in South America, Guatemala and India. In 2009, the company was selected by Apparel Magazine as a “Top Innovator,” in the fashion industry. The company has received the national Socially Responsible Business award from Co-op America. Scott and Indigenous Designs continue to be heavily involved in promoting sustainability in collaboration with Organic Exchange, the OTA, SVN, BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), and B-Corp. Scott is an ardent advocate about the positive power of business for the benefit of people and the planet. He has been a pioneer in the areas of fair trade apparel, organics, social justice and the sustainability movement. Scott has served two terms on the Steering Committee for the Organic Fiber Council, where he collaborated with the USDA to help set the standards for organic cotton. Scott has also worked with Root Capital to establish a breakthrough financial model for funding the fair trade Artisan apparel sector in South America. In 2005, Scott founded the Green Steps program to raise business awareness of sustainability issues.