Motif Handmade is an exceptional fabric company in Bangladesh providing luxurious handwoven and handcrafted fabrics for discerning fashion designers. The artisans who comprise the tight knit family of employees utilize rare weaving techniques that have been passed down through many generations. Founder and fabric designer, Jackie Johnson, has a longstanding and heart-centered commitment to to environmental and social justice. Her fair trade company was producing earth-friendly fabrics long before green became fashionable. Not only are the yarns made from organic or recycled fibers, Motif Handmade rescues young women from sex trafficking, providing jobs and training.
Clearly Presentable has worked closely with Motif for several years, redesigning and rebranding the company twice as the business has transformed and aligned with the founder’s deepest passions – fabric design and community.
The “Before” example below was developed when Motif was focused on creating finished and bespoke products in 2014, including handwoven scarves and an an array of boho accessories.But when the pandemic brought operations to a standstill in 2020, Jackie, who is always creating and looking for ways to benefit both her artisans and customers, sat down and got to work to shift the business away from finished products and niche down and become a fabric company. With such a dramatic shift, and a completely new audience, the entire brand went through a second Discovery and rebranding process during lock down.
With a fierce desire to protect Motif’s artisan community half a world away, Jackie enrolled in SheTrades, a kickass global organization that provides free guidance from creative leaders in fashion to women-owned fair trade businesses across the world. During this collaborative season, I had the great pleasure of working with Aiden O’Neil, a professional fashion and documentary photographer, who provided generous input and insider advice from his home in Dublin, Ireland.
The rebranded, redesigned, and complete rebuilt e-commerce website reflects the remarkable transformation of Jackie’s business with enhanced e-commerce functionality specific to the unique requirements for importer and wholesale clients. Jackie is well on her way and positioned as a creative and collaborative educator and partner to her new audience of fashion designers
