Responsibility That Lives in Our Bones
We’ve created a fashion system that runs fast, demands more, and often forgets the very people who keep it moving. The cost of that? Fragile supply chains, reputational risk, and a system that quietly perpetuates poverty.
At SOKO Kenya, we believe a factory cannot exist separately from its community. What happens inside our walls is shaped by the people outside them, and vice versa.
What would happen if the fashion industry put people first, not as a marketing message, but as a steady, consistent principle behind every decision?
We’ve created a fashion system that runs fast, demands more, and often forgets the very people who keep it moving. The cost of that? Fragile supply chains, reputational risk, and a system that quietly perpetuates poverty.
At SOKO Kenya, we believe a factory cannot exist separately from its community. What happens inside our walls is shaped by the people outside them, and vice versa.
This is what led to the creation of the SOKO Community Trust Stitching Academy. Youth unemployment in Kenya remains a major challenge, and the burden is disproportionately felt by women. In urban areas, over a quarter of active women are jobless, and among young women, the rate can reach 40% (World Bank). The Academy was created to bridge that gap: to give young people a pathway into dignified, skilled employment.
Over three months, trainees gain practical sewing skills as well as the life skills that build confidence, professionalism, and the ability to navigate formal employment.. More than 500 young people have graduated, and around two-thirds now work in apparel manufacturing. For many, it’s their first step toward financial independence, and the point at which a family’s future begins to shift.
These are not side projects; they are woven into the life of the factory itself. The Stitching Academy strengthens the people who become the heartbeat of our production floor, proving that when a factory invests in its community, it invests in its own resilience.
None of this is charity. It’s accountability, a belief that factories and brands carry responsibility for the people and communities connected to their work. When brands choose factories that operate this way, they’re not just sourcing a product; they’re supporting stability, dignity, and resilience throughout the supply chain.
The impact is simple but profound: when people are given opportunity, support, and respect, the benefits ripple beyond the factory floor. Families thrive, communities strengthen, and a more responsible way of producing becomes possible.