Can you please tell me a little bit about yourself and your Social Enterprise Worn Again?
Cyndi Rhoades
I”ve been in England for 16 years and was born in Columbus, Ohio. I now live on a canal boat with solar panels and a cat called Parsley.I began my career as a film maker in music videos but then wanted to do something that was more in line with my developing personal beliefs about the world, particularly globalisation issues, like poverty and climate change. I set up Anti-Apathy, a sustainable lifestyles organisation in 2002, which aims to engage new audiences in social and environmental issues through lifestyle. We help people with ideas of things they can do in their day to day lives to make a difference, like switching to renewable energy for their homes or getting an ethical bank account. Out of this grew the idea of Worn Again, a company that ‘upcycles’ new products out of disused materials which would otherwise go to landfill, like airline seat covers, decommissioned train uniforms and hot air balloons.
Worn Again works with large companies, such as Eurostar and Virgin, to find creative solutions to their textile waste materials (not paper, glass, or plastics) and design products for them which can be made of the waste. We also have a consumer collection which is available primarily online, including computer sleeves, jackets, bags and wallets made from Eurostar uniforms and Virgin hot air balloons.
Our vision is to transform waste and manufacturing patterns by saving tonnes of waste from going to landfill and also to revive jobs and manufacturing right here in the UK.  After our first few years making our products in China and then Portugal, we have just launched our first range that has been ‘RE:Made the UK’, which we’re very proud of. It is slightly more expensive to manufacture here because of higher labour costs, but by doing so, we reduce carbon emissions by producing closer to home, because less long-distance transportation is needed.
Worn Again
What makes your social enterprise a success?
We’ve identified a problem in the world and created a business solution to solve it. There has to be a need first, in order for it to work, along with many other factors.
Some people decide they want to do something meaningful in the world so they decide to work for a charity. For me, I get inspiration from using business as a platform for creating real and positive change. It’s an exciting time to be doing so. A few years ago, it was difficult for us to get our foot in the door at any large company. Now they are calling out for new ways of achieving their sustainability goals. Ultimately though, these solutions need to be cost effective for them.
Our philosophy is that creativity and innovation are both needed to address the world’s biggest problems, like climate change and poverty. This seems to be a successful formula.
What are the big challenges that your enterprise faces?
The biggest challenges are what face most start up companies – raising finance in the early days and building a team to help take the business to scale, meaning the bigger we get the more of a difference we will make.
Over the past year we have evolved the focus of the business so that we now concentrate more on developing products for large companies than for individual consumers. This significant development has made a big difference in terms of
has led to strong relationships with some big companies which will lead to larger orders than if we had only focused on consumers.
Over the past year we have changed our focus so that we now concentrate more on developing products for large companies than for individual consumers. To do this, we have set up strong relationships with some big companies, which will help ensure a successful future for the company.
4Â In your current role what significant learnings have you had?
I might need a few pages for this one!
I’ve had to learn how to look after all parts of our business, from administration and managing people to marketing and fulfilling orders. I have learned about the design, development and manufacturing of products. It’s really useful to understand every aspect of your business so that as the team gets bigger, you will have an understanding of what is involved in all of the company’s roles.
I have learnt many, many lessons and continue to do so every day. I didn’t go to business school so I have had to learn the basics through experience, working with mentors, and surrounding myself with talented and experienced people.
What advice would you give to a social entrepreneur starting out?
My advice for someone setting up his or her own business is to make sure it is something they are doing because they feel the world needs it, not just because it is an opportunity to make a fortune. The world is changing quickly and I strongly believe that the businesses which are being set up to solve problems and address social, economic and environmental injustices are the ones which will take us into the 21st century, and survive.
If you fail along the way, you learn. In the end, determination will get you a long way.
What was your favourite book as a child?
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (even though I’m a vegetarian).
Tags: Anti-Apathy, Cyndi Rhoades, social enterprise, upcycles and recycles, Worn Again