The Outland Denim Story: Building a sustainable, ethical and purposeful brand W/James Bartle

In this episode of the Digital Transformation & Leadership series, Danny talks to one of his favorite retailers, Outland Denim, an Australian fashion brand that was founded as an avenue for the training, employment, and career progression for women who had experienced exploitation.

Outland Denim’s story began about 10 years ago when Founding CEO James Bartle went to the cinema to see the film ‘Taken’. While a fictional film, it was an introduction to an industry that still exists today: the illicit US$150 billion human trafficking trade, also known as modern slavery.

As James began to research, he soon discovered the complexity of the problem and its prevalence all over the world; no nation is untouched. He had the opportunity to travel through Southeast Asia, and saw what the problem looked like on the ground. 

James discovered that in addition to sex trafficking, trafficking for labor was also a common threat within vulnerable communities. He learnt that once a woman has been rescued and reintegrated into the community, a sustainable career path is vital for securing her future.

Outland Denim was founded to offer that sustainable career path.

So can the fashion industry be the solution to some of the world’s most pressing global, social and environmental issues? We’ll hear some answers and a whole lot more on this episode with James Bartle, CEO at Outland Denim.