James Bartle – Founder and CEO of Outland Denim

After first learning about the issue of human trafficking by watching the film Taken, Outland founder and CEO James Bartle turned his knowledge into action after visiting Thailand and Cambodia to see the problem for himself.

It was during that first trip that he witnessed a very young girl on the streets, who convicted him to do something to help and protect vulnerable young women and girls exploited in the commercial sex industry.

After learning that a skill set and sustainable career path is vital for securing her future, James created the “Denim Project”, which would enable those girls who demonstrated an interest in sewing to put their new skills to use while earning a good wage.

In six short years, Outland Denim has been able to show that its social impact business model works: that it changes lives. But the key to changing more lives is building a successful rag trade business and scaling the impact, globally.

Outland Denim also has impeccable environmental credentials, seeing fit to create a sustainable product utilising the world’s best organic denim and other sound raw materials, while continuing to invest in the lives of its seamstresses.

Outland makes cool, comfortable, quality denim jeans that really are great to wear. They have become a much-loved brand in the Australian fashion industry and are now breaking into the US retail market.

“HANDOUTS JUST DON’T WORK, BUT GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL THEMSELVES OUT OF THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION HAS A REAL FLOW ON EFFECT ON THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, AND THEY GAIN A REAL SENSE OF PURPOSE.”

For more information visit http://www.outlanddenim.com/page/our-story/