Episode 4: Mei Hayashi (Tribalogy / Joria) trains and employs Jordanians and Syrians in embroidery and sewing techniques and sells their beautiful handmade items
Listen now
Description
For our fourth episode of the podcast, we take a slightly different look at the Syria crisis response by investigating the impact of directly training, employing, and empowering women from disadvantaged communities in social businesses. Our interview is with Mei Hayashi, a fashion designer from Japan who runs her own Tribalogy line that produces and sells beautiful bags, purses, homegoods, and clothing, often featuring handmade embroidery and/or Middle Eastern fabrics. Mei also helps run a sister non-profit social business brand called Joria which aims to support vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian women on the psychosocial level through offering workshops and creating products. Mei has been living in Jordan for eight years now, four of which were in Petra as a tour guide, and has great stories of life in Jordan. We also discuss the country's changes over the years, Mei's fashion history with Armani, running booths at Amman's bazaars, and the intricacies of being an ex-pat.  Please NOTE that Mei's interview represents her personal experiences and views, not the official stances of her organizations. For more information about the organizations, please visit the links above. Additionally, Tribalogy is partnered with host Colin Campbell's social business apparel brand, called Herfa Heritage, and produces great handmade embroidered pocket and patch designs for Herfa shirts and hats. Visit Herfa here.
More Episodes
We may have not posted for a while, but now we are back with a very engaging interview! For our fifth episode of the podcast we speak with Bothaina Qamar, a Livelihoods Specialist for UN Women (a United Nations organization). Bothaina was born and raised in Irbid, Jordan, went to university in...
Published 06/05/17
For our third episode of the podcast we have an engaging conversation with Lorenz Wild, the Director of Economic Opportunities and Market Development at the American-based INGO Mercy Corps. We talk about empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses, issues that stem from a dependence on imports...
Published 04/19/17