20/11/2021
D-4 before the take over of SbS by two sisters from 🇬🇧
Perdita (or Perdy) & Portia Stratton ❤️
➡️ Portia has worked in the humanitarian sector for nearly 20 years, coordinating the clearance of land mines and other small munitions in countries such as Pakistan, Iraq, Gaza, Vietnam (to name a few) and is now based in Cambodia working with Norwegian people’s aid in continuing this work. She will take more of a backseat roll in the running of the business.
➡️ Perdy has a more varied work history, Having spent over 10 years working in hospitality management. Dissatisfied with this type of work she returned to university as a mature student to study Conservational Biology & Ecology. With the goal of working to protect endangered species and habitats. While this remains very dear to her heart the degree brought fresh clarity to the idea that untill we can address and change the ways our own species interacts with the world around it: how we consume and produce and manage our own waste, the task of preserving and protecting our natural world is made much more complex.
Both sisters became increasingly aware of the impact the west’s fashion industry has on Asia, wether it’s walking through markets and seeing all the clothing deemed not fit for our stores or reading about the fashion waste (often fabrics varying degrees of plastic content) being burned as cheap fuel for brick kilns. They were motivated to make a business to address the issues they saw.
❤️While they very much love the business as is, they are excited about the potential to grow the business with a long term goal of creating a social enterprise focused on giving back to the country, it's people and the environment♻️
They already have ideas on exciting new products add to Step by Step line up, but these will probably have to wait till they've settled in and go to know the business and it's customers!
Wish a warm welcome to Perdy & Portia ! 🤗❤️
