Meet Holly Webb | Shop Owner + Freedom Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Holly Webb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Holly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I kept complaining to my husband that Williamsburg didn’t have a fair trade store – or any space that was telling the stories of life outside of Williamsburg, in an honoring way.

I had seen the impact of fair employment in the lives of families in Haiti and had made some changes to my own way of buying – out of this I wanted to invite others to consider the story on the other side of their purchasing choices.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My exposure to this conversation of ethical fashion came because I went to Haiti to serve a children’s home years ago. It was after realizing that over half of the world’s orphans still had parents who were unable to afford raising their children that I started to dig a little further into how we can be a part of bringing healing to the root, not just the symptoms.

I had no idea that there were things I was doing, brands I was supporting, ways I had become comfortable consuming back home, in Williamsburg, Virginia, that contributed to a system of injustice — one where a woman would work 80 hours a week and still not be able to afford raising her children. In fact, there are orphanages filled with children and non-profits who are supporting families simply because the providers’ work does not pay a wage they can survive upon. Much of this work falls within the fashion industry, where over 85% of the garment factory workers are women paid less than $2.50 a day.

As I worked in Haiti with Wings of Refuge, I got to personally see the impact social enterprises were having through providing skills, jobs, and truly caring for their artisans. They were people first businesses, understanding that if a business can only survive by unfair payment and treatment of employees, the business model is not working. The dream to start something grew. Not just something anywhere, but in my city, Williamsburg, Virginia.
When I started made, I knew that I didn’t want it to be only a fair trade shop. Not that a fair trade shop isn’t amazing — I am all about it and yes, we do sell goods and I think always will, because we absolutely love sharing the goods and stories of makers all around the world and connecting people to the makers. We believe mindful purchases from artisans, social enterprises, and businesses who pay fairly and care more for people than profit can make a beautiful difference. By the way, caring for people more than profit doesn’t mean you don’t care about profit! It just means that profit is not pursued at the expense of people.

However, another dream inside of this is that we would be used in serving people along their journey towards more ethical ways of doing every aspect of shopping. In other words, I don’t want to have only encouraged people to care about the makers, the stories, and how people were cared for when they are shopping with us, but no matter where they go. It’s easy (especially in the US) to be so disconnected from the cost others are paying for our excess. When we shop aware of the person who made it, we live a little more connected — a little more human and whole. We don’t just buy because it was cheap, a good deal, or to feel better, but because it makes the world better.

We don’t want to simply be a fair trade gift shop. We want to be challenging the way people shop and inviting them to a different way. This is hard, because you’re naturally challenging what is normal and accepted. This is personal and steps on toes — which is where I believe all real change happens. I am all about advocating for better wages, for more transparency, and for brands to be held accountable for the conditions of those making their clothes. But, what keeps me up at night is not that many of the world’s fashion companies care more for profit than people; unfortunately that doesn’t surprise me and fits in a society that elevates our desires to the rest of the world’s needs. What keeps me up at night is the massive inconsistency I see in what we as Americans give to vs. what we will truly give up for.

Ultimately, shopping ethically is about believing that the people making clothes are as important as those wearing them. Just because we have access to cheap, doesn’t mean it came at a cheap cost to someone else. It’s about deciding that people matter more than stuff — even if that means laying down the privileges we’ve become so accustomed to.

It’s about preferring others, living more connected, and often choosing the brands you support based off values — not status or names.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I loveeeee when people want to visit and they ask for local recommendations. I have a note on my phone full of my local favorites with my favorite drinks/dishes next to them, separated by genre of food.

Let’s see – the day’s beginning all depends on if they are a breakfast person – if so, we would start at a classic – Five Forks Cafe (a little whole-in-the-wall that is a Williamsburg staple for locals).

Then, good coffee because while their food is a great start to the day, their coffee is not the best. For coffee, we would head to The Bake Shop before enjoining a nice walk through Colonial Williamsburg where they would get to take in a little of the history.

For lunch, Culture Cafe – right in CW and full of delicious plates and great drinks.

Then, we would swing by made to shop and maybe join in a workshop, before grabbing coffee and an afternoon sweet something at The Coffeehouse, where all the coffee is locally roasted and most of it is fair trade before taking the afternoon to:

Depending on the whether, personality, and interests: 1, thrift and antique. There are lots of great spots in Williamsburg. 2, go for a bike-ride. There are a few beautiful trails. 3, visit the local arts museum or go visit a making exhibit of Colonial Williamsburg – glass blowing is my fave!

Then, we would get cleaned up before meeting up with some friends for dinner at La Tienda for Spanish tapas and the best sangria in the world. We would finish off with their almond cake and espresso.

The next day would bring the Farmer’s Market in Toano, a stop by Hohl for coffee and breakfast, a walk through York River State Park, and lunch at Anatolia for amazing Mediterranean food, we would absolutely get the hummus platter to start. Then, for afternoon coffee — my personal favorite, Column 15, where all the coffee is locally roasted and all of it is fair trade. After chatting over afternoon coffee, we would swing into a cute plant shop next door.

The afternoon would bring the same opportunities as the day before.

And, for dinner — either Amiraj for the best Indian food in town or Aticha for Thai. We would finish the time together with Williamsburg’s best ice cream at Shoofly.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When we first started, I had no idea what I was doing. All my background was in the non-profit and Church world and retail is a little different. I am grateful for the local businesses who opened their doors to us and hosted us for pop-ups and quickly became friends.

Gosh, so many others. Bethany, our first employee ever who would pop-up at markets and sometimes sell one thing. She is a champ.

My mom who supports made with steady orders, baked goods, and cleaning the shop every week.

Our artisan partners – it is absolutely a privilege to sell their beautiful creations, share a little of their stories, and to be able to come alongside their families and futures in such a powerful way.

Lastly, my husband has been the biggest fan — willingly making sacrifices because he believes in working to provide fair employment for those who without access face vulnerabilities.

Website: https://www.madeglobal.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/made_global/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/made.global.co/

Image Credits
personal – Ali Williamson next pictures – 1. me 2. me 3. Ali Williamson 4. Kristiana Neiswender 5. Ali Williamson 6. me 7. me 8. me