Changgih Designs

Changgih Designs is the result of two sleepless, passionate moms who dreamed of making cute crafts for their kids during nap time. That thought of mommy craft time turned into an idea of capturing pieces of the culture and blending it with present day fashion to design new pieces that celebrate the heritage of Borneo. Because Changgih was founded by two new moms, we wanted to give other moms an opportunity to support their families without having to leave their homes so we decided to produce our items in villages around the area, paying fair wages each time. 

Our culturally inspired collections of handbags, wallets, accessories, scarves and clothing are all made with the utmost attention to detail by artisans in villages all over Sabah. We work with our artisans to come up with styles that are beautiful and durable, also providing training to new artisans as we add to our team. These artisans aren't just people who make Changgih's products, they're our friends. 

In making this dream become a reality, we realized that our passion to help Sabahans could be fulfilled. With that we began our Give10toSabah program. Each time you buy a Changgih Designs item, you are automatically giving back through this program.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Our guiding principles help us to stay accountable and focused on our initial vision of preserving culture and creating sustainable income for locals.

Community Focused- Promote the positive, respect the culture.

Efficient- On time culture, communicate well.

People First- Respect buyers, artisans and staff.

Strategic- Take orders only if capable, plan well, give reasonable timelines.

High Quality- Train well, encourage even better and quality check twice.

Financially Stable- Minimize waste, monitor costing, complete market testing.

How can we use fashion for good?

The number one way we use fashion for good is generating jobs. According to Euromonitor International, as of 2016 the apparel market was worth around $1.3 trillion in yearly global sales. If that money was paying ladies and men working in fair conditions for fair wages, we could impact a huge number of people and greatly improve their living conditions. Currently the majority of the clothing we purchase is made in sweat shops in horrendous conditions. Workers are paid very little and face extremely dangerous work conditions. What if we could change that? That would be using fashion for good! For Changgih, the number one way we want to use fashion for good is to produce jobs that provide a fair income, a safe environment and opportunities to grow. 

#bethechange

What does that look like for us?

Our head artisans are asked to help set the production wage on all of our products. We believe asking these head artisans to lead this conversation empowers them to choose a fair wage and take care of one another.  Ladies work in the comfort of their homes at whatever hour suits them, and they can choose how many items they want to make in any given period. If you’re a mom you know how tough it can be to juggle picking kids up from school, cooking, cleaning and work. We have received overwhelming feedback from our ladies that this is one of the top reasons they love Changgih- they have very flexible work hours and work load.

Trainings as a family in a supportive environment - We schedule trainings at least monthly, but sometimes as often as weekly, to train our artisans on new skills. These classes are taught by our head artisans which creates an environment that is focused on learning and isn’t intimidating.

What are some of the necessary elements of a fashion brand that strives to preserve culture?

Designs are inspired by the original culture, not handicraft items or products produced by other businesses. Time is spent on R&D and there is change in the design whether it’s color, shape or pattern in order to create a new product that is not a replica, but an item inspired by a cultural element. 

Stories are Stored and Shared!

What can we do to conduct business in a way that respects and honors the culture?

 With each item we produce, including our textiles, we always produce alongside locals. We engage with contacts all over the State in many different people groups who are our go-to cultural experts. Our first step after sketching a design, is to meet with one of these individuals to discuss the design. If there are elements that are not a pure representation of the culture or could be offensive, we are able to find that out during this R&D Phase.  We ask multiple contacts in a people group for their feedback prior to proceeding with a design. This process is  one of the most important elements of our business because it is the time we find out how to respect and honor the culture as we share it with all of you!

Changgih’s goals for the future as it relates to cultural preservation:

Continued emphasis with connecting culture and fashion. By ensuring to share and learn the stories and history behind the designs we create together as a Changgih Community.