Luxury, sustainable fashion for the future of people and planet
1 People
Interview with Rea, founder of @1peopletogether
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we had the pleasure of having a chat with Rea Tjoa Algreen, founder of 1People, a sustainable luxury fashion brand ✨👚♻️
Rea is exactly what she appears to be, a strong woman, resolute, determined and still with deep values that gave her the support she needed to start 1People Planet.
😍 Are you curious?! Scroll down and be inspired by her story! 👇🏼💬
Hi Rea! Thank you for the interview, how are you? Please, say hello to the TA-DAAN community and briefly introduce 1 People and its mission to the planet?
Hi, my name is Rea Tjoa Algreen and I am the Founder of and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at 1 People. We are a sustainable luxury fashion brand with a strong DNA rooted in Danish design and minimalism. We use only the best sustainable and ethically produced materials with the highest quality to create our products.
Our goal is to give more back than what we take. 1 People’s overall mission is to alleviate poverty and to make the world a better place for all.
It sounds like a really ambitious project! What is your “why”? What pushed you to launch your own brand?
What inspired me and my co-founder and husband, Jonathan Tjoa Algreen to start 1 People came from a wish to change the way business is done. We could see that a fast and very effective way to make a positive change in the world could be done through business. So our mission and business concept came before we had any idea of which product or service we wanted to offer.
WHY FASHION BRAND
The reason we ended up with fashion was among others my own struggle to find clothing that is sustainable, stylish and of high quality. That inspired us to create sustainable, minimalist capsule collections that are contemporary, timeless and can be easily mixed and matched with anything. We understood that I was not the only woman who struggled with this and thus we wanted 1 People to be the sustainable fashion solution for women who seek style and sustainability.
There are many women in our community that can take inspiration from your experience. Can you tell us something more about your story, career and your choice of moving from Denmark to the US?
Born and raised in Denmark to a Danish mother and an Indonesian father, I grew up learning to see the world in different perspectives. This upbringing influences my character and therefore, shapes my personality with strong values. I have always had a strong urge to make a positive impact in the world. For me it started with a focus on animals and nature but quickly transformed into a strong interest in and focus on creating a sustainable world, where people and the planet can flourish.
Rea at work
I took a bachelor degree in Psychology and International Studies, which was when we began discussing different ideas on how we can boost a positive change in the world. Jonathan and I saw a world that needed a new paradigm that guides the way we utilise our natural resources and the way we treat our fellow human beings: we thought businesses could contribute to this change, as they have muscles and means to really make changes in the world.
AMERICAN DREAM
My move to the US is a natural next step in making 1 People a global success. We believe there are huge untapped market opportunities in the US. We are also convinced that we can find great talents: indeed we cannot do this alone, we need dedicated and visionary people around us.
“We should all, men and women alike, be measured by our skills and experience on the job, not by our gender”
Rea Tjoa Algreen – founder of 1 People
You say you are driven by your family and their unique views on the world. Tell us something about them.
I am definitely driven by our two lovely daughters. They have made our lives better in every way and inspired us to do more good in the world. I am no doubt that these young generations will reach even higher, they will revolutionize so many things and come up with innovations for the betterment of all living on this planet.
Rea spending time with her daughter
Women aren’t often in roles of leadership, how is it like being a woman and running a business? Have you ever felt like your career path could have been easier if you were a man? Why?
While it is true that there are some systemic disadvantages towards women in certain cultures, this has never been something I was up against growing up in Denmark. I believe women nowadays are as skilled and competent as men.
We should all, men and women alike, be measured by our skills and experience on the job, not by our gender. When we only focus on gender we have a tendency to lose the main point, which is qualifications.
As a businesswoman, I am lucky to have been surrounded by supportive people and a conducive environment. Hopefully I can inspire others to follow their passion.
Do you want to discover more items from 1 People? 👚👇🏾
Find these and many more pieces on 1 People shop!
*Please note that this post is a paid post. Branded contents support our editorial work.
We want you to know that we only recommend brands that we truly believe in.
More reads about
Independent sustainable fashion brands: Les Izmoor, Pistil
Upcycling designers/ projects: Reincarnation, Tobia Zambotti
Sustainable fashion platforms: Must Had, Appcycled, Conscyou
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