SOKO Kenya’s Beyond Fast Fashion Talk Inspires Students to Rethink the Industry

The Social Impact Lab was proud to host an inspiring talk with Jo Maiden, Winchester School of Art Alumna and founder of SOKO Kenya, for her talk Beyond Fast Fashion: A New Model for the Industry. The session offered a powerful and personal insight into what it really takes to build an ethical fashion business that balances purpose with commercial success.

Jo shared the story behind SOKO Kenya, a pioneering social enterprise working with artisan makers in Kenya to produce high-quality garments and lifestyle products while prioritising fair pay, dignified work, and long-term community impact. She spoke candidly about the challenges of disrupting traditional supply chains, building trust with global brand partners, and ensuring that sustainability is embedded into every aspect of operations – from people to production processes.

The talk moved beyond theory, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at how SOKO Kenya operates in practice. From transparent manufacturing and investment in skills development to environmental responsibility and long-term partnerships, Jo demonstrated how fashion can be both commercially viable and socially responsible. Her reflections on leadership, resilience, and staying true to values in a competitive industry resonated strongly with the audience.

Students were challenged to think critically about fast fashion and the systems that underpin it, but also left feeling hopeful – inspired by a real-world example of an alternative model already working at scale. The thoughtful questions and discussions that followed reflected just how impactful the session was.

More than a conversation about fashion, the session was a reminder that business can be a force for good when it is designed intentionally. Through Jo Maiden’s story and the work of SOKO Kenya, students saw firsthand that meaningful change in global industries is not only possible – it is already happening.