I am lucky enough to get answers to my questions from Ben, as well as Heather Hasson, the founder of FIGS. I hang up at the end of the conversation feeling excited and inspired by how genuine, friendly, and personal the people behind the brand are. While I am always proud to share my interviews here, I am especially proud of this one.
Skinny Suspenders: How long brand existed?
FIGS: We’ve been making ties since 2009.
Skinny Suspenders: What is significant about the name FIGS (Fashion Inspired Global Sophistication)?
FIGS: Our name is who we are. Fashion inspires the world to create. To work, to learn, to be confident, to feel good about themselves. Both our ties and our uniforms inspire others to succeed both in school and work, and motivate them to be their best. So that’s where we came up with the name FIGS; how fashion inspires the world to really be their best and actualize their potential.
Skinny Suspenders: How does the Threads for Threads program work?
FIGS: Threads for Threads is our initiative, of course, and it’s really the heart of our company. We created it to promote global education and inspire children across the globe to realize their dreams of getting an education and making their world, their community a better place, and being whoever they want to be. For every tie sold FIGS gives an entire school uniform to a child in need so that they can receive an education. Right now we are serving approximately 105 schools in primarily eastern Africa, Kenya, Tansania, and then also in Nepal.
FIGS: Our name is who we are. Fashion inspires the world to create. To work, to learn, to be confident, to feel good about themselves. Both our ties and our uniforms inspire others to succeed both in school and work, and motivate them to be their best. So that’s where we came up with the name FIGS; how fashion inspires the world to really be their best and actualize their potential.
Skinny Suspenders: How does the Threads for Threads program work?
FIGS: Threads for Threads is our initiative, of course, and it’s really the heart of our company. We created it to promote global education and inspire children across the globe to realize their dreams of getting an education and making their world, their community a better place, and being whoever they want to be. For every tie sold FIGS gives an entire school uniform to a child in need so that they can receive an education. Right now we are serving approximately 105 schools in primarily eastern Africa, Kenya, Tansania, and then also in Nepal.
All of the uniforms that we provide are handmade by local tailors in the communities where the students actually live. We are so happy to say not only do these ties promote education, not only do they make you look great, make the children look great, make everyone feel good about themselves, but they also provide jobs in those needy communities.
Skinny Suspenders: So it helps adult there, as well as the kids?
FIGS: Correct, we have people who work for FIGS not just here making the ties, but the family members of these children are helping make the ties. Local sewers, local weavers, every element of that uniform is produced in that community.
Skinny Suspenders: What do the school uniforms consist of – do they wear ties?
FIGS: All the children wear ties, which is why we chose to sell neckties. Heather was actually on a trip to Africa in 2009, which is where she was inspired to create FIGS, and while she was there she was overwhelmed and confronted with all of this poverty. In the midst of all of this poverty saw these school children who maybe in their normal day to day lives have anything but rags to wear, but when they go to school they have this uniform which is required to go to school. A lot of these communities actually have education that is provided, but if they don’t have a uniform they can’t go. She believes that everyone deserves an education, especially these children who need this education to make their community better, to make our world a better place. Just to see a necktie a symbol in these communities is a symbol of professional, a symbol of confidence, just as much to them as it is to us.
Skinny Suspenders: Essentially, it can be a reminder to us when we wear our FIGS necktie we can remember the kid we helped by buying that.
FIGS: Absolutely, and your tie purchase – whether it’s a necktie, bow tie, or scarf tie - directly translates into one necktie, a skirt or pants, and shirt, the whole uniform. The uniform just depends on that school. There’s no mass uniform that we provide. We go to the schools, we have contacts in every school community, and whatever their school colors is that’s the color of their uniform. It’s whatever is culturally appropriate for that community. But they do all wear ties. Its not commercialized uniforms, it’s completely customized.
Skinny Suspenders: Speaking of custom, can we get our FIG ties customized?
Skinny Suspenders: So it helps adult there, as well as the kids?
FIGS: Correct, we have people who work for FIGS not just here making the ties, but the family members of these children are helping make the ties. Local sewers, local weavers, every element of that uniform is produced in that community.
Skinny Suspenders: What do the school uniforms consist of – do they wear ties?
FIGS: All the children wear ties, which is why we chose to sell neckties. Heather was actually on a trip to Africa in 2009, which is where she was inspired to create FIGS, and while she was there she was overwhelmed and confronted with all of this poverty. In the midst of all of this poverty saw these school children who maybe in their normal day to day lives have anything but rags to wear, but when they go to school they have this uniform which is required to go to school. A lot of these communities actually have education that is provided, but if they don’t have a uniform they can’t go. She believes that everyone deserves an education, especially these children who need this education to make their community better, to make our world a better place. Just to see a necktie a symbol in these communities is a symbol of professional, a symbol of confidence, just as much to them as it is to us.
Skinny Suspenders: Essentially, it can be a reminder to us when we wear our FIGS necktie we can remember the kid we helped by buying that.
FIGS: Absolutely, and your tie purchase – whether it’s a necktie, bow tie, or scarf tie - directly translates into one necktie, a skirt or pants, and shirt, the whole uniform. The uniform just depends on that school. There’s no mass uniform that we provide. We go to the schools, we have contacts in every school community, and whatever their school colors is that’s the color of their uniform. It’s whatever is culturally appropriate for that community. But they do all wear ties. Its not commercialized uniforms, it’s completely customized.
Skinny Suspenders: Speaking of custom, can we get our FIG ties customized?
FIGS: You absolutely can. We do anything from small custom orders, to really big orders of thousands of ties. Every aspect of our ties is customizable: any detail – from the fabric, woven details, to the labels. Everything is made to your personal aesthetic. For example we do the Clinton Global Initiative, we’ve been making their ties for several years now. If you can dream it, we can make it. Every custom tie translates to a uniform as well.
Skinny Suspenders: So where are the actual FIG products made?
FIGS: Our ties are global just like our uniforms. Our fabrics are woven in the UK and Italy (woven from the UK and silk ties from Italy), and then we import the fabric and have all of the ties stitched here by all of our tailors in both New York and Los Angeles. Our cashmere scarf ties are made in the Himalayas in Nepal and the cool thing about that is it comes from the communities that we help and each scarf translates into a child’s uniform as well.
Skinny Suspenders: Do you think you’ll venture into other products other than ties or do you think you’ll stay focused on them?
FIGS: At this point, no. We are focused on making the best looking, the best priced, the best tie that we can. Making FIGS the best it can be.
Skinny Suspenders: If there brand could accomplish anything, what would it be?
FIGS: There are 120 million children in the world who don’t have access to an education, and our goal is to sell 120 million ties so that each and every one of them has the ability to go to school.
FIGS: At this point, no. We are focused on making the best looking, the best priced, the best tie that we can. Making FIGS the best it can be.
Skinny Suspenders: If there brand could accomplish anything, what would it be?
FIGS: There are 120 million children in the world who don’t have access to an education, and our goal is to sell 120 million ties so that each and every one of them has the ability to go to school.
Skinny Suspenders: How many kids have you helped so far?
Figs: Around 10,000 kids have been put in uniforms so far.
Figs: Around 10,000 kids have been put in uniforms so far.
Skinny Suspenders: Does the company ever try and go on trips.
FIGS: We try to do a trip every year. 2011 was Nepal, 2009 was Africa, and in 2012 we plan on going to Africa again. Every year we try to add new places, new schools, and expand our program as much as we can. The more ties we can sell, the more kids we can help. But it’s important for us to develop personal relationships with those schools. We like to follow-up, take photographs, see them on the day they get their uniforms, and really make sure every detail is taken care of. We have people in the community, such as teachers, who keep up with us and let us know what they need which is really great. It’s very personal.
Skinny Suspenders: You’re not blindly giving, you know who you’re helping and what it does for them.
FIGS: Yea, we’re there in their school playing soccer with them and running around, seeing what they need and seeing what difference it makes. There’s no better feeling in the world than to help these children.
Skinny Suspenders: You’re not blindly giving, you know who you’re helping and what it does for them.
FIGS: Yea, we’re there in their school playing soccer with them and running around, seeing what they need and seeing what difference it makes. There’s no better feeling in the world than to help these children.
Visit the site here: http://www.wearfigs.com/
