Bamboo Clothing–Do you Speak Green (an entrepreneurial idea)

Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass and has been growing in popularity because it has many unique properties and is more sustainable than most textile fibers. Bamboo fabric is light and strong, has excellent wicking properties, and is to some extent antibacterial.

Green clothing seems to be new concept. Yet, manufacturing clothes from bamboo seems more novel as a business venture. Entrepreneur Shishir launched a completely new webstore that offered eco-friendly clothing.

The online store allows the user to buy various types of products. It also offer green tips and affiliate business opportunities to interested people looking for distributorship, freelance agents and franchises.

We had an email interview with Shishir Goenka, the founder of Do U Speak Green?.

Q1. What prompted you to start this venture?

Our inspiration for Do U Speak Green came about due to the absence of smart looking & Organic Clothing in India. Most importantly, I have a passion for Wildlife & helping preserve our Natural Environment

Q2. Tell us something about green clothing…this sounds to be a very innovative concept.

Green Clothing has been gaining popularity rapidly in the US & EU. Pls see attached info about Organic & Bamboo Clothing.

Q3. Is there any government support to start such a business?

No.

Q4. What are the requirements that you had to fulfil to make it fully functional: infrastructure, IT, logistics, team members, etc?

We already have a factory in Tirupur where we produce garments for export, so we are using the same for production of these styles. For IT we have a new co – Pixel Studios, Logistics are manged by Blue Dart. Presently we are using the same team which we have for exports, but also plan to appoint further people as the project grows.

Q5. Talking about green clothing, what market size you are targeting?

We are targettting all eco conscious people – mostly in the age group 20 to 50 yrs.

Q6. What is the business model that you have adopted?

Online & Offline Sales.

Q7. Are there other players in the market providing similar services?

No.

Q8. What is the value of innovation in your business?

Do U Speak Green ? asks everyone to be a part of a movement to restore our natural environment. Not only is 10 % of sales directly going for conservation, the farmers & environment is being helped by organic cotton production and styles/prints also encourage Conservation.

Q9. How you market your services to the clients?

For Online we are targeting customers through Social Media, links with various sites & Google ads. For Offline we are stocking up in stores like Taj Safaris – 4 resorts in MP, The Ranthambhore Bagh Hotel, Club Mahindra Corbett National Park, Reni Pani Jungle Lodge – Satpura National Park, Mother Earth stores in Bangalore & Mumbai, The Bombay Store – PM Road,Mumbai, Nature’s Bounty – Calangute,Goa.

Q10. What is the scope of expansion and what is your vision about it?

We are adding different product lines & also expanding our markets. We have registered our Brand in the EU & India. We have also started separate webstores in USD ( www.douspeakgreen.com ) & Euros ( www.douspeakgreen.de ) for those markets.

Q11. Talking about your personal growth as an entrepreneur, how you see the internal change in you?

It gives immense satisfaction to be able to build a business model which is a semi social enterprise.

Q12. Any hard lesson that you learnt as an entrepreneur?

It is difficult to get acceptance for a New Brand, however good the product or the concept may be.

Q13. Any advice for future entrepreneurs from your personal and professional experience.

Follow your dreams, but with careful planning.