Innovation

As a company, Purple Buddha Project (PBP) was built to be a multi-faceted enterprise. It creates a quality piece of jewelry with a message and meaning, while also establishing three streams of giving back. Upcycling metals from weapons of conflict allows for education and advocacy around the history and genocide within Cambodia. PBP works exclusively with fair trade artisan groups to provide livable income to its artisans who hand-craft each item. A portion of the proceeds from each piece sold provides 9 meals to Cambodian youth living in poverty. By building these three elements directly into the business plan, Purple Buddha Project lives up to its motto of using design and creative thinking to bring change to the world.

Inspiration

At 19, Purple Buddha Project founder Forrest Curran took time off from studying at the University of Texas at Austin to travel the world and explore new areas. One of the first places that he went to was Cambodia. He was taken in by the lack of outside influence within Cambodia. He also learned more about the history of conflict and the influence that it had on the people of Cambodia. As the second most bombed area globally, Cambodia still has remnants of past wars in the forms of bullets and bombs scattered throughout its lands. Curran wanted to focus on how a business could be profitable, help the people of Cambodia, and also bring himself happiness in his work. With a family background in silversmithing, he looked at the works being created by local metal artisans. What he found were mostly spoons and items that were not doing well in market. Curran presented prototypes of jewelry designs to the artisans. They had the craftsmanship and he brought a knowledge of what could be more marketable. Working together, they were able to create new work that turned materials from something once destructive into a source of income and beauty.

Overall impact

The work of Purple Buddha Project has brought more attention to the history of Cambodia, through the production of beautiful craft. This has allowed more people to discover the impact of past genocide and civil wars that the country is persevering through. It is also providing sustainable income for the people of Cambodia. By partnering with schools to provide meals to youth, it is looking at the ways to improve the knowledge and health of the next generation. As founder Forrest Curran stated, the company “works with the past, present, and future to make real change within Cambodia."

Business benefit

Rather than focusing on traditional forms of marketing, Purple Buddha Project looks at promoting viral positivity. In a social media world that is quick to build upon negativity, the company has used its tenants for change that are part of its DNA as a ways to inject good stories and shared “word of mouth” online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. As founder, Curran’s decision to embed himself in Cambodia has made the business efforts more successful. There was a learning curve involved in making the move, but it also increased local, face-to-face communication and allowed him to see change happening first hand.

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Social and environmental benefit

Many of the artisans working with Purple Buddha Project are single mothers or people working two jobs. The materials are brought to the artisans who are given a quota to deliver by the end of the month. This allows them to make their own schedules around family and other income sources, while making a fair wage for their craft. Partnering with Food For Thought, a portion of the profits goes back to provide meals for children at schools in Cambodia. Last year, they were able to donate over 30,000 meals.

Interview

Forrest Curran, Founder