Ties That Matter
Written by Mary Welch Wednesday, April 07 2010
Snapshot: Laura Martin
Ties That Matter creates fashion accessories made from donated neckties. Products include handbags, totes, diaper bags, reusable grocery bags, and pillows.Ties That Matter provides paying jobs for unemployed women. It engages women at Atlanta refugee and outreach centers to participate in the multi-stage sewing process, hiring those who worked as seamstresses in their native countries.
Laura Martin is a co-founder, along with Cameron and Michael McCord and Elizabeth Chrane.
Womenetics: How did you come up with the idea for Ties that Matter?
Laura Martin: The idea for Ties That Matter grew out of a fund-raiser that two friends and I sponsored for the Outreach and Advocacy Center (OAC) of downtown Atlanta. We had volunteers make 1,000 small reusable shopping bags created, in part, from recycled neckties. We sold all of them and donated the proceeds ($6,000) to the OAC in 2008. In mid-2009, we made the decision to expand the idea and create a business that produced beautiful products with a mission to help others.
Womenetics: What was your original vision?
Martin: Our vision, from the very beginning, was to use recycled goods to help create jobs for women in need and to donate part of our proceeds back to support services for the homeless.
Womenetics: How many women are involved?
Martin: The number of women involved in Ties That Matter varies. As a fledgling company, we started with four women sewing and one more helping to design the bags. We also have two young interns from SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). In addition, there are many people, men and women, who have organized our “Toss Your Tie” collection events and helped gather thousands of neckties. It certainly doesn’t hurt that so many companies are going casual these days. Womenetics: Where can your products be found?
Martin: Our products are available through our website and are placed in several stores in Atlanta. We hope to expand the number of stores as we grow.
Womenetics: What are your thoughts on reducing poverty and homelessness?
Martin: We believe very strongly that a profitable business can be centered on a social mission. As a product of our times, we are dedicated to meeting the challenges that our community currently faces. We fully expect others to recognize the potential in combining good business principles, creative and imaginative products, and hiring women in need to make these products.
The economy has forced us to think in new ways how to help others, and now is an important time to address the unemployment and homelessness that continue to plague our community. In addition, environmental issues and the use of recycled materials continue to gather attention.
We think this is an extraordinary business model, and we are dedicated to making it work.
Womenetics: Do you want to take this concept to other cities?
Martin: We would love to use this business model in other cities. It is ideal, as the model is community based. Already, we have neckties being donated from across the country and even from outside the United States. We'd love to see the same circle of players become involved in other communities where churches and businesses donate ties, women in need learn to sew the bags, and businesses within the community sell the products.
Womenetics: Why should one buy your ties (outside of the charity aspect)?
Martin: Each of our products is exceptionally beautiful because the ties that we use are completely different. 
People buy our products because they are striking, well-made, and useful. The women who buy our products enjoy carrying something attractive and unique, and, in addition, are excited being a part of our story and the good works being done. We find that people feel like they become part of our community when they donate ties or purchase the products.
Womenetics: What is your product line?
Martin: Our current product line has eight different types of bags from mini-bags to travel totes and diaper bags. We also have special occasion bags and a yoga mat bag. New designs and specialty bags are always in development. We also find that the creation of custom bags with special neckties is a very popular choice.
Womenetics: Why neckties?
Martin: Neckties are the most beautiful recycled material available. The silks are gorgeous and the fabrics are all natural. Each bag is designed to combine colors and patterns in the most pleasing way possible. 
Womenetics: What is the biggest challenge working with your sewers?
Martin: We are dedicated to working with women in need. We have met several sewers through the OAC. We also work with refugee women who, while adjusting to a new country and culture, are also trying to make enough money to put food on the table for their families. There are, indisputably, challenges in working with this population.
Language is often a problem, but more importantly, these people do not have resources to draw from if things go wrong. If they become ill or if a child is sick, if they lose their transportation, or any number of other circumstances, they often simply cannot work. We are committed to working with these women in spite of these problems.
Womenetics: What is the one thing people need to know about these women?
Martin: These are wonderfully smart and dedicated women who are diligently searching for a hand up. They are immensely proud of the work they do with us, and it is a joy to work with them.
Womenetics: What is the impact of your business?
Martin: We are a new company, and in the big scheme of things, our impact has been minimal.
However, we each need to start somewhere, and the impact on those few can be counted in many ways: in the help to the women in need of work as a source of money and of dignity; in the churches, schools and businesses that have donated the ties that make this possible; in our environment as we choose recycled materials and seek to become a zero-waste company; in the help that the OAC has given to the homeless of our community; and last, but certainly not least, the impact on us – the founders of Ties That Matter.
We have each become more enlightened and better people from those who have touched us in support.
Mary Welch is Atlanta city editor of Womenetics: and a freelance writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dawson Times, Plan Your Meeting magazine, and Atlanta Business magazine. She was editor-in-chief of Atlanta Woman magazine and editor of Business to Business and Catalyst magazines.
