Inspiration for the Company Name Part I

Some of you may wonder, why ‘Jute and Jackfruit’? What does that mean? Well, the short answer to that is ….it’s alliterative, fun, and dynamic….

The longer answer is jute is one of the most prolific all natural fibers in the world, and underutilized in my opinion. Jackfruit, also unknown to a large extent is a juicy, unique tasting fruit found mostly in Asia and Latin America. The two together create a compelling combination – one that reflects the fresh seasonality of fashion coupled with the sustainability of JJF’s green mission. Finally, both just and jackfruit happen to come from a country close to my heart: Bangladesh.

My first encounter with jackfruit was on one of many trips to Bangladesh, working in international development. First at the guest house breakfast, I noticed these funny looking yellow fruits in a bowl. After inquiring as to what they were, I gave one a taste and was hooked ever since. Later in one of our non-profit offices, I was given the opportunity to break open a large jackfruit (featured above), which increased my admiration for the fruit and its exquisite interior.

Part of the inspiration for the name is because I believe that the solutions to climate change involve our entire global village and not just our own backyard. Bangladesh to me, epitomizes the environmental crisis, with 150 million people crammed in a small space, with so few economic opportunities and so much vulnerability to natural disasters and flooding (which appear to be increasing in severity). Plus, Bangladesh happens to grow jute naturally as well as jackfruit, thus providing a unique gateway to participation in the global economy.

The individual jackfruits are then picked out. One jackfruit can feed a whole family practically! I know it looks intimidating, maybe even bordering on ‘yuck’, but it is actually really quite tasty! I wish I could buy them here! Maybe someday….