Last year, Sophia Bush stumbled across our Market Bag and after she purchased a few of her own, she shared with her friends and fans the story of the co-op we work with in Bangladesh. When we reached out and talked with her, we learned more about her work as an actress and director, but also about her long history of activism, especially in regards to women in the developing world. Growing up in California, she was drawn very early on to the story of Martin Luther King Jr., and since then she has been shaping her own story. Her parents shared with her their work ethic and their strong belief that, when it comes to getting a job done, she should “be willing to do anything.” She says that, in her household, “if you wanted a job, you had to be willing to start at the bottom. Make coffee? Be willing. Take out trash and mop floors? Be willing. You couldn’t be too proud for any task.”

Today, she focuses her energy to advocate for a myriad of causes including human rights and environmental initiatives because, in her words, “We all bleed the same blood. We all have hopes, dreams, fears, and wishes. We all live on the same planet. We all have to care for it, and care for one another … And we can do that through acts of kindness every day. We can do that by choosing to speak out against inequality and injustice. And we can do that by being conscious in terms of our choices, consumerism included.” It is this shared sense of responsibility which made it clear that Sophia would be an incredible advocate for our newest endeavor.

It seemed natural for us to approach her to help launch our Defend Tomorrow Initiative and our first campaign, The Bangladesh Sewing Academy. We asked Sophia to advocate for the campaign by customizing one of our Market Bags, which she did, in her own elegant way. For every $5 that you invest in the Bangladesh Sewing Academy you'll be entered to win the “Be The Change” Market Bag (featured on this page) that she designed featuring the Gandhi quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” along with her own signed drawing.

Join with us and with Sophia by investing in the Defend Tomorrow Initiative to create lasting change by taking action today.

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