On Purpose is an initiative to teach a group of 150 women in Masoro, Rwanda to become a profitable & sustainable supplier to Kate Spade & Company’s brands as well as to the fashion industry. The On Purpose model is structured as an independent social enterprise that’s employee-owned - meaning that it’s mostly female workforce is being empowered to make decisions about the future of the factor. The factory’s profits are equally shared between the employees, the community via grants, and the business through investments into the factory. Members of Kate Spade & Company team go to Masoro to teach their technical expertise to the employees.
In addition, Kate Spade & Company contributes annually to a community project. It has built 3 playgrounds on which 2,000 Masoro children play and have also built a community center that serves 20,000 people in the region with an internet cafe, a computer lab for students, and a full arts and music center.