Introducing the Levi Strauss & Co. Collaboratory

There’s a new generation of apparel makers committed to the important issues of our time.
What if they could learn from industry insiders and veterans? What if they could work with a community of peers and experts to tackle social and environmental challenges?
Now they can. Introducing the Levi Strauss & Co. Collaboratory.
The LS&Co. Collaboratory presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs in the fashion and apparel industry to come together to collaborate on social and environmental solutions for their organizations.
Each year we’ll tackle a different topic, with this year’s focus on water— an area that is of critical importance to the apparel industry. Our business depends on it, so it’s only right that we do our best to conserve as much of this precious resource as possible and help others do the same. It’s why we just open-sourced our Water<Less™ technology and why we’re sharing our findings from our Screened Chemistry Program with our peers and competitors.
Fellows will be invited to San Francisco for a workshop at our Eureka Innovation Lab that’s equal parts inspiration and ideation. They’ll have access to experts, the knowledge of our most-trusted partners and specific feedback from LS&Co. mentors.
The hope is that by sharing what we’ve learned and working with the fellows to better understand their challenges, they’ll walk away from the experience with concrete ideas for reducing their own water footprint in a way that makes sense for their organization. Following the workshop, they’ll be eligible to receive up to $50,000 to implement their plans.
Really, it’s about empowering the next generation in our industry to do more than any of us could do alone. We’re rooting for these leaders because we see ourselves in what they’re setting out to accomplish. A sustainable future will take all of us.