Founded by Sarah Chayes, Arghand is a cosmetics cooperative-meets-company. Chayes worked for NPR (National Public Radio) as a correspondant in Afghanistan and has stayed there ever since.
The spark for starting the business is outlined on the Arghand website: "Given the abundance of lush fruits and exotic herbs that have grown in the orchards and fields of southern Afghanistan for millenia, the need for sustainable economic development in the area, the ravages of the opium economy and the difficulty of transporting fresh fruit, Chayes and a group of Afghan friends got a great idea: Why not transform the exquisite produce, long the fame of the region, into high quality bath and body products, thus adding value while stabilizing the products for export?"
And that's exactly what Arghand does. Some of this social business' products include soap stones, soap pebbles, healing balm, healing salve, body lotion, face cream and body oil. The goal is, of course, to create positive social change in the Afghan communities from which the oils and raw materials are sourced.
Contact Information
Arghand website
Arghand on Facebook
Arghand on Twitter
Cosmetic Cooperatives
Arghand Sources Soap and Skincare Materials from Kandahar, Afghanistan
Trend Themes
1. Social Enterprise Beauty - The trend towards socially responsible beauty products and Arghand's goal of creating positive social change provides opportunities for the creation of similar enterprises.
2. Community Sourced Cosmetics - Arghand's use of locally sourced raw materials opens up opportunities for other businesses to build on strong community relationships and support local economies.
3. Ethical Cosmetics Movement - Arghand's focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing may inspire a wider movement in the cosmetics industry towards ethical practices.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetics Industry - Existing cosmetics companies could potentially incorporate similar ethical practices in their sourcing and production to appeal to socially conscious consumers.
2. Social Enterprise Industry - Arghand's business model may inspire the creation of more social enterprise companies that focus on socio-economic development and positive social change.
3. Community Development Industry - Arghand's success in utilizing local resources and empowering communities may encourage growth in the community development sector as a whole.