Where did JEBELI Market come from?

So glad you asked! Woolworths has Everyday Market, Bunnings has Bunnings Marketplace, Myer has Myer Marketplace, Coles has Best Buys, and JEBELI has… JEBELI Market! JEBELI Market is a sister brand to JEBELI, a leather accessories brand founded by Naz. Like the aforementioned examples, we host products from a variety of sellers. Unlike the supermarket giants and department stores, we’re in it to support refugee creatives looking to start their own businesses, and people seeking asylum in our community.

Who makes JEBELI Market-branded products?

Our JEBELI Market blankets are lovingly handmade by Ella, typically while she binge watches horror movies, Netflix thrillers, or her comfort watch - The West Wing. As Ella is not from a refugee background, all profits from the sales of our blankets are either reinvested into our work providing economic opportunities for refugees, or donated to our partner organisations.

Where do your printed products come from? Are they ethically made?

Our designs are printed on AS Colour products by an Australian printing company with facilities in Brisbane and Melbourne. AS Colour is a Melbourne-based brand with strong ethical credentials: they received the 3rd-best score in Baptist World Aid’s latest Ethical Fashion Guide, are rated ‘good’ on labour by Good on you, regularly audit their factories, and trace the majority of their supply chain. As a brand focusing on high-quality basics, they are the antithesis of fast fashion!

What exactly do you mean when you talk about ‘profits’?

Generally when we talk about profits - for example, when we say that all profits on a particular product are reinvested or donated - we mean sale price - (material cost + transaction cost). Note that material cost doesn’t include any compensation for time - these JEBELI Market-branded products really are a labour of love!

How are you providing economic opportunities to people from refugee backgrounds?

JEBELI Market exists to help refugee creatives start their own businesses by providing them a platform through which they can sell their products online, as well as support throughout the whole process. We don’t charge any listing fees, only a 5% fee on the sale price of items sold to help us cover our costs - the rest goes directly to the seller! We hope in the future to be able to offer classes and market selling opportunities to our sellers as well.

How are you practically supporting people seeking asylum?

We donate 50% of the profits from the sales of our JEBELI Market-branded products to our partner organisations, which work directly with people seeking asylum in their local communities. In the case of our collaboration ranges (such as the JEBELI Market x Romero Centre collection), 100% of profits are donated to the partner organisation in question.

So… are the owners of JEBELI Market making any money?

No. For now, this is a passion project for us that we’re pursuing alongside our regular jobs. This may change as the business grows and requires more of our time. Naz also has her leather goods brand JEBELI - please check it out!

Interested in partnering or selling with us?

Reach out at support@jebelimarket.com.au!