Janji facts for kids
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| Industry | Running clothes |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 3, 2012 |
| Founder | Michael Burnstein and David Spandorfer |
| Headquarters |
Boston
,
U.S.
|
Janji is a company that makes running clothes. It's based in Boston, USA. What makes Janji special is that it's a "socially conscious" company. This means they care about helping people. They sell clothes with cool designs that show different communities around the world. These designs represent countries where Janji is working to help. The word "Janji" means "promise" in the Malay and Indonesian languages.
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How Janji Started
Janji was created by two friends, Michael Burnstein and David Spandorfer. They were students on the cross-country running team at Washington University in St. Louis. In 2010, they were traveling to a big running competition. During this trip, they had an idea: what if they could start a running clothes company that also helped people?
Building the Company
Over the next two years, their idea grew. They brought in David Hamm as their main designer. Ken Fairleigh joined to manage how the company would work. Together, they turned Janji into a real and growing business.
In 2011, their hard work paid off. They won a top prize in a competition at Washington University. This prize gave Janji $15,000 to help them get started. Later that year, they won another competition. This time, they earned $20,000 more for their company.
First Products and Growth
In May 2012, Janji launched its first line of products. They started selling their clothes at a running store in St. Louis, Missouri. Their first clothing designs were inspired by two countries: Kenya and Haiti.
During the summer of 2012, Janji clothes slowly became available in more running stores. Today, you can find Janji products in over 200 stores across the United States.
The Name Change
The company's first name was "Edele." But people found it hard to say. They often confused it with the singer Adele. So, the co-founders decided to change it. They chose "Janji," which means "promise" in Malay. This name stuck and is what the company is called today.
Janji's Clothes
Janji's first collection included shirts and shorts. These were designed with colors and patterns from the flags of Haiti and Kenya. They made two types of shirts and two types of shorts for both guys and girls. For example, the women's shorts for Haiti had the country's national colors and bird.
Today, Janji offers many different types of running gear. They sell short-sleeved and long-sleeved tops. They also have shorts, tights, pants, and accessories. These accessories include headbands and hats. All their products are for both women and men. Their designs represent six different countries: Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, Tanzania, the U.S., and Kenya.
How Janji Helps Others
Janji works with special organizations in the countries they support. When someone buys a piece of Janji clothing, a part of that money goes directly to one of these charity groups. These groups work to solve important problems, especially related to clean water.
Helping Haiti
In Haiti, Janji partners with water.org. This group helps bring clean water to people in developing countries. Thanks to this partnership, a community called Bayas received a clean water pump. This pump helps stop diseases like cholera, which can spread from dirty water. When you buy a piece of Haiti-themed clothing, it helps provide one year of clean water for a person in Haiti.
Helping Kenya
Janji also works with water.org in Kenya. In Kenya, many people don't have good sanitation (clean ways to deal with waste). Now, more people have access to better sanitation. This is thanks to water.org's programs that help schools and homes get safe water. Each piece of Kenya-themed clothing helps provide one year of water for a person or group in Kenya.
Helping Peru
In Peru, Janji teams up with Living Water International. Their goal is to bring clean water to people. This helps lower the number of people getting sick from diseases like hepatitis and diarrhea. These diseases often come from dirty water in places like the Amazon River. Many people in rural Peru don't have clean water. Because of Living Water International and Janji, some remote tribes now have clean drinking water. Buying Peru-themed clothing helps provide four months of clean water for a family there.
Helping Rwanda
Living Water Rwanda works with Janji in Rwanda. They help bring clean water closer to communities. In Rwanda, women sometimes walk for many hours each week to get water that isn't clean. Living Water Rwanda has completed many projects to help. Each piece of Rwanda-themed clothing helps provide clean water for a year to a person in Rwanda.
Helping Tanzania
In Tanzania, Janji and MSABI work together. They help people get access to clean water and sanitation. Over half of the illnesses in Tanzania are caused by unsafe drinking water. MSABI also teaches people about health and hygiene. If you buy Janji's Tanzanian-themed outerwear, it provides three years of clean water for a person. Other Tanzanian-themed clothes provide one year of water.
Helping the United States
Janji also wants to help people in the United States. For example, many people in the Navajo population don't have running water or toilets in their homes. DIGDEEP Right to Water Project helps bring clean water and sanitation to American homes. When you buy a piece of USA-themed Janji clothing, it helps provide a week of clean water for an American family.
Michael Burnstein, one of Janji's founders, explained why they choose their partners. He said Janji looks for groups that have "innovative" and "proven" ways to solve the global water problem. He emphasized that they want partners who "attack the problem at the root." This means they want to solve the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms.
