‘People and Planet before Profit’: David Pearman and HRB Movement
Like many Geographical Sciences majors, David Pearman, B.S. ’11, found that the more he learned about geography, immigration patterns and globalization, the more he realized that environmental sustainability is a universally critical topic.
But Pearman also learned that being green could prove lucrative. “While I was still in college, I became interested in sustainable businesses, in any industry. I saw this as increasingly relevant,” Pearman said.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1035","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"300","style":"width: 300px; height: 300px; float: left; margin: 5px;","width":"300"}}]]In 2010 Pearman and his business partner, Keith Meyers, founded HRB Movement (the acronym stands for Hope Resides Beneath), a company dedicated to producing clothing and apparel that features environmentally friendly materials, creative designs, and social action. The comfortable clothing is made from organic and recycled cotton, recycled water bottles, bamboo and hemp.
The HRB team is committed to the concept that sustainable fabrics must be part of the fabric of society. This commitment goes beyond working with environmentally friendly materials—the company is involved with local environment and community initiatives and insists on fair labor practices.
“We focus on creating green business practices, from the type of office materials we use to selecting the vendors we work with,” Pearman said. “There’s a sustainable factor to everything.”
Among HRB’s most popular products is a backpack handmade in Kenya. Pearman said he and his business partner were not only interested in gaining a great product to sell; they wanted to create economic opportunity for a community in need.
“Our goal is not just to promote environmental sustainability, it is to make an overall positive and progressive contribution to the world,” Pearman said.
But while Pearman, his business partner and his customers are concerned with doing good, they also want to look good.
“My friends and I are particular about the design of our own clothing. We wanted to create products and designs that we would wear,” he said. “Design and sustainability run well together, each concept enhances the other—this was something we discovered while building HRB, every week the vision becomes more clear as we continue to learn our industry."
Pearman describes the style of HRB items as “modern roots,” designs that reflect an interest in global cultures and communities. HRB’s customer base is young and socially conscious, Pearman said, including students, surfers, musicians, progressive thinkers, and individuals who care about protecting the environment.
HRB sells merchandise on its website, www.hrbmovement.com, various skate and surf shops in North Carolina, and in Whole Foods grocery stores scattered throughout the South. Pearman and his partner are working to expand to more Whole Foods stores, as well as other retailers nationwide.
When it comes to growing the company, Pearman said he has a goal in line with BSOS’s mission: to Be the Solution to the world’s great challenges.
“There are so many negative things that people are exposed to daily,” Pearman said, “so our purpose is to provide and promote all positive concepts for a world that needs them. We work to have an impact. You can do that and still make a living—through a focus on people and planet before profit.”
Published on Thu, Mar 13, 2014 - 10:22AM