Sword & Plough: Helping Veterans One Bag at a Time

July 23, 2014
Posted By Vets Vehicles

I came across Sword & Plough while researching socially responsible companies that are not just focused on making profits, but also on doing social good. Sword & Plough is is a fantastic example of a company that raises profits while also creating solutions to social issues; in this case by helping to employ our nation’s veterans.

Sword & Plough works with veterans to repurpose military surplus fabric into stylish handbags. The company is committed to supporting veterans by employing them. It only works with manufacturers that employ veterans and generate employment opportunities for retired soldiers.

Founders and sisters, Betsy and Emily Nunez, grew up in a military family. Emily Nunez is also a veteran. Her time serving as an officer in the U.S. Army inspired her to start Sword & Plough with her sister Betsy. As Emily wrote in GOOD Magazine,

“U.S veterans ages 18 to 24 have unemployment rates 16 percent higher than the national average. More than one million veterans are projected to leave the military in the next four years, and the crisis of veteran unemployment and related depression is projected to grow as a result.”

The company aims to solve this problem by helping veterans transition into civilian life by finding meaningful employment and a sense of purpose.

Sword & Plough also recycles resources through its production. The materials used to make the bags would otherwise be burned or buried in a landfill. The company projects is will up recycle up to 20,000 pounds of military surplus within its first year of operation.

Not only does Sword & Plough work to promote veteran employment, it’s also committed to ‘Made in USA’ production, sustainable fashion and strengthened civilian-military relations.

To buy a Sword & Plough bag and to learn more about their mission, visit their website.