Origins, a startup aiming to transform the global garment industry, has raised $1.2 million from the NEM Community Fund.

The startup has been founded by Samantha Jones – an accomplished entrepreneur who was named New Zealand’s Young Innovator of the year in 2017. Jones, who also founded Little Yellow Bird, has become the second New Zealand venture and first woman globally to have a project funded via the NEM community fund proposal process.

A key challenge faced by the garment sector globally is the lack of visibility with several brands unable to track where their garments are made. Origins aims to address this issue and develop a tech platform to end modern-day slavery in the garment industry.

“Just like I did with Little Yellow Bird, I’m actually trying to solve a problem that I’ve faced firsthand and one that I can see impacts people and businesses across a range of industries,” Jones said.

Origins will utilise NEM blockchain technology to track its products from origin to point of sale. The NEM platform is a blockchain solution that aims to simplify the development process with a specific focus on impact projects.

“The supply chain industry is one of best areas to develop a real-world blockchain use case and we are excited to support Origins in utilising the NEM blockchain technology which will be a great showcase globally. This also aligns with NEM’s aim to support social impact projects like these across the region,” Jason Lee, NEM’s Expansion Director for Australia and New Zealand, said

Jones and her team are heading back to India in August to set up phase one of the Origins implementation plan before she heads to Edinburgh to represent New Zealand at the Social Enterprise World Forum as a guest speaker presenting her learnings and impact journey.