It's easy!  With Joyya’s new self-service website, ordering custom products has never been easier.  

1. Simply select the Made To Order product you desire and complete the product selections including required delivery dates, and place your Purchase Order directly with us.  

2. From there, a member of our team will contact you within 1 business day to confirm the details, digital mockup, and delivery timing.  

3. An invoice will then be emailed to you for payment.  

As with all orders, you will receive notifications via email when your order reaches critical milestones including shipping and delivery tracking information. 

When your order shipped you should have received and email from us that included your tracking information. Can't find your email? Start by checking your junk box or promotions folder. Still can't find it? Email us at hi@joyya.com and we will help you out!

Nope! 

When you receive confirmation from our team that the selections you made via our website match the colours in the artwork that you submitted - you are all set!

No extra shipping charges or set up fees will show up on your invoice.

*Shipping fees are included for standard urban delivery locations. If you are shipping to a remote area please reach out to our team at hi@joyya.com.

For Made to Order custom products that require full manufacturing of the item,4-8 weeks is typical, including delivery time.

If you are needing additional customizations for your Made to Order product, click here for a brief list of some of the things we can accommodate.

If you would like to discuss any of these options please reach out to our team at hi@joyya.com for more details.

Depending on the nature of your order, Joyya may ship your product from a nearby warehouse in your country, or may ship it internationally from our manufacturing options in India. To understand how we decide where to ship from, click HERE

If your order is being shipped internationally, we compare the actual rates on your shipment across the 3 major international carriers (UPS, Fedex & DHL). We have negotiated rates with each carrier to ensure we can reduce your freight costs. However, if you have a specific preferred carrier, just let us know at checkout and we will bill/ship accordingly.

If your order is being shipped locally, then we use a variety of local carriers depending on the region. We can always use UPS, Fedex or DHL, but additionally we regionally use:

• India: DTDC
• USA: USPS
• NZ: NZ COURIERS, POST HASTE
• AUS: NZ POST
• CAN: FED EX, CANADA POST

If your order is shipping from the:

• US warehouse, delivery time is between 2-7 business days.  
• India warehouse delivery times are between 4-10 business days. 

If you need it in a hurry, you will have the option of selecting expedited service during the checkout process on our website.  ​

Occasionally, for orders shipping from India into the US, US Customs will conduct a deeper inspection of an order which can delay delivery of a shipment.  This is not a common occurrence and our customer care team will be in contact with US Customs, the shipping agent if this were to occur.  Rest assured that Joyya will keep you up to date with any delays and ongoing resolution.

Everywhere.

We want everyone in the world to be able to experience Joyya. Today, if you happen to be in the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, that is a bit easier to do. We have dedicated sales teams in these regions who serve our customers every day.

If you’re ordering a custom product for any other coutry you can still place an order on Joyya.com and have it delivery to you! We’ve shipped products to every continent in the world, and we’re confident we’ll be able to help you out.

If you have any questions about how to get Joyya products specifically to your area, just email us at hi@joyya.com.

Joyya's manufacturing operations are based in India, and we have finished goods warehouses in 3 countries. If you are ordering a custom (Made to Order) product or your order is backordered and being made in India, it will ship from our factory in Kolkata, West Bengal.

However, if you are ordering from inventory, your product will usually be shipped from the closest warehouse. That would be from 1 of the 4 cities listed below:

• Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
• Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• Christchurch, New Zealand
• Victoria, BC, Canada

If you want to know the details of exactly where and how your order is being shipped, just contact customer care and let us know your Order ID at HI@JOYYA.COM.

Nope!

There are no extra set up or artwork charges if you are able to provide your logo or design in an acceptable format and quality. You can send your artwork in high resolution Jpeg, Gif, or any Photoshop and Illustrator formats. Be sure that your file has a 300dpi or higher quality to ensure the best printing.

We have outlined all the info you need to know about artwork here.

Joyya's in-house printing team uses exclusively water-based inks for all of our screen printing. Most apparel decorators tend to use plastisol inks which, as the name indicates, include certain plastics in their composition. While plastisol inks are generally easier to use and are cheaper to print with, they do tend to have a bigger environmental footprint. Water-based inks tend to be better for the environment, especially since we are careful in avoiding using binders, catalysts and other additives that have their own ecological issues. Check out a list of the key chemicals used in our screen printing at the bottom of this article.

We don't want to pretend the trade-offs are straight-forward, and you'll find plenty of arguments for and against using plastisols among screen printers. We won't judge if you think your order is better off with traditional plastisol pigment. While we can't do those jobs in-house, our customer care team will work with you to get your product printed through one of our printing partners. 

Our Printing Inks & Dyes:

Pigment: We use Pidilite's Texcron Aqueous Dispersion Pigments which are among the top water-based pigment systems used in India. You can check out a comprehensive list of Pidilite's water-based pigments HERE

Base: We use 2 different brands of base inks depending on the product and other order-specific requirements. Both providers are listed below.

We use Aquasol Aquaprene White/Clear SD from BALAJI CHEMICALS
We use K2 White/Clear Inks from ZYDEX INDUSTRIES

Joyya only does SPOT COLOR SCREEN PRINTING

Additional Details: Screen printing is the process of pressing ink through a stenciled mesh screen to create a printed design. It’s a popular technique used in a whole range of different industries, so even if you've never heard of the term before today, it’s likely that you’ve worn or used a screen-printed product at some point without even realizing. The process is sometimes called serigraphy or silk screen printing, but all of these names refer to the same basic method.

Types of Printing: There are 4 main types of screen printing that are commonly used with fabric. These are Spot Color Screen Printing, CMYK Printing, Direct-to-Garment and Heat Transfer. Joyya exclusively does Spot Color Screen Printing because we find it is usually the best solution for our customers. 

• Spot Color Screen Printing is where an ink specialist uses our eco-friendly water-based pigments to create colors that match each color in your artwork. The PANTONE PMS SYSTEM is used to ensure that colors are accurate, and a screen is made for each color in your artwork, with the colors layered together to create the final image. Pantone screen printing is great for printing 50+ products at a time, with between 1-10 colors.
• CMYK Printing uses 4 distinct inks in different to build a composite image on a fabric, similar to how a typical ink-jet printer mixes ink when printing on paper. The method is great for printing gradients or images with more than 10 colors, but it is limited in its ability to print on darker fabrics, and it is more time-consuming to print.
• Direct to Garment (DTG) printers use a completely different technology to print a t-shirt using a device that looks like a giant ink-jet printer. The technique is great for small runs of a handful of tees, but cost-prohibitive on larger orders. It also typically can't print bags, or other non-standard fabrics.
• Heat Transfer is a process by which a design is printed onto transfer paper and then the ink is thermally transferred from the paper to your fabric using heat and pressure. While it is cost-effective for small orders and great for complex images, it is expensive for large orders. Also the inks sit on top of the fabric and so tend to come off more easily, resulting in a stiffer finish that isn't as long lasting.

Joyya's in-house printing team uses Spot Color printing exclusively. To learn more about different printing techniques and how they compare, click HERE.

There are times an order will be better suited for Direct to Garment (DTG printing). DTG only works with apparel, and is cost-effective when order volumes are less than 50 units. In these cases, we will partner with our DTG printers to help you fulfill your order. We will always check with you first in the rare case where using DTG makes sense. If you think DTG is the best solution for your order, please do let your customer care representative know.

Catalog Swatches and Product Samples: Nothing helps you imagine how your vision will look and feel like fabric swatches and product samples.  Swatches and samples of Joyya's catalog fabrics and products are available for order in limited quantity. 

Custom Samples: If you are seeking a customized sample of your product including custom design, dimensions, or artwork we can absolutely make that happen. 

Connect with us at hi@joyya.com with your request and we will happy to help with any swatch and sample needs.

We often don't realize how challenging creating and communicating color can be. Every human eye is different, and a color can look radically different depending on the material its on, the dyes used, the lighting and even the colors it is next to. In order to ensure that 2 people across the world can discuss colors in a consistent manner, manufacturers use color systems to help them objectively discuss, measure and check colors.

Common color system standards in the industry include PANTONE, CSI, SCOTDIC and COLORO. There are many pros and cons between different color systems. Joyya uses the Pantone color system across all its manufacturing systems given it is the most commonly used system globally. However, there are tools that allow colors be be converted across color systems. 

If you are more familiar with common color codes used in computer software (CMYK, RGB and HEX), these can be matched to a Pantone color using Pantone's free online color conversion database (HERE)

How are Pantone Codes used to communicate fabric colors? Pantone has created the FHI STANDARD in order to communicate colors on textiles. The colors are available in booklets and swatch cards, and provide a consistent standard against which to measure color. Colors printed on textiles have a TCX suffix on them, so Joyya uses TCX codes when discussing all fabric colors. Because TCX books are expensive, sometimes manufacturers will use TPX codes (same colors printed on paper) to get close approximations of color.

The colors are made of up 6 digits:

- The first pair of digits refers to the lightness or darkness of a color
- The second pair specifies the hue - yellow, red, blue, green
- The third pair specifies the chroma level of the color

Combined, the six digits create a consist method for communicating any color across the world.

How are Pantone Codes used to communicate colors for screen printing? Colors look different in different contexts. That is why Pantone has a different system called PMS (Pantone Matching System) for graphic designers. PMS codes are used by our graphic designers and screen printing team to develop mock-ups, check ink colors, and do quality checking on all prints. Our team uses the PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE to check colors on all orders. 

Coated vs. Uncoated PMS colors will either have a C or U suffix to denote if they are a coated or uncoated color. PMS colors marked with a C mean that the color is printed on coated paper for a glossy finish, as you would see in a magazine. This is desirable for sharp and complex designs, as the ink stays on top of the paper, preventing bleeding. Likewise, a U indicates uncoated paper, which has a more porous finish, common on letterhead. Uncoated paper is generally more absorbent of ink than coated, reducing sharpness. For our purposes, we can use either Coated or Uncoated colors, though coated is more common.

To learn more about how we check and match colors and what our color tolerances are, check our this ARTICLE

No.

Exact color matching is an incredibly tricky process, and colors can look different depending on lighting, surface, or even differences in our eyes. Given the subjective nature of color perception, we use the Pantone system to help us communicate and check color. To learn more about the Pantone system, read this ARTICLE.

However, we know that customers want some confidence that what they order will be the same as what they receive. We've described below our color matching promise (which varies by scenario).

Screen Print Colors We us water-based inks in our printing process, and since we mix the pigments ourselves in small batches, we have much more control over the color that is printed. We make a sample proof at the start of every production run to ensure the finished product has the right color and we check our colors using a pantone matching book. 

Since an industry-grade spectrometer is cost-prohibitive, we use PANTONE COLOR MATCH CARD, as well as a visual inspection by our trained QC team to ensure our prints are close to the desired pantone.

A few important notes on print colors:

 - When printing on dark vs. light fabric, a color can look very different (see CHUBB ILLUSION)
 - When printing a pattern with many overlapping colors, the overlapping lines might have slight color blends
 - When printing on jute, colors can be more variable. That is because the loose-knit jute is highly absorbent and takes on color differently across the width of the fabric. 

Cotton Fabric Colors Our cotton fabrics are dyed on the roll and delivered to our warehouse. We work with our dye houses to ensure that products are dyed as close as possible to our desired color. When layering fabric prior to cutting, we use both visual checks and the Pantone Color Match Card to ensure that the fabric color matches our spec. 
That being said, any fabric will have slight shade variation across the roll. Short of checking color on every square-inch of a roll of fabric (an impossible task), we must operate on the basis that there will be some shade variation in the length of a roll. To mitigate this issue, we batch our cutting lots in such a way that all components of a bag or tee are cut from the same part of the fabric. This ensures shade consistency within any single tee or bag.

A few important notes on dyed fabric:
- We use shade matching to reduce color variation within a product
- you can learn more about how our tees fabric is dyed HERE

Natural Cotton & Jute

Natural, undyed fabric will tend to have the most color variation. This is because the color of the fabric comes directly from the plant or cotton bud. While combing reduces impurities in the fabric the fabric will have a natural color that will vary from batch to batch. Part of the appeal and natural look of undyed fabric is the organic shade variation in the fabric. Therefore, a natural cotton or jute product will always have a higher degree of color variation.

Color is a complicated topic and its something we know you care about. If you have more questions regarding our color matching process, or have any concerns about an order you have placed or received, contact us at HI@JOYYA.COM.

Yes.

In fact, ordering samples is the best way for you to see our quality for yourself and share it with your team prior to ordering.

We try to keep samples of each of the products in our catalog in stock for easy ordering online.  We may not have every possible combination of options available as a sample but in general, the size, fabric and construction should be available.

If you would like a sample that includes your exact options including handles, fasteners, print or other options, that can be ordered through the Made To Order page for the product you are interested in.   Custom samples can cost significant more due to the higher manufacturing and freight costs of delivering 1 or 2 items.

If photographs of the sample are acceptable instead of a physical copy, the cost may be substantially lower and can speed up the process considerably.  However, if you desire delivery of your sample, no problem.  The cost of any custom sample will be credited on your first confirmed order for the product sampled.

If you need help with this process, please email HI@JOYYA.COM and we will get you what you need.

Yes, if they are not customized samples.  If it's a product sample from stock, we are happy to have you return it for a refund of the sample cost once you've finished your evaluation of the product.  Return delivery charges are paid for by the customer.

Please contact HI@JOYYA.COM for assistance.

With the billions of tees sold globally, it can be hard to tell them apart. What makes one tee feel soft with a great fit, and another feel rough. A lot of what makes a tee great is the fabric it is made from.  All of our tees are made from either 100% Organic Cotton or from a 60-40 Polycotton Bi-Blend.

100% Organic Cotton
Our organic cotton is a ring-spun single-knit jersey fabric. The cotton fabric is GOTS certified and traceable to the farm level. To learn more about our certifications click HERE.

Most of our cotton tees are made using 160 GSM (grams per square meter) cotton. For our white tees, we use a slightly heavier 180 GSM cotton.

60-40 Polycotton Bi-Blend
Our bi-blend fabric is made with 60% GOTS organic cotton and 40% recycled polyester. The tees provide a different feel while still being eco-friendly and sustainable.

Why do we use Ring-Spun Cotton?
Most cheap tees are made using carded open end cotton, which is a cheaper production process that results in a heavier and scratchier tee. Ring spun cotton is made using a circular knitting process that results in a softer retail quality t-shirt. Even if you're just buying some tees for a company event, we don't think you should have to compromise on quality, so we ensure EVERY tee we made is made from Ring-Spun Fabric. 

Printing on Ring-Spun Cotton?
Joyya tees are made to be printed on. Whether you want them printed by us and shipped to you ready to go, or if you want to use some of our blanks and print them at home or your local printer, we know that we want the graphics to look good on your tee. One of the benefits of Ring-Spun cotton is that the finer fabric is easier to print on. Especially as many local shops print small orders using DTG (Direct to Garment) printers, we want to make sure our tees are easy to use. The thinner and tightly wound cotton provides a much flatter surface for the prints to come on and set evenly.

We are constantly working to expand our product range, and part of that is holding standard colors that make it easy for customers to order quickly and cheaply. Our product pages show live inventory of all the tees we have in stock. However, when there is a stock-out its useful to know which colors of tees can get made and shipped fastest.

We hold a range of tees fabrics in stock. If you happen to order your tee in a standard color, you'll get it that much quicker

The table below shows the type, weight and color of fabrics currently held in stock. The color codes refer to the Pantone TCX code for that specific color and an industry standard method of selecting and communicating colors.

Joyya's bags come in both cotton and jute. To learn more about jute fabric click HERE. Joyya's uses 100% GOTS certified organic cotton in every bag. To learn more about our certifications click HERE. When you are setting up your order, you may get to choose between Canvas and Sheeting. So the 1st step is deciding which fabric you  need.

Sheeting vs. Canvas Cotton sheeting is a thinner fabric that is lightweight and durable. It is commonly used for for promotional events, or for lightweight totes (e.g. grocery bags). 

Sheeting Specs:
- Weight: 145 GSM
- Density : 60 x 60
- Yarn Type: 20 x 20

Cotton canvas is a thicker fabric that holds its shape better (especially on bags with gussets). It is also used in our Aprons, and in our crossbody bags.

Canvas Specs:
 - Weight: 310 GSM
 - Density : 60 x 60
 - Yarn Type: 20 x 20

Ok, I know which fabric I want. What are my other choices?

There are a few more choices when choosing fabric. The main decision is whether the fabric is combed or uncombed, and whether it is raw or washed. To simplify the process for you, when you order online we use certain default choices, but if you would like to discussing a different spec, contact us at HI@JOYYA.COM

What are the defaults?

Fabric Type Natural Cotton Dyed Cotton Sheeting Combed & Washed Uncombed, Washed & Dyed Canvas Combed & Washed Uncombed, Washed & Dyed

Combed vs. Uncombed Combed cotton is a softer version of regular uncombed cotton. It’s made by further treating the cotton after it’s been picked, then spun into yarn. Because of the work that is added to the cotton, combed cotton tends to be noticeably smoother and shinier when the cotton is undyed.

We use combed cotton for all undyed fabric since the fabric has a glossier color. However, some customers prefer to use uncombed cotton to get a rougher and more "natural" texture. Once cotton is dyed, the difference between combed and uncombed is less noticeable, and so we used uncombed cotton when dyeing the fabric.

Raw vs. Washed Washing is a process by which cotton fabric is relaxed to make it feel softer. While raw cotton will gain a softer texture over time, washing cotton results in a softer fabric right away. We wash all our fabric by default, but there are times when customers will want to use raw, natural cotton for their product. If so, just let us know!

Joyya's bags come in both cotton and jute. To learn more about cotton fabric click HERE. Joyya's uses ethical jute in every bag. To learn more about our certifications click HERE. Our jute bags come in both laminated and unlaminated jute. Our jute is a plain weave with a 14 x 15 strand count (strands per square inch).

What is Jute? The term jute originated from the word ‘jhuta or jora’ from the Oriya language. Oriya is an old Indian language that is now only spoken by only 4.2% of the Indian population. When Britain colonized India the term stuck and it is now used through out Great Britain and its colonies. India is the world’s largest producer of jute and it is where all our bags start out. Jute is a more refined version of the typical hessian fabric, it offers a higher quality product and a softer finish. This makes jute the perfect material for producing our natural bags.

Hessian and burlap are the terms used for a more rustic and coarse fabric, whereas jute is the most refined and high quality version. This is why jute is more commonly used to produce natural bags, despite the fact hessian seems to be the most popular word on the street. So all those hessian bags you’ve collected on the back of your door are more likely to have a jute origin!

How is Jute grown? Jute is a natural fiber that is traditionally farmed in similar conditions to organic farming. The jute plant is rotated, while NO pesticides or fertilizers are used in the growing process and nothing is Genetically Modified. Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal (India) and grows fully in 4-6 months.

What is Laminated Jute? Natural jute is a loose-weave flexible fabric with a dynamic texture. However, when a bag needs more stiffness or needs to be water-tight, a thin layer of laminate is applied to the back of the jute. Joyya uses laminated jute in its Shopper bags and pouches. When times comes to discard the bag, the PP layer can be removed which leaves a completely biodegradable Jute bag.

We are constantly working to expand our product range, and part of that is holding standard colors that make it easy for customers to order quickly and cheaply.  When you're ordering, its useful to know which colors can get made and shipped fastest.

We hold a range of canvas & sheeting fabrics in stock. The table below shows the type, weight and color of fabrics currently held in stock. The color codes refer to the Pantone TCX code for that specific color and an industry standard method of selecting and communicating colors.

We are constantly working to expand our product range, and part of that is holding standard colors that make it easy for customers to order quickly and cheaply.  When you're ordering, its useful to know which colors can get made and shipped fastest.

We hold a range of jute fabrics in stock. The table below shows the type, weight and color of fabrics currently held in stock. The color codes refer to the Pantone TCX code for that specific color and an industry standard method of selecting and communicating colors.

Your cotton tote bag is going to need a periodic clean. So, how can you wash the bag and make sure it retains its shape and the print remains vibrant?

SPOT CLEANING:

Spot cleaning is the best way to clean up small stains and marks on your bag. If you have a stain remover spray, use the instructions on the product to help you clean the localized spot. If you don't have a stain remover, you can use baking soda mixed with a little warm water. Create a paste and apply it to the spot and leave it for 5-10 min, and then wipe it off.

Alternatively, you can soak the affected area in a solution of wine vinegar and warm water for 2 hours and then rinse with fresh water.

HAND WASHING:

If you need to wash the entire bag, we recommend handwashing your tote using regular laundry washing powder and lukewarm water. Gently scrub your bag and try to avoid scrubbing printed areas as this can impact the print finish.

MACHINE WASHING:

We don't typically recommend machine washing your tote bag since the spin cycle can warp the bag and also cause shrinkage. However, if you do want to machine wash, make sure the print is color-fast (dab the area with a white cotton fabric soaked in water) and make sure you use cold water on a low-spin cycle. This will minimize issues with shrinkage, warming and color fading.

WIPE CLEAN:

If you’re cleaning a recent mark a simple wipe clean with hot water and soap will do the trick.

STEAM CLEANING:

Steaming your cotton bag is a great alternative to washing. Steaming will remove any creases, will clean long term discoloration, and may help to remove stubborn stains from your tote bag. By adding some essential oil or scented antibacterial liquid to your steamer you can also remove any unwanted smells. 

Special thanks to BIDBI.CO.UK for these washing instructions

Your jute bag is going to need a periodic clean. So, how can you wash the bag and make sure it retains its shape and the print remains vibrant?

HAND WASHING:

Small products using untreated natural jute do not fare well in machine washing. Products like tote bags and zippered pouches should be handwashed to prevent loss of structure and shape.

• Fill a sink or basin with cold water. Make sure you do not use hot water as it may lead to the fabric’s shrinking
• Add a small amount of mild detergent. You should use a liquid variety to avoid deposits
• Leave the item in the basin for five minutes. Watch the fabric to make sure it does not fray or come apart
• Stir the material with your hands gently
• Rinse the item in the sink under running cold water, making sure you do not twist or squeeze the cloth;
• When you take the item out of the basin, make sure you do not wring it – it may cause damages to the structure, together with creases. You can gently haul the excess water.

STAIN REMOVAL - SPOT CLEANING:

Its best to remove stains BEFORE you wash your jute bag. You can use the process below to remove minor spots and stains.

• Use a wet sponge to blot the stain away (do not rub) and remove excess moisture with the help of a dry towel
• If you have to deal with difficult stains, you can use an oxygen-based stain remover. Gently test the product on the inside of the tote bag to see how the fabric behaves in the presence of the substance. If everything goes well, you can leave the oxy stain remover to do its job for a few minutes. Rinse off the excess substance with a wet towel and then handwash the item.
• Use a mixture of soda and water to remove stains. Apply a layer of paste made of baking soda and water on the stain and leave it a few minutes

ODOR REMOVAL:

Baking soda can be used to odors from your jute bags and other items.

• Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of water and baking soda
• Spray the item with the mix (make sure you do this outdoors) and leave the item to aerate for a few hours. Then turn it inside out and spray again. The best strategy is to remove odors and stains with baking soda when the outside air is warm, and the sun can dry the bag fast;
• In case you have some stubborn odors to deal with, treat the product with lemon juice (spray the fabric with lemon juice and leave the product outside in fresh air to dry). However, be careful to not use too much since acidic treatments risk damaging the fabric.
• Let the bag dry in fresh warm air to avoid the development of mildew; lay the product on a flat surface; you can also remove excess moisture by placing your bag in between two thick towels.

When it comes to using stain removers and other cleaning products make sure you read the products’ labels. If the manufacturer offered specific instructions on cleaning and maintenance, make sure you follow them!

MACHINE WASHING:

We don't typically recommend machine washing your jute bags since the spin cycle can warp the bag and also cause shrinkage. However, if you do want to machine wash, make sure the print is color-fast (dab the area with a white cotton fabric soaked in water) and make sure you use cold water on a very gentle cycle. However, our recommendation is to not take that risk unless you are absolutely sure it will work.

Special thanks to TOTE BAG FACTORY for these washing instructions

MOQs or Minimum Order Quantities may apply to a variety of orders.

There are generally no MOQ's when you are ordering our stock or standardized products. If an MOQ does apply, our customer care team will discuss it with you during the order confirmation process.

MOQ's most commonly apply when an order needs to be customized or for less commonly ordered products which are not in stock.

For these less commonly ordered apparel products which are not in stock, the following MOQ applies:

• The total of each color needs to be 50 or greater. This can be spread across different sizes.

Less commonly ordered apparel products which are subject to this MOQ are denoted on our website with an asterisk.

The articles below provide additional information and minimum order quantities related to the following customization scenarios:

• CUSTOM COLOR FABRIC
• CUSTOM PRODUCT DIMENSIONS
• CUSTOM FABRICS OR RAW MATERIALS
• CUSTOM LABELS OR SWING TAGS

If you still have questions about MOQs, send us an email at HI@JOYYA.COM

If you are needing additional customizations for your Made to Order product, click here for a brief list of some of the things we can accommodate.

If you would like to discuss any of these options please reach out to our team at hi@joyya.com for more details.

YES

Depending on the order size, we can make your most of our tees, bags and accessories in custom colors. The Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for a custom color is at-least 500 UNITS.

Depending on the type of product and the quantity required, there might be a surcharge on the price to account for the higher wastage. Surcharges will vary by product and quantity.

Custom color orders also tend to have longer lead times, as the fabric has to be specially dyed and delivered to our factory. 

In order to get a quote for a custom color product, email us at HI@JOYYA.COM

You will need to give us a PANTONE CODE for the color you want, as well as the type and quantity of the products.

Based on that information, we can give you an initial quote and an estimated lead-time.

There are some cases where a custom color product may not be feasible, but our customer care reps can discuss that with you.

MAYBE

Sometimes, customers want us to make our standard bags or tees using a slightly different fabric. This may mean using cotton with a lower GSM, or using a different type of fabric (twill weave, waxed fabric, silk, polyester etc.).  Other times, they may want a custom attachment (metal zippers, custom buckles, leather handles etc.)

We don't carry these raw materials is stock, so fulfilling such a request is usually quite complicated. It simply doesn't make financial sense for us to do this on a small order. Therefore, there is a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) of 2000 units for us to begin looking at a custom raw material.

If you think your request meets the MOQ, send the request to our customer care team. They will discuss the request with our product designers, sourcing and manufacturing team to see if such a request if feasible given capacity and capability. If it's NOT POSSIBLE, they will try to explain the reasons the request could not be fulfilled. Where possible, they may suggest alternative manufacturers who may be able to meet your requirements.

If, at first glance, we think the request IS POSSIBLE, we will send a request for more detailed specifications and initiate the design process. The design process will have a flat non-refundable upfront fee, and the customer care team will discuss lead-times and connect you with the appropriate design professionals.

Starting the design process does NOT GUARANTEE that we will be able to produce the order. Issues discussed during a detailed design phase may result in us being unable to proceed, but if we can proceed, we will discuss custom pricing and lead-times with you. Please be aware that lead-times and pricing will be inherently more uncertain as custom materials will require working with new suppliers.

MAYBE

Sometimes, customers want us to make modify the dimensions of our standard bags or tees. This may mean requests like making the tees a bit longer, making a bag gusset wider, or adjusting the size of a mask/apron.  Some dimension changes are easy and some are quite challenging.

Our production, inventory and quality control systems are designed to handle our standard sizes, so a custom size can be quite tricky for us. Therefore, there is a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) of 1000 units for us to begin looking at customizing dimensions.

If you think your request meets the MOQ, send the request to our customer care team. They will discuss the request with our product designers, sourcing and manufacturing team to see if such a request if feasible given capacity and capability. If it's NOT POSSIBLE, they will try to explain the reasons the request could not be fulfilled. Where possible, they may suggest alternative manufacturers who may be able to meet your requirements.

If, at first glance, we think the request IS POSSIBLE, we will send a request for more detailed specifications and initiate the design process. The design process will have a flat non-refundable upfront fee, and the customer care team will discuss lead-times and connect you with the appropriate design professionals.

Starting the design process does NOT GUARANTEE that we will be able to produce the order. Issues discussed during a detailed design phase may result in us being unable to proceed, but if we can proceed, we will discuss custom pricing and lead-times with you. Please be aware that lead-times and pricing will be inherently more uncertain depending on the nature of the modifications.

YES

We are happy to put custom labels or tags onto your order. Many of our customers choose to order co-branded labels and swing tags that allow them to share the Joyya story AND promote their brand. Where necessary, we also offer private labeling to customers.

Contact our customer care team if you would like custom labels or tags. Our team will collect your artwork and provide a mockup of the label/tag as well as the pricing before we confirm an order.

The Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for:

• Printed T-shirt Labels is 1,000 pieces
• Woven Bag Labels is 5,000 pieces.
• Paper Swing Tags is 5,000 pieces

Based on the exact specifications of your custom labels/tags, the customer care team will be able quote you a cost and lead-time. Tags/labels must be orders well in advance of production, so that our suppliers have time to make the tags. We do NOT ACCEPT tags provided by customers, as there can often be production and design issues if the tags/labels don't conform to our specifications. 

You do NOT have to use up your labels/tags in one order. 

We are happy to store your excess custom labels/tags for up to 1-year and use them on subsequent orders. 

Email us at HI@JOYYA.COM if you have any questions.

MOQs or Minimum Order Quantities may apply to a variety of orders.

There are generally no MOQ's when you are ordering our stock or standardized products. If an MOQ does apply, our customer care team will discuss it with you during the order confirmation process.

MOQ's most commonly apply when an order needs to be customized or for less commonly ordered products which are not in stock.

For these less commonly ordered apparel products which are not in stock, the following MOQ applies:

• The total of each color needs to be 50 or greater. This can be spread across different sizes.

Less commonly ordered apparel products which are subject to this MOQ are denoted on our website with an asterisk.

The articles below provide additional information and minimum order quantities related to the following customization scenarios:

• CUSTOM COLOR FABRIC
• CUSTOM PRODUCT DIMENSIONS
• CUSTOM FABRICS OR RAW MATERIALS
• CUSTOM LABELS OR SWING TAGS

If you still have questions about MOQs, send us an email at HI@JOYYA.COM

Due to the custom nature of these products, We are not able to refund customized products.

We take quality control seriously and we hope that you are always 100% delighted with your order.  We would ask that you complete an inspection of your order within 7 days of receipt and if there is a quality issue with your order, please notify us at hi@joyya.com with details and photographs of the issue.  Joyya customer care will work with you to find a resolution to the issue.

If you need to return a stock order to our US warehouse, we can return the order and issue a refund.  If the order contains more than 25 items, a restocking fee of $.10 per item will be applied.

Please return the item(s) to:

Joyya US PBC
2943 Riverside Dr.
Cincinnati, OH. 45226

Fair trade has been defined as an organized social movement and market-based approach to alleviating global poverty and promoting sustainability. Fair trade’s strategic intent is to deliberately work with marginalized producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency. It also aims at empowering them to become stakeholders in their own organizations and actively play a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international trade. 

You can read more about the 10 Principles of Fair Trade on the WFTO website.

Factories and products certified “Fair Trade,” empower the consumer to choose products made under fair conditions.

Joyya is committed to providing fair, living wages and a healthy working environment for all employees. Wages are well above the national minimum and all staff receives training, health care, child care, and savings and retirement plans. Joyya is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, a U.S-based network of fair trade businesses, as well as memebers of the WTFO.

All Joyya products are sold to benefit the communities we work in. We operate 4 factories across our different communities, that range in size from a small team of 10-12 people, to a larger building housing multiple production units (over 100 people). Our factories handle all the steps from cutting and sewing product, to getting it printed and packed.

There are times where due to capacity constraints, we partner with like-minded manufacturers to complete orders. This is an essential part of our sustainability as a business, and we will always let you know if any part of your order needs to be outsourced. To learn more about why outsoucing is so important to us, please read on in our FAQ.

Note: We work to ensure our systems are standardized across all orders, but specific processes may vary in the case of highly customized orders.

At Joyya, we want to maximize the opportunities for those in need in our community to find sustainable employment. That is why we try to ensure every order is made by our team in-house. However, there are times where due to capacity constraints, we partner with like-minded manufacturers to complete orders. This is an essential part of our sustainability as a business, and we will always let you know if any part of your order needs to be outsourced. There are 2 KEY REASONS we believe these outsourcing partners are essential to our business.

1) Business Seasonality

Like any other business, demand for work changes dynamically. There are months where we are so full that we must turn orders away, and some months where there is not enough work to call in our staff. We have looked at inventory planning systems to smooth this impact, but seasonality is a fact of life.

Many businesses employ seasonal labor to manage the impact to their bottom-line. However, seasonal labor is a challenge for us. First and foremost, our staff and their families rely on a predictable and regular income, and seasonal employment denies them that predictability. Seasonal work makes it hard to pay school fees, buy food and pay rent. Furthermore, we invest substantially in training and equipping our staff, which makes seasonal work less cost-effective.

Therefore, we currently focus on full-time workers. Therefore, to manage business seasonality we either have to over-employ staff to account for peak demand (which is VERY expensive and would raise our prices), or we utilize vetted and certified outsourcing partners to help us manage peak demand. Our hope is that our customers recognize this seasonality and work with us to transparently manage outsourcing when demand can't be met in-house

2) Very Large Orders

As a business, we want to grow. Large orders are a great way to generate lots of employment, but they can also be lumpy and one-time. While we would love to hire lots of people to manage a 50K unit order, we can't guarantee another one will come, so we can't make the full-time commitment. However, we also don't want to turn away large orders, as they are often the foundation of growth. Therefore, we find it essential to use outsourcing to manage the large orders (especially initially) and once the business becomes more predictable, we're able to bring those orders in-house.

We love it when our partners and clients want to order massive volume for major events, promotions or a sudden need. However, in those moments, we know we will have to supplement our in-house capacity, and its something we will do transparently with you. And over time, the ability to serve the big orders will give us confidence to hire more staff and bring the employment to those who need it most.

We don't want to pretend this is an easy topic and that everyone will find our choices acceptable. If you want to learn more about this and how it might impact your order, please contact us at HI@JOYYA.COM.

We want to be good to both people and planet. As part of that commitment, we strive to ensure our supply chain shares the same values we do. To learn more about our certifications and supply chain audit process, check out the article HERE.

We know our customers care deeply about how their products are made. As part of that process, we strive to be as transparent as possible on our sourcing systems. The list below shows our main suppliers for key raw materials across our production process. However the list is not comprehensive, since sometimes due to availability, we have to source from alternative suppliers.

Not all of our suppliers are fully certified. Large fabric manufacturers tend to have the resources and experience to invest in certification processes and accreditation. However, some products are only available through smaller local businesses that often lack the systems and resources to ensure they are operating at an ethical standard. Our audit process tries to ensure that (a) where possible we are seeking ethical partners and (b) we are actively engaging our suppliers to improve their business practices for the good of people and place.

Fabric
- The Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills (Knitted Cotton)
- S.S.V. Textiles (Canvas & Sheeting)
- T.T. Textilewings (Canvas & Sheeting)
- Gloster Mills (Jute)

Packaging, Labels & Tags
- Tirupati Enterprise
- Sushmana Enterprise
- Bengal Paper Works
- Yash Enterprises
- Kadambari Impex

Inks & Paints
- Nilesh Enterprises
- Balaji Chemicals

Threads, Fasteners
- Kothari Thread
- B.B. Thread
- Victory Metal
- A.R. International
- Ess Kay International

Dyeing is the process by which a fabric gets its color. When dyeing, its critical that we get the color right so that customers get the product they expect. It's also important that the fabric is color-fast, so that it doesn't bleed or fade over time or when it is washed.

Our fabric is dyed using low-impact, fiber-reactive dyes in an environmentally sensitive facility. Our dyes have low metal content, no formaldehyde, and are finished in accordance with Global Organic Textile (GOTS) requirements. Bleaching is done with an eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It is a natural chemical which is not harmful to people, animals or the environment.

What are low-impact dyes? A low-impact dye is a dye that has been classified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (an international certification process) as eco-friendly. Generally, low impact dyes do not contain toxic chemicals or mordants (which fix the dye to the fabric), require less rinsing and have a high absorption rate in the fabric (~70%). High absorption rates and a decreased use of rinse water create less waste water.

What are fiber-reactive dyes? Fiber-reactive dyes are low-impact synthetic dyes that directly bond with the garment fibers rather than merely remaining as an independent chemical entity within the fiber.

The benefits:

• contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances, and do not need mordants.
• are easy to apply and are available in a wide range of color and wash-fast bright colors.
• fixation or absorption rate of low-impact dyes is at least 70%, creating less waste water runoff than conventional dyeing processes.
• are applied at relatively low temperatures (30ºC compared to the 100ºC needed for direct dyes), saving energy, and require controlled amounts of salt and alkali.
• the high cost of this dye becomes an environmental advantage, as it is cheaper to reclaim dye from its effluent rather than discharge it all and start from scratch. The water can also be recycled.
• the dye cycle is shorter than it is for other dye processes, meaning less water, salt and chemicals are needed.
• the entire process normally occurs at a pH of around 7.0, meaning no acids or alkalis need to be added to the water.
• recent advances have created fiber-reactive dyes with colors that are brighter and richer, and they provide excellent colorfast properties.

The disadvantages:

• reactive dyes are made from synthetic petrochemicals.
• the process requires very high concentrations of salt (0%-80% of the weight of the goods dyed), alkali and water. Even if the unfixed dye is reclaimed, the effluent from this process can still contain high concentrations of salts, surfactants and defoamers, and are strongly alkaline.
• it's quite expensive, whereas conventional dye is cheap.
• the effluent normally contains salt, alkali, detergent and between 0% to 50% of dye used.

Note: Thanks to ORGANICLIFSTYLES.COM for writing deeply on this topic.

Joyya's production is split across 4 locations. Our sewing teams are split into Woven and Knitted products. The main reasons for this split are (a) different sewing machines required and (b) knit fabrics are more technically challenging and require additional training. Our screen printing unit consists of screen making, paint mixing and printing.

What is the production capacity?
Production capacity is a dynamic figure. It is impacted by our holiday and festival calendar and employee absenteeism. Since different products take different amounts of time to make, capacity can also vary by the exact configuration of a production. There are no hard and fast capacity estimates. That is why our customer care teams are constantly working to give you a real-time estimate of our production capacity and delivery dates.

That being said, we can give a rough estimate of monthly production capacity. This is purely useful as a rule-of-thumb. We often cross-train our staff so that we can increase or decrease exact capacity in response to demand, and obviously the capacity will vary based on exact product specifications.

Woven Capacity: Our production teams can make an average of 900 simple cotton tote bags each working day. Cotton tote bags are relatively simple, and so this would represent the higher-end of capacity, with the production capacity for a complex bag with lots of fasteners and sewing lines being somewhat lower.

Knitted Capacity: Our production teams can make an average of 400 unisex medium Joyya tees each working day. There isn't much variation in sewing times across different tees patterns, so this capacity tends to be more consistent across products.

Printing Capacity: Printing capacity is the trickiest to estimate as it is heavily impacted by the type of fabric, the complexity of the print and the number of screens. Jute fabrics take longer to dry and dark fabrics require multiple passes. Larger prints take longer to make, and printing speed is also impacted by seasons as moisture and heat impact the process substantially. Instead of giving a capacity estimate, we have listed our screen printing machines below.

 - 1x Exposing Machine (LINK)
 - 1x 6C/6S Hix Screen printing machine
 - 1x 8C/8S Hix Screen printing machine
 - 2x 6 press Cheran Screen printing machines (LINK)
 - 1x 8 press Cheran Screen printing machines (LINK)

We believe employment is a key factor in impacting our local communities and so we try to be transparent about who we employ. To learn more about some of our hiring principles, check out this ARTICLE.

We try and update these statistics regularly, but if you would like a real-time update on our hiring metrics, email us at HI@JOYYA.COM

Our Workforce in India: The staffing levels below are as of April 2021

Production - 115
Logistics - 7
Procurement - 9
People Care - 6
Administration - 14
Total = 151

When Joyya commit's to participating in a community, we look at how our business can make a positive impact at both an individual and communal level. While our charitable work focuses on capacity building in the community, our business intends to an Economic Engine for transformation

The 4 Components of Economic Impact: We want our business to focus on doing what businesses can do unique well. Our impact areas are split into 4 categories. For each category, we look at certain indicators to help us assess our level of impact.

1) Provide Economic Stability
- Increase the average wage level for our staff
- Increase the number of jobs we offer
- Increase the entry-level wage for the lowest level job

2) Realize Economic Potential
- Increase internal promotion
- Facilitate successful external job placements
- Develop deep professional training for ALL staff

+ Joyya ensures that every staff member (regardless of seniority) has at least 2-hours each week towards personal development and training

3) Create an Economic Canopy
- Support local businesses in our procurement
- Invest time, training and funds in local small businesses
- Help shape and improve the economic identity of a community

4) Donate Developmental Assistance
- Invest in measuring the economic health of a community
- Fund developmental projects in a community
- Donate time and talent to projects in our community.

As we grow, we will look to publish both baseline and year-over-year performance against each of these areas for each community in which we operate.

We're about seeing communities transformed, and we define communities as a group of people belonging to a place. So, when we talk about transformation, it’s more than simply people’s lives. We also want to see the places they inhabit transformed and restored.

We have the privilege of living with communities that inhabit the outskirts and margins of India. These are places where clean water, clear air and good soil are not guaranteed. They are rights that our communities must fight for. We want to be in solidarity with our communities, and see these places restored.

If we’re honest, we has a long way to go in that goal.

We’re a young company in an industry traditionally known for poor labor and environmental practices. It is difficult to change attitudes and hearts of ourselves, our suppliers and our customers. But we believe it can be done.

Our first ten years were about proving that a business for the poor and marginalized can work, and we want our next chapter to be about proving they can indeed transform.

It’s in that spirit that we’re announcing our Good Earth 2035 vision. Our vision entails committing to:

Good Air:

• Reaching Net-Zero Carbon emissions by 2035, across our supply chain.
• Investing in energy-efficient machinery across all production processes.
• Regular air-quality audits across all our factories.

Good Water:

• Reaching Net-Zero waste water generation by 2035.
• Investing in on-site water treatment systems for run-off.
• Tracking total water usage across all facilities with usage reduction targets.

Good Ground:

• Continued commitment to provide organic cotton and jute products globally.
• Ensure 100% of material waste passes through multi-stream recycling.

We know we have a lot to do to reach our vision. When we started, people said you can’t build a profitable business in a red-light area, slum or rural village. Perhaps it’s tempting to believe you can’t build an Earth-friendly one either. But we've surrounded ourselves with like minded local, national and international businesses and a SUPPLY CHAIN FROM ALL OVER INDIA that believes we can see change in this life time

However, as someone once said about reaching the moon – We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

We want to ensure our products are good for both people and planet. We believe it is important to be accountable and responsible with how we operate, and we work with various certification bodies to ensure we are constantly improving in this critical area of performance. The list below comprises the main certifications we carry. Click on the links to learn more about our various certifications and assessments. You can also learn about our Good Earth 2035 vision HERE. You can view our certifications HERE.

1) Raw Material Certifications

We source cotton and jute from a number of different factories, mills and suppliers. The list below contains our most common fabric suppliers along with their accreditations. We also complete regular audit checks of our suppliers as part of our commitment to WFTO operating principles. Check out a blank sample form at the bottom of this article.

CHETNA ORGANICS - COTTON FARM

Chetna works with small and marginal farmers towards improving their livelihood options and making farming a sustainable and profitable occupation. Chetna work with farmers from the rainfed regions of Maharashtra, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh covering around 43,500 acres. From 234 farmer members in 2004 to around 35,852 in 2014, Chetna’s strength has been collective action and the fair supply chain. Chetna assists and works to improve farm productivity, promote food security, get better prices for their crops and invest in health, education and business infrastructure within their communities. A self elected association: the Chetna Organic Farmer Association (COFA) has been established with the assistance of staff and support agencies. COFA as a platform not only helps farmers to voice concerns, share space in the textile supply chain and understand its complexities, but also helps farmers to have a better negotiation position.

Ethics and certifications:

- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- FLOCERT (FLO ID 4018)

RAJLAKSHMI COTTON MILLS (RCM)

RCM was set up in 1934 in Kolkata, West Bengal. They combine high quality tailoring with a fair deal for farmers and workers, RCM use mostly organic and Fair Trade cotton as well as other sustainable fibers such as Tencel, Modal and Linen. The cotton is certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), FLO-Fairtrade and Fair Trade-USA.

RCM sources its cotton from Chetna Organic Cotton. RCM orients its production around sustainability; it is certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and reuses 50 percent of its waste water. This is achieved by  collaborating with dye houses and installing reverse osmosis machines. Sludge is converted into fertilizer and fabric scraps are taken from the cutting tables and recycled to produce paper.

RCM management and staff collaborate with a local NGO to calculate a living wage for employees every six months, and ensure that the lowest paid workers are paid above this rate. Wages are verified by independent third party audits to ensure compliance with Fair Trade USA standards. In addition, 10% of RCM shares have been gifted to the Chetna farmers, so the farmers now receive a share of RCM profits.

Ethics and certifications:

- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- FLOCERT (FLO ID 4512)
- SA 8000
- ISO9001:2000
- OEKOTEX100

SSV TEXTILES (SSV)

SSV provides the cotton sheeting and canvas used in many Joyya bags. The company was launched in 2011 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The mill specializes in organic, non-organic, BCI and OEKO TEX fabrics.

Ethics and certifications:

- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
- Organic Content Standard (OCS)
- Better Cotton Initiative (BCI ID 10030
- OEKOTEX100

T.T. TEXTILEWINGS (TTT)

TTT is a Kolkata-based provider for cotton sheeting and canvas used in many Joyya bags. The company was launched in 1994 and specializes in certified fabrics including Jute, Cotton and Polyester.

Ethics and certifications:

 - Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
 - Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
 - FLOCERT (FLO ID 42351)

GLOSTER LIMITED

Gloster is a world leader in providing certified, ethical jute fabric. With over 64 years of management experience in manufacturing and selling jute, the organization is a leader in ethical production. Gloster relies on the triple bottom approach, whereby they believe that the long term value of business is inherently dependent on social, environmental and financial performance of the company. This statement by the company gives an overview of key initiatives in this area. TEST

Ethics and certifications:

 - Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- FLOCERT (FLO ID 25971)
- SA 8000:2014
- ISO9001:2015
- OEKOTEX100

2) Production Certifications

Our main production processes involve cutting, sewing, printing and packing products. For the past decade, our focus has been (a) ensuring we source from ethical and accountable manufacturers and (b) to develop our own systems to be a world class model on how to do business that is good for people and places. 

If we’re honest, Freeset has a long way to go in that goal. We’re a young company in an industry traditionally known for poor labor and environmental practices. It is difficult to change attitudes and hearts of ourselves, our suppliers and our customers. But we believe it can be done. Our early days were about proving that a business built on people from difficult and at-risk communities can work. We want our next chapter to be about proving they can indeed transform.

Ethics and certifications:

 - World Fair Trade Organization Certified Member
 - A+ Ethical Fashion Grade from Baptist World Aid (2019)

Joyya's business focuses on a holistic transformation of individuals and communities (read more HERE). A core part of our impact is through creating sustainable employment for those at-risk or marginalized in our community, who struggle to get employment elsewhere. Given there are limited job's, we want to ensure we are thoughtful in deciding WHO gets a job.

A Few Key Principles

1) Differentiating between "Impact Jobs" and regular jobs

Given the communities we work in, there are certain jobs we cannot always fill locally. We want to recruit the best possible IT, HR, Finance, Marketing and Operations talent and find people who share our vision and culture. While we do search in our local communities, we also know we need to expand the pool. For these jobs where experience and talent are a must, we look for the best available candidate, regardless of where they live. 

However, for jobs where we know it is easier to develop and train people, we want to hire locally. These "Impact Jobs" are jobs we think we can use to provide employment for someone who would not get employment elsewhere. These range from entry-level jobs like cleaning, to jobs that require modest training (e.g. sewing, printing, cutting, packing). Where possible, we also try to recruit supervisory or clerical jobs from these communities.

2) Impact Jobs must be for those living in a Target Community

Poverty, addiction and exploitation are massive issues in almost every community in India. We want to consolidate our impact to make a generational change, and so we focus on a handful of communities. Currently Joyya focuses on 4 communities, and to the best of our ability, we try to maximize employment from these neighborhoods

3) Impact Jobs must balance need and aptitude

We want a job to be a real job and a not a hand-out. Therefore, we are often looking for those people who just need some training and structure to see a big improvement. We know skill development matters and we want to create good incentives to ensure people continue improving even after they start working for us.

However, we also know that sometimes the neediest among us will have limited ability to improve. Sometimes we know we need to give a job to someone just because they really need it, and they may not be the best at it, but they will be good enough, and it will mean the world for them.

Its a balancing act and we don't always get it right, but we think our approach is sound. We work with our social work and neighborhood engagement teams to understand which people need jobs and would benefit most from working with us. We use our training programs to identify skill level and potential. And after taking it all in, we make a hiring decision and hope we get it right.

So why does Joyya hire so many women?

Our goal is to create jobs for ALL people in need (men and women). We are thankful for the amazing men who are a part of our team at every level of the organization. We need them and we we need more people like them. However, there is no denying we employ a lot more women than men. This is the outcome of a few dynamics at play in our community.

1) Women tend to be more vulnerable

Gender discrimination is a reality in our communities. Keeping girls in school is a challenge, and most local companies prefer to hire men for most jobs. The simple fact is that it is hard for women in our community to get dignified stable employment. Most women either run small food shops and stores, or work as cooks and cleaners. While there are opportunities for educated women, the jobs for low-skill women is limited at best. Therefore, we find the need to be more prevalent among women in our community, and tend to hire more women as a result

2) Employing women has a larger developmental impact in at-risk communities

It might feel controversial to some, but study after study has shown that the societal benefits of employing women is massive, and is often the key to broader social improvement. Studies by multiple developmental and government agencies and private firms have shown that improving inclusion of women in the workforce has ripple effects on school enrollment, health, safety and overall income inequality. We've listed some useful studies from major aid agencies below. Even anecdotally, has experience has shown that income earned by women is more consistently reinvested into the household in the form of school fees, improved diets, home repair and retirement savings. 

- IMF: EMPOWERING WOMEN IS SMART ECONOMICS
- IFC: INVESTING IN WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT: GOOD FOR BUSINESS, GOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT
- MCKINSEY & CO: HOW ADVANCING WOMEN'S EQUALITY CAN ADD $12 TRILLION TO GLOBAL GROWTH

We believe employment is a key factor in impacting our local communities and so we try to be transparent about who we employ. To learn more about some of our hiring principles, check out this ARTICLE

We try and update these statistics regularly, but if you would like a real-time update on our hiring metrics, email us at HI@JOYYA.COM..