When former Bournemouth University student Candra Johnson moved in as a lodger with Saskia Daggett neither knew that their new arrangement would turn into a philanthropic business venture.

The friends have just launched Global Tribe Clothing Co, selling eco-friendly, sustainable clothing with meaning and message.

Working with designers from around the world, their designs highlight activists and communities working to make the world a fairer and better place for all.

They said: “In recent years, the world can sometimes feel a bit bleak and people feel they can’t affect change.

“But the truth is that people are the only ones that make change happen.

“We want people to feel they can make a difference and change the world and we want to celebrate that.”

The Global Tribe will support The Mizizi Project.

It was founded by Saskia, pictured left, and brings together a network of global game changers to get to the root of the problems and find solutions to global inequality and injustice.

With a background in international development, and having spent her career in the charity sector, Saskia, 42, moved back to the UK in 2016 after living for nearly ten years in Uganda.

Candra, 24, studied sound and music production at Bournemouth University and worked as a chef in the town.

She moved in with Saskia last year.

Saskia said: “Covid brought us together.

“We had to take in lodgers because I couldn’t find work, so it’s a really happy coincidence.”

Candra said: “We got on right away and we share the same life values.

“We were talking about The Mizizi Project and how to set up a business to help it and I said I’d love to do it!”

Saskia had already been to an event hosted by Outset.

Based in Bournemouth and part of the European-funded Dorset Business Growth Partnership, the service provides Dorset start-up businesses with free 1:1 mentoring, workshops and events.

Saskia said: “Their support really helped to broaden our horizons for the business.

“The best part is that they break everything down and so you know what the next step to take is.

“You get that big picture strategic support and have a plan of how to approach it and what to do next.

“Having that support for free was amazing – we didn’t have the money for that level of quality expertise.

“Outset helped to break things down and create work plans to go through systematically.”

Candra added that 1:1 mentoring with Yvonne Lee and Sarah Veakins had helped them grow new confidence and skills.

Outset and GetSet for Growth are both brands of the national group, YTKO.

More than 22,500 businesses have been assisted by YTKO’s services since 2006.

According to an independent impact assessment commissioned in 2020, YTKO’s support has enabled the creation of 6,574 businesses, over 10,500 sustainable new jobs and an estimated £2.61bn in sales income.

The businesses that have received support in that time have also been proved to be fitter and better funded.

Over 76 per cent of new firms survive more than three years and have raised around £71.3m of growth finance.

For free bespoke business support and mentoring visit outset.org/east-dorset.

To support Saskia and Candra visit globaltribeclothing.com