This Dallas Entrepreneur Believed in Social Consciousness Before It Was Cool

When Brittany Merrill Underwood founded Akola Project, 10 years ago, she had big plans.

Her socially conscious jewelry, Akola, has impact from start to finish through employing, training, and paying women: Female workers in Uganda create handmade beads, then the jewelry is assembled by women in Uganda and Dallas. Finally, Akola’s distribution center in Dallas employs women with criminal records to help them re-enter the workforce.

More businesses are being founded with benevolent bents, and top universities (University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Harvard Business School) have added programs on impact investing, but Akola was ahead of the trend. And, it’s paid off.

This month, Akola launches at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide, and is the first full-impact luxury brand to be sold at the retailer. Events and trunk shows are scheduled across the country, and Dallas is the first location … a fête takes place on Thursday, September 22. Powerhouse Dallas women are on Akola’s board (Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, Connie Copley, Ashlee Kleinert), and the event has all the makings of a must-attend.

From $105, exclusively at Neiman Marcus.