Can't Find A Job? Make One!

Two young graduate brothers are defying government cuts, a lack of capital funding and the recession with the maxim ‘if you can’t find a job – make one’.
Based on the Isle of Wight – which boasts the highest rate of youth unemployment for 18-25 year olds in the country – out of work Mart and Rob Drake-Knight took their remaining £200 savings and created eco fashion brand Rapanui at the height of the recession, with aim of ‘doing business the right way’. Two years later Rapanui has won a host of awards, worked with multinationals and the brothers are regularly invited to talk at universities, charities and sustainability seminars.
The Drake-Knight Brothers are an example of the wave of inspirational entrepreneurs who are making the most of unemployment lag created by the recession. What makes them stand out from the crowd is that they not just trying to create a job – but change an industry.
Rapanui makes eco clothing from natural fabrics that are fairly made and powered by wind energy – customers can find out exactly how and where their clothing is made using interactive maps on RapanuiClothing.com – a first in the fashion industry. The company is growing rapidly and has moved from parent garden shed operation to an office of 12 full time staff in two short years. The brothers attribute their success to innovative capital management and hard work.
“We started our business with virtually nothing, and we had no help with any funding for the business – the bank wouldn’t lend us money and we missed out on any regional development capital as we had been trading for too long. This meant we had to be very selective about what we invested in, like a lot of small business our growth had to be organic and we either found ways of getting high value favours for nothing or working hard to learn how to do things ourselves.” Said Mart Drake-Knight
Rob Drake-Knight says that the grant funding culture needs to change: “This highlights a real issue in start up funding – too many projects are given the green light for funding based on an idea or an imaginary cash flow forecast - we all know the statistic about 95% of businesses failing with the first three years, funding is available to help start ups but what about funding for growth – surely a better investment?”
“Regional funding is set to be cut by the government in some areas – this isn’t the worst news for people like us – it might provoke some thought into the infrastructure and categorisation of regional development funding – The Isle of Wight is grouped in with SEEDA – but the economy is more akin to Wales or Cornwall so why aren’t minor counties like the Isle of Wight treated on a case basis?
The funding argument continues to roll on but the The Drake-Knight brothers are an example of true enterprise – recognising a market, and having the drive to achieve no matter what the obstacles.
Mart said “we hope that our story will show other young people out there that you can be a success whether you wear a suit or flip flops.”
For more information on Rapanui visit www.rapanuiclothing.com/eco

ENDS

Notes to Editor
For further information please contact Rob Drake-Knight, on 01983 873430 or email rob@rapanuiclothing.com. Or for specific information on sustainability Martin Drake-Knight on 01983 873430 or email mdk@rapanuiclothing.com