We empower veteran employment at every stage of our business, including the design process, manufacturing, fulfillment, sales, and even lookbook modeling. Since 2012, Sword & Plough has helped support over 65 veteran jobs through positions on our own team, with our contract manufacturing partners (which are veteran owned or partially staffed by veterans), through our veteran owned fulfillment center, and via our Brand Champion program.
They are all about veterans – buying from male and female owned veteran businesses, employing military personal and veterans (or their spouses) and also giving back a percentage of their sales to charities. Find other veteran owned businesses to shop at.
Our name, Sword & Plough, originates from the ancient phrase “to turn swords into ploughshares,” which means to take military technologies and materials and apply them to peaceful civilian applications. And that’s exactly what our mission is at Sword and Plough. Most individuals use some form of bag throughout their days. By recycling and repurposing military gear with a fashionable touch, and working with veterans, Sword & Plough creates sturdy and sophisticated products, whose sale empowers veteran employment, reduce waste and strengthen civil-military understanding. In this way, our bags are rugged, refined and relevant.
All of these experiences culminated in Sword & Plough’s creation during Emily’s senior year at college. After listening to an inspiring speech by Jacqueline Novagratz during Middlebury’s first social entrepreneurship symposium, a light bulb clicked on – Emily began to think ‘What in my life is often discarded and could be turned into something beautiful with a purposeful mission?” How incredible would it be to repurpose military surplus material into durable and fashionable bags that people could use every day? By incorporating veterans into every stage of the business (from design, to sewing, management, fulfillment, sales, even modeling), we could empower veteran employment. Through its branding and outreach, Sword & Plough could help bridge the civil-military divide. The repurposed bags could be used as conversation pieces and the company could become a platform to strengthen understanding between civilians and the veteran community. Inspired to give back to the veteran community through sustainable fashion, Sword & Plough was born!
Sisters Emily and Betsy founded this handbag and accessories company. Emily is an officer in the U.S. Army. The term “sword and plough” is from the saying “to turn swords into plough shares.” They say its meaning is “to take military technologies and materials and apply them to peaceful civilian applications.” Ten percent of profits go to veteran organizations. I am coveting the Camo Signature Zip Top Tote Bag.
Sword & Plough is committed to strengthening civil-military understanding. Our team knows that veterans are highly skilled technical professionals, problem solvers, and proven leaders who are empowering assets to civilian communities and companies. Through our products, social media, email, blog and public speaking opportunities, we work to educate others about the value that veterans provide.
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