What is Taylor & Khoo
Taylor & Khoo: from the beginning...
On 30 June 2002, Kylie Taylor and Valerie Khoo visited an orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In this tiny, single-storey building in the countryside, the reality of the country's poverty and legacies of Cambodia's recent tragic history were seen in the faces of the 60 children who live within its walls.
In one of the poorest countries in the world, orphanages like the Sunrise Angkor Children's Village in Siem Reap barely survive. The orphanage stretches its US$5 (A$8.50; S$9) a day government funding to feed, clothe and accommodate all 60 orphans. There is little - if anything - left over. When the children are sick, there's no money for a doctor or medicine.
The poverty pervading Cambodia is hard to comprehend - and these babies and children are only barely subsisting. But their hardship is multiplied by the simple fact they have no parents. No warm loving home, no security, and simply no one to hold them at night.
Although Kylie and Valerie's visit to the orphanage was brief, the effect was profound. Following another visit to a centre for babies with HIV in Phnom Penh, the two friends are now both dedicated to giving orphans in extreme poverty a chance to live, learn and grow. Or at the very least, a chance to eat, survive and afford basic medical care.
To this end, Kylie and Valerie established Taylor & Khoo as a fashion and homewares label with a social cause. All profits from the sale of Taylor & Khoo merchandise are used for food, medicine and other basic necessities for the orphanage.
Taylor & Khoo also supports income generation for disadvantaged groups in Cambodia. Taylor & Khoo clothing and homewares are made by individual seamstresses and workshops that employ disadvantaged groups.
The ultimate aim is for Taylor & Khoo to be a self-sustaining, profit-making venture that will eventually be able to operate without Kylie and Valerie's day-to-day involvement, and to continue to generate funds for orphans in poverty in the years to come.
How do we raise funds for the orphanage?
Funds are raised through two main avenues. Firstly, funds are raised through the sale of exquisite Taylor & Khoo clothes and homewares made in Indochina. Taylor & Khoo features specially designed clothes in beautiful Cambodian silk. The range also includes unique homewares such as sumptuous silk patchwork bedspreads, embroidered cushions, raw silk wraps, silk placemats and beaded silk jewellery rolls and boxes. All profits from the business go to the orphanage.
Secondly, direct donations are also accepted. Supporters are welcome to make direct donations. See How to Donate for more information. The full amount of the donation goes to the orphanage.
Creating income for individuals in Cambodia
Apart from raising funds for the orphanage, Taylor & Khoo helps to generate new income for Cambodian small businesses and individuals. Instead of buying from a handful of factories or suppliers, Taylor & Khoo sources its production to a wide variety of individuals, small family businesses, workshops employing disadvantaged groups and market stalls..
About Kylie Taylor and Valerie Khoo
Neither Kylie or Valerie derive any income from Taylor & Khoo. All profits from Taylor & Khoo are used to support the orphanage.
Kylie Taylor is group managing director of Baldwin Boyle Group, a public affairs consultancy in Melbourne. Valerie Khoo is director of the Sydney Writers’ Centre, Australia’s leading centre for writing training.
Both women have considerable experience in the corporate world and are committed to their individual professional businesses. They are equally committed to making a difference to the lives of the orphans in poverty. The women first formed their partnership in kindergarten in the southern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, at the age of five.
Taylor & Khoo has been honoured to receive:
- 2004 Family Circle Women Who Dare Awards
- 2005 Austraiian Humanitarian Awards
- 2005 Australia Post Small Business Awards Special Judges Commendation
- 2006 UTS Alumni Leadership Award
- 2006 Anthill 10 Coolest Companies in Australia.
All prize money was donated directly to support the orphanage.
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