Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, chats with Rick Desai, cofounder of Dashfire, during a mentor session on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, chats with Rick Desai, cofounder of Dashfire, during a mentor session on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, chats with Rick Desai, cofounder of Dashfire, during a mentor session on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, chats with Rick Desai, cofounder of Dashfire, during a mentor session on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, chats with Rick Desai, cofounder of Dashfire, during a mentor session on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, works to partner with fashion brands to increase the products that they source from artisans in developing countries on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, works to partner with fashion brands to increase the products that they source from artisans in developing countries on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, works to partner with fashion brands to increase the products that they source from artisans in developing countries on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, works to partner with fashion brands to increase the products that they source from artisans in developing countries on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Kathleen Wright, founder and CEO of Collaborative Group, works to partner with fashion brands to increase the products that they source from artisans in developing countries on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. l Stacie Scott~Sun-Times Media

Chantal sews traditional batik fabric in Kpalime, Togo, West Africa. Job opportunities for women in West Africa are traditionally scarce but through her work with Chicago-based Collaborative Group, Chantal now runs her own workshop and employs 15 women.

From left to right: Antonia, Micaela and Matea weave textiles in traditional techniques to form intricate patterns in fabrics that will be sold to fashion retailers in the United States. These three women are a part of a collaborative of 26 women in Guatemala supporting themselves and their families by partnering with a Chicago startup