notablySmitten

fragrance,artisanal

white summer - Tribe Alive

artisanal, artisans, community, ethical, fair trade, Families, handmade, job creation, kindnesseden tirlComment
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As temperatures rise, it’s important to wear clothes that are light weight. Tribe Alive’s Everyday Top is handmade in India and 100% cotton. The shirt is perfect for summer weather and it is available in sizes extra small to extra large. Your purchase will help the artisan who made it by providing employment opportunities with fair wages.

Tribe Alive partners with artisans in order to make a huge impact. Founded by Carly Burson, she has created a way to help mothers in poor communities earn a fair wage in order to provide for their children. She provides them with safe working environments, fairs wages, and empowerment.

beaded love - Sashka

artisanal, artisans, baskets, cause conscious, community, conscious, fair trade, Families, job creation, handmadeeden tirlComment
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Wear your love on your wrists with Sashka Co.'s handmade collection of bracelets. Each bracelet was handmade by an artisan located in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Their Rise Bracelet features white and gold glass beads, fitting wrists from 8 to 10 inches. Each purchase supports and empowers the artisan by helping her rise for poverty.

Sashka Co. was created in 2013 to help the artisans in Nepal make a fair wage by creating job making beautiful bracelets. Each bracelet is handmade with the finest glass beads, helping to create jobs that pay above minimum wage. 10% of their profits are also donated to charities to help spread the love

We are Smitten!

social good - Global Goods Partners

artisanal, artisans, beauty, cause conscious, conscious, earrings, ethical, Womeneden tirlComment
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notablySmitten loves Global Goods Partners. And we love this Shikamo Earring pair. Gold and black beads woven delicately and dramatically. Beautiful.

Global Goods Partners is a nonprofit social enterprise. They focus on providing employment opportunities for women in order to improve their quality of life. Since launching Global Goods Partners in 2005, they have partnered with 60 artisans in 20 countries. Their handmade goods are fair trade and in exchange they receive fair wages and stable jobs so they can thrive in their communities.

the golden compass - The Brave Collection

artisanal, artisans, conscious, ethical, fair trade, girls, handmade, healthcare, human trafficking, jewelry, necklaceseden tirlComment
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Never get lost again with The Brave Collection’s Compass Chain Necklace. The beautiful piece is handmade in Cambodia with gold vermeil. The artisans are mothers and people with disabilities that work in exchange for fair wages and access to healthcare.

Jessica Hendricks Yee founded The Brave Collection after witnessing a small Cambodian country struggle to rebuild after genocide. By launching her company, she gave many local artisans a chance to create beautiful pieces of jewelry in exchange for fair wages. In addition to that, the company donates 10% of their profits to fight human trafficking in Cambodia. 

We are so Smitten!

sage for spring - Tribe Alive

artisanal, artisans, bags, Families, job creation, kindness, Womeneden tirlComment
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The Bitty Crossbody Bag from Tribe Alive is probably the cutest bag you’ll own. Made to fit your essentials, the bag is handmade in India featuring waterproof suede and an adjustable shoulder strap. It’s also available in black and in this beautiful sage suede color that makes it perfect for warmer weather.

Tribe Alive was founded by Carly Burson. Since then she has been committed to using her brand as a way to help those in developing countries get out of poverty. She built relationships with female artisans in Guatemala, India, Haiti, and Honduras to provide you with high quality goods. In exchange, the artisans gain a fair wage and a safe working environment. 

We’re delightfully Smitten!

make a statement - Cambio & Co.

cause conscious, community, conscious, earrings, ethical, fair trade, jewelry, job creation, artisanal, artisanseden tirlComment
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A pair of statement earrings can really change the way you look and feel. It adds that extra spark to any outfit. The Renata Capiz Earrings from Cambio & Co. are both beautiful and elegant. Made out of sustainable Capiz Shell, each piece is individually cut and coated with resin so they’ll last you a long time. 

Cambio’s mission is to offer ethical pieces made in the Philippines. With your support, the company is able to employ local artisans and provide them with fair wages. In doing so, they’re able to help their artisans become economically successful while celebrating Filipino culture at the same time. 

warm up - sackcloth and ashes

artisanal, blankets, cause conscious, community, ethical, gifts, social sustainabilityeden tirlComment
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Sackcloth and Ashes knows how to keep you cozy just as much as a hot chocolate knows how you keep you warm. Their blankets, made from cruelty-free alpaca wool, offer a variety of designs from tribal to southwestern. They are made for your home and are perfect for travel. Made in Italy, their blankets are eco-friendly and sustainable so even Mother Earth loves them!

Founded in 2013 by Bob Dalton, Sackcloth and Ashes had brought attention to local homeless shelters and their needs. Which is why for every blanket that is sold, Sackcloth and Ashes donates one to a homeless shelter.

Smitten!

made to empower - Krochet Kids

100% vegan, artisanal, backpacks, cause conscious, ethical, handmadeeden tirlComment
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I like to carry A LOT with me. Minimalist? What’s that? But really, not everything fits inside my small purse. Krochet Kids’ Ridgeview Backpack provides the perfect solution. Made with vegan leather, it’s durable and available in multiple colors. Each piece is handmade and signed by the women who makes them. 

Krochet Kids was founded by Kohl Crecelius in 2007.  Since then, he has committed to help provide jobs and fair wages to poverty-stricken women in Uganda and Peru. Along with providing employment opportunities, each purchase also gives these women the empowerment they didn’t know they had.

Smitten!

beautifully compassionate - Rosena Sammi

artisanal, bangles, human trafficking, handmade, girlseden tirlComment
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For someone who’s constantly wearing black, a pop of color makes the biggest impact. The Nirvanam Bangles from Rosena Sammi are a true beauty. Made from sari fabrics, the bangles make a big statement and support a cause. Nirvanam is the Sankrit word for bliss, and each piece is handmade by a woman rescued from sex trafficking.

 After relaunching the brand in 2017, Rosena Sammi made the commitment to make the world a better place for the sake of her two daughters. She partners with Apne Aap, a charity dedicated to rescuing young girls from the redlight districts located in India.

We’re Smitten!

Olori

artisanal, cause conscious, bags, ethical, fashion, girls, handbag, handmadeeden tirlComment
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Olori is a company that finally agrees with my royal status (I’m extra, I know). They offer crossbody bags made from durable leather, featuring adjustable straps and a flap made from a special Nigerian textile. Olori is the Yoruba word for Queen, which is why they state that each piece is made for a queen- how fitting! The bags are available in nine different colors and textures.

Founded by Tomide Awe, she believes every girl is a queen. Education is expensive in Africa. Unfortunately, many girls cannot afford school which is why each bag that’s sold provides tuition fees for a girl living in Africa.

Smitten!

large beaded hoops, never a bad idea - Global Goods Partners

artisanal, beads, cause conscious, cooperatives, earrings, fair trade, fashion, gifts, global, gold, jewelry, job creation, social sustainabilityeden tirlComment
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These hoops are noteworthy, uncomplicated, not quotidian in any way! Made in Tanzania, they are simply stunning - versatile, from sneaks to pumps...the perfect hoop!

  • 2"D 14k gold hoop
  • Glass beads
  • 24k gold plated glass beads

Global Goods Partners is a not-for-profit enterprise, creating sustainable jobs for women to help the development of their communities, as well as the prosperity of families.

GGP partners with women-led, community-based organizations, and invests all proceeds from product sales back in to training and funding, enabling their partners to prosper and thrive well into the future.  

Since 2005, GG has partnered with over 60 artisan groups in more than 20 countries throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas. "Each artisan that creates products for GGP earns reliable, fair living wages and gains experience that can add benefit to all aspects of her life."

love potion #9 - Brooklyn Candle Studio

100% vegan, artisanal, candles, cause conscious, charity, fragrance, organiceden tirlComment
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Brooklyn Candle Studio’s candles are the closest thing to perfect that we’re willing to set on fire. Their design is gorgeous and minimalist, their scents are rich with memory, and their ingredients are American-grown and eco-friendly.  Each 100% vegan candle is made from American-grown soybeans, led free cotton wicks, and a blend of essential oils and phthalate-free perfume oils. They each hold 60 hours of burn life, which translates into some major relaxation time.

After the horrible events led by hate groups in Charlottesville in August 2017, founder and designer Tamara Mayne decided to donate 10% of every Love Potion #9 candle to the ACLU in an effort to support the legal fight for equality.  She notes she was called to share profits with the ACLU “as a woman, a mother, an Asian-American, as an employer of women and minorities, and, frankly, as a human being”.  We must have fallen under the Love Potion spell, because we love these candles as much as we love this cause.

beauty and the beach bag - Indego Africa

artisanal, bags, baskets, cause conscious, community, cooperatives, education, fashion, global, handbag, handmade, job creation, upcyclededen tirlComment
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Indego Africa is a non-profit that pairs a NYC-based design team with female artisans in Rwanda and Ghana to create stylish and expertly crafted goods.  All of their goods are created by hand using traditional techniques of weaving, block printing, beading, embroidery, wood carving, and metal shaping. A classic example of the highly-skilled sweetgrass weaving technique can be found in the gorgeous and versatile Palm Tote! Perfect for beach days or a trip to the market, the Palm Tote is a beautiful way to make a statement with your accessory while renewing your commitment to help break the cycle of poverty.

Founded in 2007, Indego Africa believes that education is the key to long-term empowerment.  To that end, they are committed to providing fair wages as well as leadership training, business classes, technology workshops, and public health programs to the artisans they partner with to create Indego Africa’s designs.  100% of their profits, combined with grants and private donations, go back to the artisan’s communities. As of 2017, they have positively impacted 1,100 women in Rwanda and Ghana.

Indeed Smitten!

huile de parfum by notablySmitten

100% natural, beauty, bridesmaids gifts, cause conscious, clean water, fragrance, organic, perfume, watereden tirlComment
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I put my whole heart into this fragrance, I hope it will inspire you as much as it has me!

When I say this little bottle of perfume is heavenly, I speak the truth.  Delectable citrus notes start off at the top, rich and creamy Madagascar Vanilla fills out the middle...ginger, vetiver and sage finish the scent. It's got a fetching, come-hither quality...nectarous and sexy. 

This bewitching fragrance is notablySmitten's first signature scent - ten percent of each bottle will go toward purchasing Wello Waterwheels for regions of the country that are faced with dire challenges accessing water. 

notablySmitten loves Wello and wants you to know more about this important company here.

Gracious and Smitten.

perfectly perfumed, charitable, and For the World - Pour le Monde

100% natural, cause conscious, charity, ethical, fragrance, organic, perfumeeden tirlComment
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Wendi Berger, always excited to work on fragrance launches while working at such high profile fashion books as ELLE, In Style and Vanity Fair...eventually created her own in 2010. The difference? Pour le Monde, For the World, is the first certified 100% natural fine fragrance. It took two years to develop this spread of elegant fragrances. Two years of trial and task, breaking through with these three natural perfume creations - each one benefitting a special charity to boot.

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Pictured above is Envision; a smooth, sensuous, long lingering perfume. With top notes of Bergamot, Brazilian Orange and Pink Peppercorns. The middle remains with Lavender from the South of France and Egytian Geranium Rose. The base is warm and sexy with a kick of Indonesian Patchouli, Sandalwood and the creamy smell of Madagascar Vanilla. This is a luxurious scent that you deserve to wear!

Of course Smitten.

signature huile de parfum - mandarine spice notablySmitten/limited edition

cause conscious, ethical, fragrance, holiday, perfume, stocking stuffers, watereden tirlComment
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When I say this little bottle of perfume is heavenly, I speak the truth.  Delectable citrus notes start off at the top, rich and creamy Madagascar Vanilla fills out the middle...ginger, vetiver and sage finish the scent. It's got a fetching, come-hither quality...nectarous and sexy. 

This bewitching fragrance is notablySmitten's first signature scent - ten percent of each bottle will go toward purchasing Wello Waterwheels for regions of the country that are faced with dire challenges accessing water. 

notablySmitten loves Wello and wants you to know more about this important company here.

Totally notably Smitten!

fragrant integrity - The 7 Virtues

beauty, cause conscious, cosmetics, ethical, fragrance, gifts, perfumeeden tirlComment
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So I am a little late to this party...but currently completely mad for Canadian Company, The 7 Virtues. Make Perfume Not War is their mission...creating perfumes using raw materials sourced from communities in Afghanistan and other war-torn areas, including Haiti, Rwanda and the Middle East, that are working to rebuild themselves.

Creator and CEO Barb Stegemann wanted to offer farmers in Afghanistan a financially viable alternative to growing illegal poppy crops, that create hazards both in their communities and our own.

So, The 7 Virtues sources all essential oils from their supplier/farmers in Afghanistan, who then are able to provide seasonal employment for their tribes and communities, to create Afghanistan Orange Blossom and Noble Rose of Afghanistan.

As the company has grown, they have found suppliers in Haiti (where the Vetiver oil is considered the best in the world) to create Vetiver of Haiti.

Patchouli of Rwanda combines soothing green hibiscus, red grapefruit, cedar flower and freesia notes to compliment the earthy patchouli harvested by adult orphans and widows of the genocide.

The Middle East Peace fragrance, which blends the sweetie grapefruit essential oil from the Sharon Region of Israel with lime & basil essential oils from the Fars Province of Iran, was inspired by the wildly successful "We Love You Iran/Israel" campaign.

All fragrances are vegan, phthalate and paraben free.

Brilliantly Smitten.

give and love - Coco Shine Prosperity Candle

candles, cause conscious, ethical, fragrance, upcyclededen tirlComment
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I'm truly not one to make any sort of deal out of Valentine's Day...I've always thought it a wee silly. But if you're going to participate, and purchase anything for anyone this season, why not this exquisite candle?

The gorgeous Coco Shine collection comes in five luxurious scents, as well as non-scented. Created by Prosperity Candles, they smell divine and are poured into recyclable, real coconut shells (5 - 6 inches in diameter!) Made by women artisans from Vietnam, once refugees, now working to build beautiful brighter futures for themselves in western Massachusetts.

Each candle comes gift boxed and wrapped, including a portrait, the signature and story of the woman who made it.

A sense of purpose...

I love this company...Smitten.

great, good, amazing - GIVESCENT

conscious, ethical, fragrance, gifts, perfumeeden tirlComment
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I am a madwoman for fragrances. I change my “go to” every 3-4 months...and usually have an alternate for my "go to" on standby! One of my new favorite finds is GIVESCENT, created by acclaimed yoga teacher Elena Brower, founder of Virayoga in NYC. 

After spending time teaching in Italy, getting exhilarated by all that surrounded her, she discovered an almond oil blend that inspired her to create her own fragrance. She partnered with Alexandra Lyon Perelman and paired the almond scent with a summery citrus blend, thus creating the original signature scent. It is a deliciously provocative, inspiring essence. Love it!

They now have 3 singular fragrances (free of alcohol, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates and sulfates...and cruelty free) to choose from:

Signature - a captivating blend of sun-ripened citrus and spicy vanilla 

Green - an invigorating blend of bergamot, lemon and mint 

Orange - a sensuous blend of bergamot, grapefruit and musk 

Here’s what I love most: 

From the purchase of each bottle of GIVESCENT orange, $2 will be given to benefit Every Mother Counts. And 5% of all proceeds from GIVESCENT signature and GIVESCENT green will go toward benefitting Women for Women International. Don't you just love that!  

Smell great. Do good. Feel amazing! 

Am Smitten.

upcycling elephant poo for holiday cards! - Holstee

100% natural, artisanal, conscious, elephants, environmentally caring, gifts, handmade, holiday cards, upcyclededen tirl1 Comment
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Are you looking for a holiday card that is both planet conscious and charitable? Well, I was too! I am a huge fan of all things letterpress, and I love communique the old fashioned way... the US postal service. Thus, while looking for an enchanting, simple, well designed card to mail out for the upcoming holidays, I was more than pleased to stumble upon Holstee.com.

Their choice of printing paper: 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper. Yes! The paper is handmade, acid free and 100% natural.

Delightful designs, letterpress printed in silver, blue and gold inks on white cotton paper. Each set comes with six 5"x7" cards and six envelopes. The cards are blank, giving you the opportunity to pen your own singular, spectacular greeting. 

 Holstee offers an array of cards, posters and other colorful, uncommon gift items.

A portion of all proceeds go towards funding Kiva microloans.

Smitten with Holstee.