upcycled neckwear - Article 22

This Talisman necklace is a magnificent, elegant piece of jewelry...with an extraordinary story.

I introduced Article 22 to notablySmitten last year...and I am thrilled to continue to write about this unprecedented company.

Made by artisans in Laos. These jewelry pieces are made from a combination of Vietnam War era bombs, plane parts, and other aluminum scrap. Each Peacebomb is hand poured and cast in wood and ash molds.

This gorgeous neckpiece comes complete with story card and hand-woven cotton pouch.

Your choice of chain: rose gold, yellow gold or sterling silver.

Forever Smitten.

exquisite...delicious, sole sister bangles - Sseko Designs

These are the most delicately crafted, perfect brass bangles! Thinking about a uniquely flawless bridesmaids gift? Well, these are it...Sole Sister Bangles!

The names imprinted into the metal are those of women that live a million miles away. The idea here is, that by wearing another woman's name on your arm, you are reminded that you are not alone, and that her life and story may not be all that different from your own.

These bangles represent the global community of tenacious, powerful, talented, loving women that we gals are all a part of.

After a trip to Uganda (shortly after completing University in 2008,) Liz Forkin Bohannon, became witness to the enormous gap in gender and education there. Concerned, she began to create relationships and connections with women living in severe poverty.

Without a question, she stayed in Uganda, and slowly began to build what is now an organization, Sseko Designs, that supports women with fair wages and a workplace founded on dignity, grace and dedication.

Sseko also supports women in Uganda with the work experience and money needed to go to University. 

Wholeheartedly beautiful.

Entirely Smitten.

display your fight against hunger..."Darcy" charm necklace - Half United

Yes, the "Darcy" necklace from Half United is delicate, charming...and tis' delightful. Handmade in Los Angeles, the charm is stamped with LOVE...literally. But the most important bit to know about the "Darcy" is that it feeds hungry children.

For every product purchased, Half United will give 7 meals to a child in need! Currently focused on the United States, Fiji, Cambodia and Haiti.

Food is really just the beginning for Half United. Currently primarily focused on hunger-alleviation, they also have strategically partnered with organizations that work hard to empower, educate, and inspire the children, families, and communities they feed.

Hangs on an elegant 18" gold plated chain. And also available with the words "GIVE" and "FEED"...

Smitten!

summer joy. . .perfectly patterned shorts - Mayamiko

These snappy shorts are perfectly printed, pastel and are necessary for this cloudless, sunny summer weather!  Fashioned from traditional African cotton (known as kitenge or chitenge,) these "bloomers" are just what your wardrobe wants.

If you are looking for natty, jazzy, modern textiles and design...check out Mayamiko.

Ethically made in Malawi, Mayamiko is an exciting collection of clothing, accessories and home wares - intermixing traditional African techniques with contemporary designs.

Established by Paolo Masperi in 2013, the collections are produced at the Mayamiko Lab just outside Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. The Lab was designed to provide skills training, education, nutrition, and promote fairer trade practices. Currently the project provides training in sewing and tailoring to local, disadvantaged women affected by the HIV pandemic.

Working diligently to help lift this part of the world out of poverty.

Paying living wages and adhering to their Ethical Promise, Mayamiko helps to keep graduates and local staff employed. They also fully fund the workshop activities and reinvest in the growth of their workshops.

P.S. They also have a very cool line called Rebirth. A fully up-cycled capsule collection, giving a whole new life to pre-loved reclaimed fabrics.

Love...Smitten.

right-sized, go-to make-up bag - All Across Africa

This is just a simply perfect gift for any pal in your life that deserves a little pick-me-up. It's bright, colorful, chic, and functional. Would make a divine gift for bridesmaids as well...filled with all their favorite beauty effects!

 ·      Approximately 5” X 4”

·      African cotton print fabric with plastic liner

·      Made in Burundi

These right-sized, go-to bags are made with pride by youth from the north of Burundi, trained to create income for their families and future. 

All Across Africa is a Benefit Corporation. A new, revolutionary class of corporation, working to create a positive impact on society and the environment without losing sight of their bottom line.

It's a healthy, sustainable business model, which does not rely solely on fundraising and donations.

Their work reaches deep into rural villages in the under-served areas of rural Africa, providing artisans with a "market bundle" that includes education, finance, materials, training and market access.

While financial aid has many benefits, All Across Africa believes providing jobs and promoting self-sufficiency, creates a true partnership between the artisans and the market.

"It allows us to offer training to create the highest quality product so that each season there is a market for their outstanding workmanship."

Smitten again!!

super, sexy, sustainable - Thinx

How excited could one possibly get over undies? The answer is quite! I am quite crazed about these deliciously sexy, well-designed and logical undergarments! Thinx is not only covering booties...but kicking booty as well!

As women, girls, gals...we have all had the experience of leaking through a tampon or pad and ruining a pair of fantabulous undies. This is a bummer...but not nearly as bad as not having access to tampons or pads in the first place.

This is mad but true: 100 million girls in the developing world fall behind in school because of their periods. In some countries, girls are made to feel shame about their periods, and very often are not able to afford disposable pads or tampons. Over time, many are forced to drop out. (In Uganda, girls miss around 11% of their academic year because of their periods, according to a report on menstrual management.)

The gals behind Thinx (self-absorbing underwear) are sisters Radha and Miki Agrawal and Antonia Dunbar, who saw a need and filled it...handily!

The women patented their THINX QuadTECH technology, and created these ingenious undies that come in three different styles: Thong, Cheeky, and Hiphugger, with prices ranging from $24 to $34.

Here's how it comes together for all of us:

~ You buy a pair of Thinx panties (or build a cycle set)...for your needs and comfort during the month.

~ Thinx then send funds to their partner organization, AFRIpads (which is on the ground in Uganda with 130 employees and four factories.)

~ AFRIpads trains women to sew and sell washable, reusable cloth pads, turning local women into entrepreneurs!

~ A girl is then able to purchase an affordable and sustainable pack of pads, keeping them in school every day of the month.

These undies are brilliant and I am Smitten.

wear peace - Falling Whistles

Falling Whistles gives palpable meaning to the words "statement jewelry."

In 2008, adventurer and activist Sean Carasso traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where one of the world’s most savage wars has dragged on for decades. He learned children too small to carry weapons were being sent ahead of troops to the front lines to blow whistles warning soldiers of approaching enemy fire.

Horrified and appalled, Carasso and friends began to spread the word...and Falling Whistles was conceived.

The whistle pendant designs are very similar to those worn by the children. These powerful pieces were created not only to aid those affected by this merciless war, but as a statement of shared intention to end this heinous practice.

Today Falling Whistles works alongside Congolese community leaders to help war-affected children with rehabilitation programs and to help advocate their freedom. 100 percent of all proceeds are invested back into Falling Whistles.

I am Smitten with this campaign, this movement!

Wear Peace.

upcycled baubles - 31 Bits

This vibrant, beautiful, multihued adornment is made out of paper. Yes...paper! Each and every bead is created using hand rolled paper. All jewelry at 31 Bits is hand crafted by women artisans living in Uganda.

31 Bits began five years ago, when 5 college friends, Kallie Dovel, Alli Swanson, Anna Toy, Brooke Hodges, and Jessie Simonson, with graduation just a year away, found their lives changing drastically.

Kallie, had just returned from a trip to Uganda where she met and spent time with women that had grown up in war and had nothing. They were single moms with no education and no job prospects. What struck Kallie the most, the women were her age. The contrast of the lives the women were leading was stark.

Kallie witnessed, that though the women had not had the opportunity of an education, they made up for that with amazing artistry and ingenuity - making unique, beauteous jewelry out of old posters.   

Miss Dovel brought a box of the jewelry back with her, when the rest of the friends fell in love with it, they all knew a business was emerging.

A few of the girls went back the following summer and spent time with the women making jewelry and sharing life stories. Kallie stayed through the following year, setting up the organization.

Fantastic!

31 Bits has also implemented a five-year holistic development program in Uganda, where each woman receives health education, finance training, counseling, and business training. They currently have 120 women in the program whose lives have been transformed.

100% Smitten.

Through your purchase, you are helping to empower women rise above poverty with dignity and grace.

breathe, love, dream - The Giving Keys

It was late in the month November 2013. I had waited until the last minute (surprise!) to get my husband a 4th year anniversary gift. This was actually not so much about my procrastination issues, more the lack of inspiration for a unique, meaningful gift.

I don’t go for all the traditional elemental gifts: paper, brass, china...all that. I just wanted to get him something that had significance and expressed love.

As it was the eleventh hour, I had very little time before dinner reservations at 8:30. I landed at a tried and true, happening boutique off of Melrose that I frequent for gifts. I scanned the men’s section with keen eyes and landed on a case filled with colorful, sporty, rubber watches. They didn’t necessarily scream “significant”...but they were hip, manly and fun.

Out of the corner of my eye to my left, I spied some dangly well-worn chains swinging. At the bottom of each chain was an intriguing tattered key with an imprinted word on the front: HOPE, FAITH, FEARLESS, COURAGE, LOVE. I was instantly attracted. The placard on the wooden display read:

The Giving Keys

"When you get this key, you must give it away at some point to a person you feel needs the message on there. Then write us the story of why you gave it away."

The chains with keys were delicious looking, I loved the instructions, but the last sentence on the mission statement knocked me out:

We employ those who are looking to transition out of homelessness.

The Giving Keys was founded by Caitlin Crosby (an actress and singer/songwriter,) when she began wearing a NY hotel room key around her neck as decor. She had the idea of engraving old keys with inspirational words. She felt we were all like these keys...unique, scarred, flawed, and at risk of being discarded.

The idea was for the keys to be repurposed over and over. The message on the key is yours until it has served you, then you pay it forward to inspire someone else.

The charitable dimension came to be after Caitlin met Rob and Cera sitting under an umbrella on Hollywood Boulevard with a sign that read: Ugly, Broke & Hungry. Over dinner, Caitlin discovered that Cera made jewelry. Both Rob and Cera joined the team and started making Giving Keys the next day.

Later, the business partnered with the United Way and PATH (a reputable transitional home in Los Angeles,) to help to find workers to employ and help build The Giving Keys team. 

Since the beginning, The Giving Keys has employed 19 people experiencing homelessness, helping to provide opportunities for the team members to move into permanent housing.

The 'Pay It Forward' blog is really terrific!

So I found the one that was imprinted with LOVE. There were a few ancillary gifts that evening...the chain with the aged key was the one that made the impression I was hoping for. 

I’m Smitten with The Giving Keys. 

They are carried in over 500 stores in the US and internationally. Anthropologie, Fred Segal, Henri Bendel and Kitson to name a few local to Los Angeles.