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!

clever, pretty panties - Good and Fair

Looking for yummy, sexy, sporty, altogether covered panties? Well, look no further...the perfect knickers!

These are made of soft, 95% organic cotton and 5% Lycra...creating an ideal amount of softness and stretch. These are super-fitting, low rise with a supple elastic waistband.

Good and Fair Clothing produces its wares ethically, with a funding and supply chain dedicated to treating workers with dignity and respect.

Fair Trade Certified, Good and Fair also produces other basics such as tees, scarves and boxers for the guys!

How could we not be...Smitten!

bead and leather wrap bangle - Global Good Partners

Pretty. Elegant. Shimmery. Dress your well-worn jean shorts and unblemished white t-shirt with this gorgeous triple wrap bangle. These brilliant beads stand brilliantly on their own, no need for stacking here.

Your purchase supports and empowers deaf artisans in Kenya.

~ Czech glass beads, locally sourced leather, brass (stamped charm)

~ 1/4" W, adjustable length 20", 21", 32"

~ Wraps 3 times

Both professionals in International Development, it was part of Catherine Lieber Shimony and Joan Shifrin's job to travel to impoverished areas around the world to see what could be improved. What they began to witness over and over again, were creative, energized women producing magnifient handmade goods...yet, they lacked any access to sustainable markets in which to sell their products.

Catherine and Joan had witnessed women in marginalized communities throughout Asia, Africa, and the US being able to advance the wellness of their families when their income was stabilized. In 2005, the friends founded Global Goods Partners to create a practical pathway for women to generate income opportunities and gain access into the consumer marketplace for handmade, fair trade merchandise.

Global Goods Partners (GGP) is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting social justice and empowers women to create sustainable change.

Yes...Smitten!

infinity hoops - Same Sky

These Silver Infinity Hoops are deeee-lish. A perfect gift.

Handcrafted in Rwanda.  Each pair is finely crocheted with metallic plated seed beads on 24-karat hoops. Hoops measure 1.5” in diameter.

Same Sky is working as a trade initiative to create employment opportunities for women in Rwanda struggling to lift their lives out of poverty.

In 1994, nearly one million people were murdered in just 100 days during the genocide in Rwanda. A quarter of a million women were raped, and 70% contracted HIV/AIDS. These women were used as weapons of war, left as widows, single mothers and orphaned girls. Same Sky was born with a mission to help them. 

Transformation happens with the dignity of work and the freedom of being self-sufficient. Same Sky employs the artisans of Rwanda, giving them fair wages and further training and education necessary for them to live empowered lives.

“Talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t”— Same Sky aims to change that.

A purchase of Infinity Hoop Earrings bonds you eternally with a woman a world away.

Infinity Hoops come in Silver and Gold.

Same Sky Smitten!

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.

socially conscious since 2007 - FEED

I cannot do a blog about conscious gifts and giving and not write about Lauren Bush Lauren, who had the brilliant idea in 2007 of founding FEED. 

As an Honorary Student Spokesperson for the World Food Programme she had witnessed the effects of hunger firsthand and decided FEED’s mission would be: "Creating Good Products That Help FEED the World."

The conscious company’s first creation was the FEED 1 Bag, a reversible burlap and organic cotton bag stamped with "FEED the Children of the World" and the number '1' to signify that each bag would provide enough meals to feed one child in school for one year.

Every product sold has a measurable donation attached to it. To date, FEED has been able to provide nearly 84 million meals globally through the WFP and Feeding America. FEED has also supported nutrition programs around the world, providing over 3.6 million children with Vitamin A supplements through the WFP and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Throughout the years, FEED has also forged successful partnerships with Target, Disney, Pottery Barn, Clarins, Whole Foods Market, Gap, Tory Burch, Rachel Roy, DKNY, Links of London, Godiva and TOMS, among many others.

Smitten with FEED.

put your money where your lips are - Yum Balms

Who knew that an attractive little tube of delectable shiny lip balm could do so much good in the world? Jody Weiss did! 

In 2002 Jody created an all-natural cosmetics line called PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, the first cosmetics line to donate 100 percent of all profits (after taxes) to women’s health and human rights organizations.

Their focus is to help bond the exceptional, fortuitous women of this country, with the women who by chance of birthplace, have been born into a world with challenged resources and opportunities. 

Jody’s own personal journey is a potent and inspiring one!

She’s also conceived an efficient way to participate effectively as a philanthropist with PeaceKeeper, and help end the cycle of poverty and exploitation for millions of women and girls around the world for just a dollar a day!

Please check out the rest of the Cause-Metic line: Mega Balms, Lip Sticks, Glosses and Nail Polish. 

Smitten.

100 beads at a time - 100 Good Deeds

In the world of charming, fashionably conscious jewelry, the 100 Good Deeds bracelet is at the top my list. Engaging colors, beautiful, hip...and glamorous! 

In 2000, artist and activist Mary Fisher, was asked by the White House AIDS office to act as a Special Representative of the UN and travel to Africa. While there, Mary worked with those affected by poverty, violence and the stigma attached to HIV. 

Mary started the Abataka foundation to partner with these women by designing jewelry that they could make and thereby earn a positive, sustainable living. 

In 2012, Mary released her memoir Messenger, and also met filmmaker Thomas Morgan. He shared with Mary a game that he and his family created, where they would complete 100 good deeds anonymously. 

Mary was Smitten and responded by designing the 100 Good Deeds bracelet. Each bracelet is hand-braided with one hundred glass beads and a single rubber ring. After wrapping it around your wrist, each time you do a good deed, you move the rubber ring one bead closer to the 1GD charm.

"The motivation behind the 100 Good Deeds collection is to inspire simple acts of kindness around the world." ~ Mary Fisher 

The bracelet serves as a reminder to pay it forward, and has found ambassadors in celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Katie Holmes and Naomi Watts.

Smitten!

something beautiful on the horizon - Punjammies

I may be a little late to the party here, as I am just discovering Punjammies, but I am no less excited or bowled over by the idea that is the International Princess Project.  Firstly, Punjammies are cozy, colorful loungewear trousers, fashioned from the same gorgeous fabric that the traditional Sari is made from, they are 100% cotton -- incredibly soft and comfortable.

The International Princess Project was founded by Shannon Keith in 2005 when Shannon and her husband visited India for the first time. They loved the country but were struck by the very serious problem that existed for the young girls and women of India, that of sex trafficking and modern day slavery. After visiting one of India’s countless red light districts, she was changed.

Pressed by the immensity of the problem, Shannon returned home, culled some goodhearted friends and founded International Princess Project to advocate for these women and help them rebuild their lives. Soon, the team realized that without an occupation, these women and girls stood a slim chance of survival outside the brothels and prostitution. 

With this knowledge, Shannon focussed on what she knew, sales and merchandising -- and Punjammies were born. The brilliant fabric of the traditional Indian Sari was the key inspiration. The team worked with talented seamstresses to create a simple pattern that women could use to learn how to sew. With each stitch, the women gained courage, confidence and determination. Their newfound trade was their passageway to freedom.

What started as a six-woman sewing center is now three centers that employ over 150 women. All receive fair wages and recovery care. Punjammies are loose fitting for comfort, all-cotton and can be worn indoors as loungewear or for a festive evening out, with a pair of strappy sandals and your favorite clutch. The elastic waistband sits comfortably on your hips, and can be customized with the drawstring. 

With every purchase, know that you are directly helping the women of India pave a pathway to the dignity and freedom they justly deserve. 

Crazy Smitten for Punjammies.