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

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."

beauty and the beach bag - Indego Africa

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!

life saving jammies for your dude - Sudara

notablySmitten will forever support Sudara and the creation of these lifesaving punjammies. And now they've made these dapper duds for dudes as well - I dig it! 

Know that with every purchase, you're investing in job creation and skills training for women in India who are working to remain free from sex slavery.

Original article about the incomparable loungewear.

Forever Smitten.

love chain, love chain - Adornia

Adornia Jewelry is jewelry that spells it out for the outspoken woman - and we simply L-O-V-E it!  With beautiful designs that spell out a variety of strong messages of defiance, power, and affirmation, each piece speaks just as loudly as the woman who is wearing it.  Their classic LOVE necklace in gold is a deliberate and peaceful message to add to any jewelry collection - and supports a great cause in the process.

Each quarter, Adornia chooses a charity to receive 10% of the sales from their Lariat necklace collection.  To begin 2018, they have chosen Equality Now, an international organization of lawyers that takes a legal approach to ending sex trafficking, political inequality, sexual violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation.  As an unrelated but equally beautiful charitable act, 100% of the profits from their Me Too design benefits RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.  Both are deserving charities with incredible causes, and shopping Adornia is a lovely way to show your support.

Adore this chain - Smitten.

clean up for christmas - B.A.R.E. soap

B.A.R.E. Soaps’ message really says it all: “Good For You, Good For Others”.  Made with all-natural ingredients and on a mission to provide a sustainable sanitation programs in Uganda and India, B.A.R.E Soaps certainly are good for everyone.

Their soaps are never tested on animals, and are beautifully made from Organic Saponified Oils, Goat’s Milk and Essential Oils.  20% of each sale are reinvested directly back economic development, bringing short-term relief like shoes, medical attention, and sanitation, and establishing long-term solutions like sustainable farming and employment for women.

The mission of B.A.R.E Soaps becomes clear after learning just two simple but staggering statistics: UNICEF estimates a child dies from diarrhea every 30 seconds in underdeveloped countries, and that a bar of soap can reduce diarrhea born diseases by 40%.  To combat this very real and fully preventable threat of disease, B.A.R.E Soaps has partnered with Children’s Hope Chest and Point Community Church to help families in Kaberamaido, Uganda since 2012. In 2016 they expanded their mission’s reach include Kalwa Slum, India through a partnership with Sundara Fund.

adorn those ears - Purpose

These gorgeous lithe ornaments for the ear, deserve our applause. These sit 2 ½” long off the ear. Come plated in 14k Gold or Rhodium (tarnish resistant.) They also come in a lovely box in case you're gifting these beauties.

Purpose jewelry is brilliantly handcrafted by young women escaping human trafficking. Your purchase helps provide them with the hope and opportunities they deserve while transitioning back into a free and safe future.

100% of proceeds go to International Sanctuary: a safe, loving, holistic community, with an incredible an sustainable model. Addressing income, education, healthcare, and community, the women are able to find their true identities and worth once again. 

Smitten!

shoes that evolve...brilliant! - The Shoe That Grow

The Shoe That Grows is an incredible solution to a complex problem - children outgrow shoes quickly, often leaving them barefoot, kept home from school, and exposed to potential disease.  Approx 1.7 billion people worldwide are affected by soil borne illness annually.  After a volunteer trip to Kenya in 2007, founder Kenton Lee became focused on creating an ultra-durable shoe that expands 5X, resulting in footwear that will only need to be replaced a few times during childhood.  We love his innovative solution, as well as his simple but effective approach to distributing his shoes worldwide!

The Shoe That Grows is a project of Because International, a nonprofit founded in 2009 and committed to ‘practical compassion’.  In 2016, they were able to distribute 40,000 shoes in 80 countries due largely to their partnerships with volunteer organizations willing to distribute shoes to children.  In addition to distribution volunteers, the Shoe That Grows also accepts direct donations, noting that $15 will provide a child with a pair of shoes that lasts 5 years.

So genius! SO Smitten.

black power cross body bag - VIDA

VIDA was formed on the idea that we are interconnected, global citizens of the modern world.  Their current collection, from New Zealand designer Corina Hazlett, is inspired by her 2015 trip to Vietnam as an Art Therapist for human trafficking survivors.  We love the bright colors and bold prints of her designs almost as much as we love the meaning behind each piece of her collection.

Each item in the VIDA collection is produced on demand - this practice eliminates waste, excess inventory, and the ‘middle man’ costs associated with traditional fashion commerce.  VIDA hires designers from all over the world through a submission process - those chosen are given 10% of their sales and the means to manufacture their goods with direct-to-fabric digital printing.  In addition, the makers that produce VIDA’s products are provided literacy programs and basic math skills for themselves and their children, allowing for more opportunities in the future.

Entirely Smitten.

a big yes to cruelty-free polish - ella + mila

The founders of ella + mila wanted to create an eco-friendly product, and that they did. They also wanted to keep it high-end and fashion fabulous, which they also did. Bright, colorful, chip-resistant...and uncompromising. 

Quick-dry and high-shine, ella + mila nail colors contain no Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP), Xylene or Camphor, making it a seven chemical-free product.

ella + mila polishes are PeTA certified, vegan, cruelty-free, and proudly made in the USA! 

And sweet and fun fact: the name is inspired by the twin daughters of one of the founders. 

Go get this lacquer - so good, so Smitten!

always know your way, deep blue compass bangle - Brave

The Brave Collection’s motto is clear and effective: Courage is Contagious. Each piece in their collection is made by hand in Cambodia, using traditional carving and weaving techniques. The Deep Blue Compass Bracelet is a gorgeous example of The Brave Collections’ simplicity: hand woven cotton and carved brass, the charm reads “Brave” in Khmer.

While still a student at NYU, founder Jessica Hendricks Yee traveled to Cambodia to teach English. While there, she was moved to create a business that would give back to the victims of human trafficking and genocide.  The artists who create the jewelry are all Cambodian women - mostly mothers - who work in dignified conditions and receive above-market wages, stipends for childcare, and health insurance. In addition, 10% of each sale is donated to local organizations to fight human trafficking and empower young girls.

classic and cool, heather white cotton tee - Half United

Presenting the dolman cut, heather white tee designed by Aly Silverio for HALF UNITED - making fighting hunger with fashion; easy, affordable, and smile inducing.

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.

Comes in black with white lettering as well - 50% polyester, 25% Cotton, 25% Rayon.

Smitten!

sweet chic sandals - Nisolo

Nisolo’s wooden wedge sandal is a perfect balance between style and sustainability - made from solid wood and hand-cut leather, they are a long-lasting addition to any closet and have an equally long lasting impact on the artisans who created them. Founded in 2011 by Patrick Woodyard after seeing the immense talent for shoemaking in Peru and wanting to be a problem solver in the global market, Nisolo is now based in both Peru and Tennessee, and employs over 50 people.

Nisolo is a leader in ethical fashion production, providing workers with wages 27% higher than fair trade wages, consistent work with yearly salaries, and “holistic learning” that includes trade skills as well as healthcare, english classes, and childcare.  The word Nisolo means “not alone”, and the most visible effect that credo has on the local community is the next generation - 100% of employee’s children are enrolled in school full time, with six on track to be the first in their families to graduate college.

on time and conscious, what could be better? - Flex

Flex watches are a product of two great things: life-long friendship and a strong desire to contribute to a larger cause.  Founded by childhood friends, Travis Lubinsky and Trevor Jones, Flex donates 10% of every sale to a corresponding cause, meaning you can choose the cause (and color scheme) you are most passionate about.  

Each Flex watch supports a particular cause, such as breast cancer or clean water.  In turn, a donation is made to a partnering organization, like Keep A Breast or The Thirst Project.  We love the easy-to-read watch face and a bright pop of uniform color! These watches are water resistant, made of high-grade silicone, and have interchangeable wristbands so styles can be mix-and-matched easily.  If that’s not enough to love, they also offer a 2-year warranty and free shipping - making this a memorable gift for any do-gooder in your life.  

On time - so Smitten!

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

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.

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.

a significant and worthy backpack: The Large Ruck - Stone and Cloth

Stone and Cloth knows how to make a gorgeous, classic, high-quality backpack.  The Large Ruck is as functional as it is inspirational - each Stone and Cloth item supports scholarships and developmental projects for children and communities in need.  

After Stone and Cloth’s founder hiked Mount Kilimanjaro and learned that his porter worked a grueling job without earning enough to keep his children in school, he knew he needed to bring support to the local communities at the base of that mountain.  As a result, Stone and Cloth partners with The Knock Foundation.  The Knock Foundation works directly with underserved communities to provide what each specific community needs most - an education system, healthcare infrastructure, or clean living conditions.

a plethora of cause conscious gifts - CAUSEBOX

In our busy modern culture of on-demand everything, we love love love the idea of a CAUSEBOX membership!  A hand-curated collection of jewelry, housewares, skincare products and accessories arrives 4 times a year direct to your front door, introducing you to brands that are doing great work to empower, employ and educate women from all over the globe.  

In addition to their gorgeous collection of products, each CAUSEBOX arrives filled with detailed information about each brand and item’s unique creation story. Having insight into each organization’s purpose, mission, beneficiaries and impact translates into total transparency about where each dollar is going - bringing a serious level of trust to CAUSEBOX and the products they include.

happy shopping in these jeans! - Outland Denim

Outland Denim’s Harriet in Pacific jeans are a stylish choice for any lady who not only cares how she dresses, but the impact her purchases make on the world.  Outland Denim provides training and living wages to women who have been rescued and restored from human trafficking, and are also leading the way in environmental and social sustainability.

Each pair is created in Outland’s Cambodian training and production facility - their story here. Striving to erase the deep social and physiological effects of human trafficking, every step of their business model empowers women with transferable life skills.  From the denim itself to the zippers, buttons, rivets and thread, all are supporting the same mission: to make a positive difference in the fashion industry.

Seriously Smitten by any company that combines denim and good deeds!

mini keys of goodness, with maximum effect - The Giving Keys

I can never get enough of The Giving Keys. Their message, the keys, their faithful purpose and dedication, are completely on point. They were the gift that started notablySmitten - and I have followed their growth faithfully ever since that first purchased key. And now mini keys - perfect.

They are an extraordinary company doing good things for the homeless here in Los Angeles. If you've not heard of them, please read about them in the very first article I ever penned for nS.

And if you've not purchased a key for someone yet, please do - pass it on.

Ever Smitten!

this chic chevron clutch for Spring - Tribe Alive

Tribe Alive’s Chevron Clutch is as beautiful as it is useful - and not just for carrying your phone and lipstick on a night out.  Each of Tribe Alive’s products are designed and made by women in safe studio work environments for fair wages, which means your new clutch continues pays it forward long after your purchase.

With partnerships across Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India and Forth Worth, Texas, Tribe Alive teams up with female artisans to bring you a gorgeous collection that reflects each country's’ unique culture and handiwork - all to support upward mobility, reliable incomes, and stability for these female artisans’ and their families.  We love supporting any organization that provides a platform for women to help women!

So Smitten!

LOVE comes in essential oils - Thistle Farms

Thistle Farms is a community of women survivors of addiction, prostitution, and trafficking in Nashville, Tennessee. "This product bears witness that love is the most powerful force for change in the world." Their mission statement here...worth the read.

These compelling essential oils have been used since ancient times for the purposes of healing. Derived from highly concentrated plant products, blended for physical, mental and emotional purposes. Luscious jojoba and coconut oils are used as carrier agents, keeping the skin hydrated.

Packaged in frosted glass tube with a roller ball that glides oils directly onto your pulse points.

4 bottles of 0.34 fl. oz. (10 ml) each that specifically addresses your: Calm, Energy, Immunity and Balance.

LOVE and Smitten.