vegan goodness - Matt & Nat

I would be totally remiss to not include Matt & Nat (Vegan handbags) on my shopping blog at this stage! I've recently been looking for a new summer bag...I truly have found nothing I feel good about purchasing. Then I came across this red cross body from Matt & Nat...sold!

Founded by Montreal-based designer Inder Bedi in 1997, Matt & Nat offer sophisticated styles, a delicious palette of colors, and environmentally conscious, well-designed vegan handbags to the world of fashion.

The name is inspired by MAT(T)erial and NATure, and “means exploring the synergy between the two, the reflection of one on the other."

“At Matt & Nat, we live by a simple motto, ‘Live beautifully’. Living beautifully means appreciating the humanity, creativity and positivity found in all of us. Our values include social responsibility, excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, learning, authenticity, and, of course, love. We are inspired by the textures and hues of nature, and to better protect it, we aim to constantly better our ways.”

Crafted from smooth Vegan leather and lined with 100% recycled plastic bottles, the entire Matt & Nat line is good for animals, the planet, and us two legged creatures as well.

The concern for sustainability is evident in their manufacturing process and their usage of sustainable materials such as rubber and cork. You can read about their ethics & sustainability practices here.

I am entirely Smitten with Matt & Nat's genius craftsmanship and inspirational business practices!!

Check them out on social media...they've got a lot to share! 

jewels brimming with good will - Fortuned Cuture

I am so incredibly grateful for the inspiration and energy that the companies and organizations I write about enkindle in me.

Fortuned Culture, founded by Eritrean American entrepreneur, Azie Tesfai, is a recent revelation. An incomparable jewelry line with good will intentions of hope and change for the world. 

Each of her collections reflects the culture of its collaborating charity, while symbolizing what the charity hopes to achieve. Fortuned Culture is currently working with the Fregenet Foundation in Ethiopia, that provide early childhood education to children from lower income families. They also work with Corazon de Vida in Mexico, whose work supports orphanages in Baja.

This article features her Health Bracelet, priced at $30. This splendid, delicate adornment will feed a child in an Ethiopian school, 65 meals! She wants to remind consumers that they can make a difference with every dollar they spend, "Why not buy something beautiful and help feed a group of children."

Through the farsightedness of Fortuned Culture, the consumer has an observable way of connecting to a charity and the goals it seeks.

The team at FC, tell each culture’s story beautifully, giving the consumer an insight into the impact that their contribution will have.

I am Smitten with this collaboration of charity and art!

[All of Azie Tesfai's hard work caught the attention of TOMS, and Fortuned Culture is now a part of TOMS Marketplace - ever working to change the consumer’s perspective on spending.]

paper triangle drop earrings - Global Goods Partners

These entirely chic, lightweight, geometric lovelies are made from stacked, glued, cut and sanded recycled magazine pages! Totally modern, totally original, swank, sustainable, everyday accessories.

These beautiful earrings are:

~ Made from 100% recycled magazines

~ 3/4"W x 3/4"L, hangs 3"

~ Choose from Aqua, Black, Pink, Orange and Green

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.

Once again, Smitten!

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.

beauty basically - LUSH

So the brightly colored, delectable smelling party that is LUSH (created by Mark Constantine and Liz Weir) has been going strong since 1995. At that time I was addicted and dedicated to another product line and could not be swayed. But as my concern for our environment, our animals and our planet has exponentially increased over the last several years...LUSH has landed smack dab on my radar!

I feel particularly concerned about the amount of materials companies continue to use to package their merchandise. Plastic wrappers around tubes of product, that are then boxed, then sealed again with a much harder plastic...ridiculous! It's a problem, one that LUSH has been addressing for years with their innovative solid beauty products. Sold like produce at an open market, with ingredients and aromas to heighten the luxury.

Today I shine a light on their artful shampoo bars. Long lasting, concentrated, packed with active ingredients and essential oils (with 14 different flavors to choose)...and will do the job of 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo!

No packaging whatsoever, it sits in a soap dish on the side of the tub. Perfect.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.  The bars last for up to 80 washes for lavish locks every time.

LUSH products are 100% vegan.

LUSH are against animal testing and are supporters of animal rights and welfare.

LUSH are charitable and support environmental conservation and human rights.

LUSH works tirelessly to leave a small carbon footprint behind.

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!

girls rule! - Half the Sky

Firstly, I am crazy for this endeavor, this movement: HALF THE SKY. 

This is an essential watch/study for any and all global citizens. 

This 10 DVD set was inspired by Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's groundbreaking book HALF THE SKY...which takes on the central moral challenge of the 21st century: the oppression of women and girls worldwide.

The film follows actress/activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde, along with Kristof to meet some of the most courageous individuals of our time, who are doing extraordinary work to empower women and girls everywhere.

These are challenging, dramatic stories of transformation and hope. You will be shocked and outraged...and ultimately inspired by the resilience of the human spirit. The film leaves us in awe of  the capabilities of women and girls to realize their astounding potential.

HALF THE SKY is a passionate call, urging us to bear witness to the plight of the world's women, and to help transform their oppression into opportunity.

Our future is in the hands of women, everywhere.

for the love of elephants - The Elephant Art Gallery

What a unique and creative idea...Elephant paintings! These 9000 pound elephants create rare and striking works of art at The Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) in Lampang, Thailand.

The TECC is 19 years old and works in elephant conservation science. They are focused primarily on the care and wellness of Thailand’s elephants, 2,700 of which live on private grounds. They operate an onsite hospital and Thailand's first mobile clinic, which treats sick and injured elephants free of charge.

Asian elephants are an endangered species. If something isn't done to halt the rapid decline in numbers, it is likely that within the next 50 years, this amazing creature will be gone forever.

The TECC in conjunction with The Elephant Art Gallery (TEAG) found a genius solution with Elephant art...selling paintings in order to raise awareness and funds for the preservation of this endangered species.

While the elephants are painting, they are unaided in the creative process by humans. Elephants understand spatial awareness and are able to apply strokes within the confines of the paper.

Each piece is original...and a blessing.

This painting was created by Thanwa. Glorious. This painting being sold through Design With Benefits.

These are cool. I am Smitten.

silver and gold - Raven + Lily Neha Cuffs

I have written about Raven and Lily in the past, and I don't doubt that I will continue to write about them in the future.

These delectable pieces were featured in In Style Magazine, April 2015... gorgeous Neha Cuffs made with traditional Indian wood-carving with a band of silver or gold leather in the center, adding a bit of shimmer to the natural wood. The aesthetic is modern and chic.

Dimensions: 2.25" wide, 1.5" height

Raven and Lily was brilliantly conceived by close friends Kirsten Dickerson and Sophia Lin, who both share a love of fashion and ethical design, socially conscious Raven and Lily was created as a platform to help alleviate poverty among women and is committed to offering products that are made by hand and follow fair trade standards.

These cuffs are handmade by marginalized women in Northern India.

I will continue to write about Raven and Lily...

Smitten.

a splendid union - Stella Artois & Water.org

This is just a no brainer of a post for me. I grew up in Minnesota, where we are practically bred on beer. When I didn't know any better, I drank Coors...I now drink Stella Artois.

When I heard that the Belgian beer makers had officially announced a partnership with Water.org at the Sundance Film Festival in January, I literally jumped out of my chair. 

Women in developing countries spend a combined 200 million hours a day walking for miles to collect clean water for their families. To raise awareness of this issue and to help provide solutions, Stella Artois has launched its first global social impact campaign, “Buy a Lady a Drink."

With the support of Water.org and its co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White, “Buy a Lady a Drink” aims to help put a stop to this global water crisis.

These entities have come together to tell the stories of women around the world who take these long journeys for water. The stories focus on what it is like to live without water...and the betterment of life with it.

All videos currently take place in India. However, you can buy a limited edition Stella beer chalice with patterns that represent India, Ethiopia or Honduras. For every chalice you buy, Stella gives an extra $6.25 to Water.org - enough to provide one person clean water for five years.

Stella has made an outstanding $1.2 million donation to Water.org to date.

Love this partnership. Totally Smitten.

home spun fair trade - Oimei

This is a truly gorgeous pillow! Made of homespun cloth, decorated with traditional Akha embroidery, created by hill tribe artisans in the North of Thailand...which would be a lovely gift for friend, or self!

After traveling to Bangkok in 2010 to study, Aimi Duong found her trip growing from four months to sixteen. She traveled through Thailand, and most of Southeast Asia, where she witnessed poverty firsthand. She met some amazing, hardworking, tenacious women...struggling to live dignified lives. Deeply inspired, Aimi decided to start her own social enterprise.

Oimei was founded in 2012 with the mission to sell fair trade pillows and home decor. Supporting rural artisans by providing them access to new markets gives them the opportunity to be self-sustainable and empowers these women to rise above poverty.

Oi Mei is Aimi's name in Chinese and means “love beauty.” The name was given to Aimi by her eldest sister who passed away in 2009.

Oi Mei was created as a lasting celebration of my sister’s life and serves as a constant reminder to embrace all the beauty around us.

Smitten with Aimi and Oimei.

fragrant integrity - The 7 Virtues

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

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.

girl power - Josie Maran Cosmetics

I first met Josie Maran on a Nestle commercial back in the 90's. She had just started modeling and I was working (for a heartbeat) as a hair and make-up artist. She was in her late teens...and a completely engaging young dynamo! I have been thrilled to watch her grow into this giving, compassionate, powerful woman.

I started using Josie's products not because of any past connection, but rather I knew the benefits of Argan oil. She has created a line that is pure and delicious. She is also dedicated to the empowerment of women...which happens to also be number one on my list as well. Josie Maran Cosmetics get all of their Argan from all- female cooperatives in Morocco.

These co-ops were set up by the Moroccan government in 2002 and give women of rural Morocco a steady income, fair wages and proper working conditions. The co-ops also offer literacy and other education classes that provide freedom and options in a traditionally male-dominated society.

The brand strives to enhance the natural beauty of their customers, while endeavoring to support the natural world and care for the planet.

Love. this.

Smitten with the way my face and body look after using Josie's products for the last four years...congrats sweetness for all your good work!

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.

inspired neckwear - The Able Scarf

It is a rare occasion that I am not wearing a scarf...and I don't discriminate seasons either. From the grocery store to the gym, to frigid movie theaters and drafty flights, I love them! And now, this stunning white, 100% handwoven Ethiopian cotton, emblazoned with jet black screen printing, designed by Erin Loechner of designformankind.com...perfect!

In 2005, Barrett Ward founded the revolutionary themochaclub.org. The idea was to give up the price of just 2-3 mocha lattes a month and forge change in Africa - using that money to create relief and development projects.

In just a few years later, Barrett moved to Ethiopia for a year. There, he met a group of activists called Women at Risk, who work with women exploited in the sex industry. After witnessing the success Women at Risk was having, Barrett came to understand that one of the biggest variables in keeping these women off the streets was generative employment.

With this, fashionABLE was born. Women sharing what they are ABLE to do when provided an opportunity.

This scarf has that bold statement written all over it!

Smitten!!

succulent and sustaining recipes - Share: The Cookbook that Celebrates Our Common Humanity

This dazzlingly illustrated cookbook has been a stellar gift for all my foodie, gourmet chef girlfriends since May 2013. I don't cook...but I may now that I too have been given one of these beautiful books for my very own kitchen.

Share: The Cookbook that Celebrates Our Common Humanity is chock full of over 100 enticing, delectable recipes to try, with contributions from top chefs and movie celebs.

Break bread and be jubilant with Congolese Corn Fritters and Pineapple Salsa, Nigerian Beef and Okra Soup or Quorn and Pepper Tacos...then for dessert, Annie Lennox's porridge or Judi Dench's bread and butter pudding.

This is a book exploding with hope, goodwill and is a perfect way to help support and raise money for women affected by war in countries such as Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and South Sudan.

The charity has enabled these women to learn skills, find employment, earn money, enjoy independence and gain self-respect. Some of their stories are told here, a stark reminder of just how fragile civilization can be.

All proceeds from the sales of the cookbook go to Women for Women International's micro-financing programs as well as their farming and food training initiatives.

Other contributions from Jaime Oliver, Alice Waters, Maggie Beer, Rene Redzepi, Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, Sir Paul McCartney and Mia Farrow are besprinkled with inspiring stories from the women whose lives have been changed through Women for Women International.

make love not war...peaceBomb bangles - Article 22

This is an extraordinary piece of jewelry. Beautifully crafted, powerful...a striking, graceful, sensational silver bangle. 

peaceBomb is an unprecedented endeavor. This bold bracelet is made by Project peaceBomb/Article 22, an organization that aims to rebuild and clear out undetonated bombs in Laos, a landlocked nation in Southeast Asia...and the most heavily bombed country per capita in history.

Over 30% of the bombs dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War did not detonate. At the current rate of removal, it will take an estimated 800 years to clear the unexploded ordnance.

For each peaceBOMB product sold, Project peaceBOMB donates funds equivalent to the cost of clearing 1 to 15 square meters of land.

Made with aluminum war scrap metal and shaped by human ingenuity and brilliance, these bracelets have created an opportunity for artisan families to generate income, tell their stories...and share legacies of our common history.

Seriously...Bravo!!

Totally 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.

imagine peace - cuff by Yoko Ono for Maiden Nation

This delectable cuff, designed by the prodigiously talented Yoko Ono, is imbued with her late husband John Lennon's stirring message "Imagine Peace." The cut out architecture applies the Japanese tradition of using negative space in a positive way.

This beautiful cuff of bold communique' was made exclusively for Maiden Nation and is available in matte black steel and 14K gold-plated steel.

Maiden Nation is an online marketplace committed to empowering women through ethical fashion and was founded in 2012 by artist Willa Shalit, brand developer Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown and social entrepreneur Juliana Um.

The company seeks to empower women by providing a platform for them to earn an income, either by selling their products directly to consumers or by partnering with a designer for charity.

The mission is “trade not aid, ” which enables the socially conscious company to curate and showcase unknown designers worldwide, thus giving these artisans exposure to a much larger audience.

All products are ethically sourced, and profits are reinvested into women’s entrepreneurship projects.

Yoko Ono’s “Imagine Peace” bracelet goes to the Rainbow House in Japan, an organization to help victims of the 2011 tsunami.

Crazy Smitten with Maiden Nation.

Crazy Smitten for Yoko Ono!