Showing posts with label empowering women in Rwanda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label empowering women in Rwanda. Show all posts

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Same Sky: Creating Self Sustaining Lives for Women


SAME SKY is a fair-trade company whose mission is to empower women worldwide and inspire a movement of women empowering women. Founded in 2008, the company seeks to be a part of the global movement lifting women out of poverty by giving them the tools to become entrepreneurs and lead self sustaining lives.

SAME SKY’s inaugural project is in Rwanda and employs HIV+ women in Africa who survived the 1994 Genocide. All bracelets are handmade by these women artisans.

In a recent interview with Candy Washington of Fashion Edits, Same Sky's Founder, Francine LeFrak, "spent 8years making a film on the Rwandan genocide that never proceeded to fruition. However, Francine still wanted to shed light on the genocide and especially lend her support to women survivors. A friend introduced her to the idea of fair trade and suggested she come up with jewelry products for women to create as a way of making a means. The glass bead bracelet, a design inspired by a renowned artist and HIV/AIDS activist Mary Fisher, became Same Sky's signature product and symbol of women empowering women. The rest is history."

The bracelets are adorned by many celebrities including: Goldie Hawn, Halle Berry, and Sela Ward to name a few.

All net proceeds from sales are reinvested into the company to buy more materials, employ more women artisans, and expand to other regions of the world.

Photo Source: Same Sky

Monday, July 11, 2011

Nicole Miller Collaborates with IndegoAfrica



Fashion designer, Nicole Miller, has launched her latest collection "IndegoAfrica." The vibrant colors, patterns and hand-crafted feel are what makes the collection unique. But what really makes this line special is Nicole has partnered with Indego Africa.

Indego Africa is an innovative social enterprise that partners with women artisans in Rwanda on a fair trade basis to drive forward a sustainable, long-term solution to systemic poverty in Africa. The organization and it's programs emphasize entrepreneurship and independence, by empowering African women to lift their families out of poverty through fair trade partnerships, international export market access, and long-term skills (source: Indego Africa).

Nicole Miller will donate 15% of proceeds to the organization.

Shop Nicole Miller's IndegoAfrica collection here: http://tinyurl.com/3m3xtd4

Photo Source: Nicole Miller