Olivia Palermo Combines Fashion with Charity

"Olivia Palermo, is making waves in the world. It’s not her impeccable street-style that has everyone buzzing, it’s the launch of her new charity fashion project that marries a Fairtrade accessories line with the Maasai Pikolinos Project." Catch the full story here.

Source: FashionProject.com

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