a sparkly, sexy...significant bangle - Eden: Fusion Leather Snap bracelet

This wrist stunner is made from twenty four hand-beaded strands affixed to two soft, sturdy leather strands. The wristlet closes with three snap buttons that adorn the leather. Stand out in this luscious piece of jewelry from Raven and Lily.

This bangle is made by women who live on the Entoto Mountain in Ethiopia, where the artisans melt down bullet casings to create the beads for their designs, "transforming what was once used for harm into beauty."

This is my third post for Raven and Lily, a company I positively love. The initial post with all appropriate accolades here.

Forever Smitten with Raven and Lily.

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.

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!

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.

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!