white summer - Tribe Alive

As temperatures rise, it’s important to wear clothes that are light weight. Tribe Alive’s Everyday Top is handmade in India and 100% cotton. The shirt is perfect for summer weather and it is available in sizes extra small to extra large. Your purchase will help the artisan who made it by providing employment opportunities with fair wages.

Tribe Alive partners with artisans in order to make a huge impact. Founded by Carly Burson, she has created a way to help mothers in poor communities earn a fair wage in order to provide for their children. She provides them with safe working environments, fairs wages, and empowerment.

beaded love - Sashka

Wear your love on your wrists with Sashka Co.'s handmade collection of bracelets. Each bracelet was handmade by an artisan located in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Their Rise Bracelet features white and gold glass beads, fitting wrists from 8 to 10 inches. Each purchase supports and empowers the artisan by helping her rise for poverty.

Sashka Co. was created in 2013 to help the artisans in Nepal make a fair wage by creating job making beautiful bracelets. Each bracelet is handmade with the finest glass beads, helping to create jobs that pay above minimum wage. 10% of their profits are also donated to charities to help spread the love

We are Smitten!

a magic eraser - Farmacy

Melt away all of your makeup at the end of a long day. Thanks to Farmacy Beauty, their Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm gets rid of every single drop of makeup. It’s a hundred times more gentle on your skin than makeup remover wipes and it contains sunflower and ginger root oil, moringa tree extract, papaya extract, and echinacea greenenvy. It’s 100% clean as it is only made with simple, pure ingredients.

Farmacy Beauty was founded by Mark Veeder. The sustainable company prides themselves in their farm – to – face skincare line featuring a unique Echinacea GreenEnvy, a plant containing more than 300% natural antioxidants. Their ingredients are both locally sourced and produced, making sure the company does its part in being environmentally responsible. Their packaging is made from FSC Certified Paper and their jars are 100% recyclable.

How Smitten!!!

the golden compass - The Brave Collection

Never get lost again with The Brave Collection’s Compass Chain Necklace. The beautiful piece is handmade in Cambodia with gold vermeil. The artisans are mothers and people with disabilities that work in exchange for fair wages and access to healthcare.

Jessica Hendricks Yee founded The Brave Collection after witnessing a small Cambodian country struggle to rebuild after genocide. By launching her company, she gave many local artisans a chance to create beautiful pieces of jewelry in exchange for fair wages. In addition to that, the company donates 10% of their profits to fight human trafficking in Cambodia. 

We are so Smitten!

make a statement - Cambio & Co.

A pair of statement earrings can really change the way you look and feel. It adds that extra spark to any outfit. The Renata Capiz Earrings from Cambio & Co. are both beautiful and elegant. Made out of sustainable Capiz Shell, each piece is individually cut and coated with resin so they’ll last you a long time. 

Cambio’s mission is to offer ethical pieces made in the Philippines. With your support, the company is able to employ local artisans and provide them with fair wages. In doing so, they’re able to help their artisans become economically successful while celebrating Filipino culture at the same time. 

pure energy - Uma Oils

Uma’s Pure Energy Wellness Oil might just put an end to my daily Starbuck’s runs. Made in India, the oil contains ingredients, peppermint and frankincense, which are known to energize and awaken you. It’s like coffee without the crash. 100% organic, zero synthetics, or preservatives. 

Uma was founded by Shrankhla Holecek. The ingredients are sourced from her farm in India. The brand upholds their Ayurvedic beliefs—which is to give back. Uma donates a third of profits to their community in India, where they fund health clinics and offer academic scholarships to young girls. 

Smitten!

Tote Project

Plastic is earth’s true enemy. Tote Project’s Free to Soar tote is perfect answer to reducing our plastic use- especially when grocery shopping. Made in India, the company offers a variety of designs and it’s made with fair trade cotton. Their artwork is printed with water-based inks so they’re made to last.

Tote Project was founded by two friends, Faye Grant and Michelle Chavez. Together, they work to help and empower victims of modern-day slavery. 10% of their profits is donated to Two Wings, an organization that helps sex trafficking victims pursue their dreams through mentorships and career training workshops.

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."

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.

ethical earrings celebrating Spring is here! - Mata Traders

These Daybreak earrings are artfully graceful and luxurious at the same time. Handcrafted and hand painted in India...these are your perfect ear ornaments! 

Mata Traders is a partnership between three female founders, a handful of fair trade organizations, and local Indian and Nepalese women working in artisan cooperatives. On a basic level, Mata Traders’ coops provide fair wages, healthcare, paid maternity leave, pensions, daycare, and workplace mobility to women who otherwise might not have the opportunity to work outside their home at all.  On a larger scale, however, the women working in artisan coops are simultaneously learning from social workers to become independent thinkers and activists: they gain confidence, break cycles of child labor and poverty, and provide stability for their families and communities.  

The word Mata means “Mother” in Hindi - it is a tribute to Shakti, the female creative power in all of us.  After learning of Mata Traders’ business model and seeing their gorgeous goods, we couldn’t agree with their mission more.

Smitten with Mata.

sexy, sustainable and star studded - People Tree

Catch the eye with these yummy star-studded studs. Hand pounded, 100% silver-plated brass. Gorgeous!

People Tree is recognized for its production of ethical, sustainable fashion. For more than 25 years, this pioneer company has partnered with Fair Trade producers, garment workers, artisans and farmers in the developing world to create fashion forward, eco-friendly collections.

People Tree gives customers an alternative to "fast fashion". "Fast fashion is fueled by an insatiable demand for cheap clothing and accessories. Fast fashion has a devastating impact, from sweatshops and child labor to pollution and global warming. Slow Fashion means standing up against exploitation, family separation, slum cities and pollution – all the things that make fast fashion so successful."

Fair Trade is ethical, sustainable and fashionable....and the opposite of fast fashion.

People Tree products are made by artisans who work and uphold Fair Trade standards. People Tree was the world’s first clothing company to receive the World Fair Trade Organization Fair Trade product mark in 2013.

Fair Trade makes a powerful difference. People Tree is helping to alleviate poverty in the world's most marginalized communities.

Smitten!

mocha infused liqueur - FAIR

The combination of coffee and alcohol - heaven to me! And I cannot remember the last time I had such a delectable glass of heaven then yesterday when I tried FAIR. Cafe' Liqueur. Smooth, deep, intense...a very provocative cocktail.

FAIR. is an independent spirits brand. The folks behind the company are dedicated to high quality products, source ethically and sustainably.

"Think Human Drink Fair"

The delicious bang from this perfect combination comes from slow roasting the finest organically grown, Fair Trade Certified Arabica coffee beans, then infusing the freshly ground beans directly into the liqueur base. Creating a bountifully flavored coffee based spirit.

Their coffee beans are organically grown and Fair Trade certified and  come from a co-op of more than 1,900 independent farmers in the Huatusco region of Veracruz, Mexico.

The sugar used in FAIR. Café Liqueur is also organic and Fair Trade Certified, and comes from various co-ops in countries such as Malawi and Paraguay.

FAIR. was founded in 2009 by Alexandre Koiransky. "Alexandre follows his own intuition, his love for people, his heart."

The FAIR. ideology is to treat all people, at every stage of the process, fairly.

Heavenly Smitten.

beautiful block print scarf...Hello fall! - Greenola Style

This luxurious block print scarf certainly welcomes fall with a big "hello!" Not only will neckwear keep you warm, but can pull a look together in one fell swoop...and always adds a bit of mystery. This 100% cotton scarf has such a subtle design, thin geometric lines of lavender and miniature diamonds of deep rose. Gorgeous.

This beautiful garment was made in India.

Greenola Style provides advancement opportunities to artisans in marginalized parts of the world - particularly in Bolivia and Kenya.

Respecting the cultural heritage and promoting the craftsmanship in each country, Greenola pays fair wages - Fair Trade Federation.

Greenola donates a percentage of their profits to Solidarity Bridge, an organization that trains and equips medical communities in Bolivia and Paraguay empowering them to provide high-complexity surgery and other healthcare for those living in poverty.

This partnership also helps Bolivian artisans access quality healthcare.

To donate directly to Solidarity Bridge.

Greenola Style is not affiliated with Solidarity Bridge, however they donate to help support their mission.

Smitten with Greenola Style and Solidarity Bridge!

LOVE these knickers - Naja

Naja Knickers are eco-conscious, adorably designed, and socially conscious every step of the way: our favorite kind of notable trifecta!  Every single design is more adorable, sexy and stylish than the next!

Naja is the entrepreneurial brainchild of Catalina Girald, an attorney-turned-traveler-turned-activist, and Gina Rodriguez, an award-winning-actress-and-latino-community-supporter.  Naja was created in an effort to shift the way lingerie is made and marketed so that it is empowering, not objectifying, for the “smart, courageous and sexy women of today”.  With factories that employ primarily single mothers and female heads of households, Naja pays above market wages, allows for flexible scheduling, and provides school clothes, supplies and lunches to the children of their employees.  In addition to their factories, Naja employs women in the slums of Columbia to sew garment bags in their homes through their Underwear for Hope program - 2% of all purchases go towards funding this program.  

In addition to all the socially-conscious efforts, Naja prints all their awesome knicker graphics digitally to minimize their environmental footprint.

Smitten with Girl Power!

the perfect dress - Symbology Kimono Wrap dress

Looking for a versatile, flattering, fun-but-still-elegant dress to kick off wedding season?  Look no further than the beautiful kimono wrap dress from Symbology clothing!

Symbology was founded by Marissa Heyl after a trip to India in 2006.  Her mission - in short - is to make fair trade sexy!  Symbology strives to make fair trade the norm in the fashion industry, and fuses beautiful tradition fabrics and patterns from India and the West Bank with modern, fashion-forward designs.  By partnering directly with artisans, these talented women are empowered to exercise their skills in weaving, block printing or embroidery.  These artisans are able to continue their trades and traditions while earning wages that allow their families to thrive.

Each collection centers around a motif or theme, and I love the playfulness of each unique print!  The fall/winter collection, entitled “Birds of a Feather”, features super flattering cuts in patterns that are printed by women in India using ancient hand-block printing methods. 

Fashionably Smitten! 

t-shirts for good - Kuyichi

Kuyichi’s Aiden PLP SS t-shirts are 100% organic fairtrade cotton, super soft, and look great draped over any man’s shoulders!

Kuyichi can be credited for starting the fair-trade revolution and raising environmental awareness in the fashion industry.  They were the first to introduce organic cotton and fair trade sourcing, and insist on reaching sustainability (both economic and environmental) while producing their products. They are members of the Fair Wear Foundation, and provide transparency by publicly reporting their environmental and social sustainability progress to Made-By each year. 

Since 2001 they have paved the way for so many other culturally-conscious clothing brands, and continue to be at the forefront of good practices in every single aspect of their production.  In an effort to minimize waste and maximize positive effects, Kuyichi strives to become “closed loop” in their production and sourcing.  In 2008, they partnered with the Climate Neutral Group in an effort to minimize the greenhouse gasses from their factories, offices and modes of transportation.  They hold high standards for factory conditions, provide fair wages for the individuals working, and emphasize the goal of mindful production.

Impressed and Smitten.

love blooming...josefina pouch - Mercado Global

This gorgeous pouch pops with color and texture! I love the hand-embroidered traditional pattern against the modern black leather found on the Josefina Pouch! 

Sparked by an idea when working with artisans in rural Latin America, founder Ruth DeGolia began Mercado Global while still a student at Yale.  In 2004, Mercado Global recieved a start-up grant from Echoing Green, and has exponentially grown over the last 11 years into a globally recognized company with a powerful mission: empower indigenous women to overcome poverty and become agents of change in their communities.

Mercado’s mission is two-fold.  First, it provided business education to talented female artisans so that they can grow their skills into a business.  Secondly, it connects these indigenous women to global markets to sell their products on a large scale, which in turn empowers them to support their families and provide more opportunities for their children. Over time, this model pulls entire communities out of the poverty cycle.

Mercado Global has partnered with over 400 women across Guatamala!  This hard work translates into beautiful products supporting a beautiful cause.

Totally Smitten!

recycled rubber bangles - Made With Love Project

These vivid, recycled, wrapped, rubber bangles are so well constructed and hip, they make me happy!

Made With Love bracelets are made by a Women's Cooperative in Djenne', Mali, West Africa.

In 2007 designer Mary Jane Marcasiano formed MADE WITH LOVE. MWL is a global call to action, dedicated to raising funds and awareness for NGOs aiding women and children. Through the production and sale of products that provide a fair income for women in Brazil and Africa, Made With Love is addressing the need for aid.

Made With Love works in tandem with the Cygnet Foundation, which through the proceeds realized from art-related programs, seeks to help those in need: women and children, the homeless, the hungry as well as abandoned and endangered animals. 

The women are paid a fair price for their work, so the money the bracelets provide create a means of support, and are sold to raise funds for L'Empire des Enfants.

L'Empire des Enfants is a center for homeless children from the streets of Dakar, Senegal. L'Empire grants shelter, meals, education and training programs. They also work with local organizations to return homeless children to their families.

Smitten.

a touch of cream and gold, ethical neck-lace - 31 Bits

Gracefully wrapped beads, delicately strung together to create dazzling neckwear. I couldn't love 31 Bits more!!

Perfectly named The Romantic...it is whimsical, hip and pretty. A simple strand of gold accent beads adorned by a row of marble shaped paper beads, here shown in Cream and Gold.

The Romantic is also available in: Cream, Black, Multi and Mint.

- Handmade in Uganda

- Beads are made from recycled paper

- Approximately 29" when laid flat

- Single strand

- Fastens with a button clasp

All their beads are made from recycled paper. "All accessories are handmade in Uganda with exceptional quality and sophisticated design."

More information on 31 Bits from notablySmitten.

Always and forever...Smitten. 

luscious lashes - Josie Maran Mascara

I've written about Josie Maran Cosmetics in the past...her entire line is outstanding!

The way that she has infused this exquisite oil into her cosmetics is superior to any company I know of.

Here, I introduce her highly nourishing and natural, argan oil treatment mascara. Lengthens, adds volume, lifts, and curls lashes for 24 hours.

The unique formula: 100% argan oil mixed with black iron mineral pigments, infused with the lash strengthening properties of bamboo.

The argan creates a lash-softening effect, hence it being called a treatment. Creamy, and delivered by a five-ball brush that reaches every lash.

Josie Maran Cosmetics favors fair trade practices, sustainably harvested ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

Beautifully Smitten.