Karama Favorite Things

My Karama Collection EParty is still on through Tuesday so today I thought I'd share a few of the things that I have my eye on. So check it out and head over to KaramaCollection.com and use the code JKPARTY16 to get 15% off!

Loving their beautiful leather goods, like the wristlet, and the backpack! All are made with luxurious Ethiopian leather by artisans in Addis Ababa.

If you're looking for an adorable gift for a kid, check out these owls! I think they are especially fun to give to a child and tell them that it had come all the way from Tanzania and share with them a little about fair trade.

I actually got to see how the owls were made in Tanzania in 2013! Most of the artisans who make them are deaf or disabled. Usually people with a disability in Africa are left to beg because they aren't able to find work. It was amazing to see how through having work they were given dignity and a sense of community. I'd met a deaf man in another part of Africa a few years before who was so isolated, no one else in his village knew sign language and he was thrilled that I knew enough sign language to tell him my name. Remembering that experience it was even more amazing to see an entire community of people who could communicate with each other!

I bought a few pairs of these brass circle earrings for Christmas gifts this year. These are made by artisans in Kibera, Kenya, the largest urban slum in Africa. They also make beautiful necklaces, bracelets, etc. 

Gift Ideas- Gifts With Stories That Matter

 It's so much fun to give a gift with a story! "The pjs I got you were made by women in India" is way more fun and meaningful than "It took forever for the lady at the mall to find the price on those".

I've highlighted a few of my favorite brands that are empowering women and men all over the world by giving them opportunities and skills to help themselves and their families out of poverty. They all have GREAT stories and and are doing wonderful things. You can read about each brand on their websites to learn more.

Above, are the Julia Flats. and clutch from Uxibal. All of their products are handmade in Guatemala, combining traditional Guatemalan textile and leather with modern styles.  I have the clutch! And a few pairs of Uxibal booties which I wear constantly.  The extra great thing about the Julia collection is that 30% of the proceeds go directly to the 30/30 Project!

UPDATE: Uxibal is having a Cyber Monday sale, up to 40% off! Get over there! 

I know so many families who have varying traditions of getting new PJ's for Christmas morning, Punjammies would be perfect for that! They offer great options for men, women and kids. On top of providing us with cozy lounge wear, Punjammies goal is to provide sustainable jobs for women in India who's alternative options often lead to their being trafficked.

Krochet Kids are made by women in Uganda and Peru. My favorite thing about all Krochet Kids products is that the woman who made it has signed her name on the tag. You can find them on the website, read a bit of their story and you can even write them a note telling them how much you like what they made!

I love the firngerless gloves, as would anyone who, like me,  is perpetually cold and perpetually on her iPhone.

What baby in your life doesn't need an adorable hat with ears?!? There's also a bear one!And an owl!

Every guy can use a good stylish beanie. Thankfully, there are a lot to choose from :)

Also, you can pick up Krochet Kids goods at Whole Foods, which means it makes a great last minute present when you're quickly running in for a bottle of wine on the way to a party.

PS. Krochet Kids entire website is 40% OFF for Cyber Monday! 

Check out Karama Collection for beautiful fair trade goods that have been handpicked for their quality, beauty and ethical practices from artisan collectives all over Africa. 

This beautiful circle bracelet is made of brass in by a group of jewelry makers in a Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa.

The bath towels are a favorite of mine. Made in Ethiopia, out of cotton, but not the traditional terrycloth material we're used to- this means they are super absorbent but won't cause your hair to frizz. They are the PERFECT gift for someone with curly hair! And also beautiful to have hanging in your bathroom. And perfect to pack for the beach-they take up way less room than a regular towel and dry super quickly. I've also been known to wear the ones I have as scarves...can you tell, I really like these towels. I also got to see where they are made while in Addis Ababa a few years back so I can tell you first hand, they are all entirely handmade from dying the yarn to weaving on a giant loom, it's a crazy process to watch! But I can promise you, these are quality towels. 

Most every lady could use a chic backpack.  

The woven serving tray would be a perfect for anyone who loves to host or bake. 

Just a note, NONE of these wonderful brands listed above have compensated me for this post. These are all companies who's missions and products I love and will be buying from this holiday season. 

Uxibal in Seattle

If you're in Seattle, do yourself a favor and stop by Moorea Seal in Belltown. Britini Port, designer of Uxibal is in town and she's brought lots of fun things to sell!

Uxibal is a brand that I love, because it combines beautiful hobo-chic styles with a mission to provide employment and opportunity for underprivileged people, something I'm passionate about.

Britini started Uxibal in Guatemala after working int he Peace Corps there as a way to create jobs for Guatemalans. Britini says, "We focus on employing Mayan women because they are traditionally the most underprivileged in Guatemala. They have limited access to education, are married at a young age, and have high birth rates—all of which add up to a striking social and economical disadvantage."

Uxibal draws inspiration from traditional hand-weaving, incorporating the bright colors and patterns into the designs, bringing traditional indigenous craft and design to a wider audience.

Come shopping with me!

The Uxibal pop up shop will be at Moorea Seal, on 3rd and Vine, kicking off Wednesday June 25th from 5-8pm. Uxibal products will be available in store through July 12th.

PS. If you aren't in Seattle, check out Uxibal online. 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Fair Trade

This year for Mother's Day share the love by purchasing fair trade and supporting artisans around the world who are making wonderful things. You can give the all the moms in your life a beautiful gift and explain that it's purchase is supporting a better life for women, some mothers just like them, all around the world. 

Scarf- Made by women (and some men too!) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for Karama Gifts. I visited their workspace and met the artisans who make these scarves and let me tell you, a lot of hard work goes in to the process. From spinning fibers to yarn and dying it to working it together thread by thread on giant looms, these are beautifully crafted. ON SALE TODAY! (MAY 1st) 

Sandals- Made in Uganda, the mission of Sseko Designs is to not only create fashionable sandals and accessories but to provide income for women to go on to attend university. 

Bracelet- This Mother of Pearl and Silver bracelet is made in Zanzibar . I been to their studio and watched as this lively group of women turned large pieces of shell into delicate jewelry-all while laughing and chatting with each other. 

Purse- Made in Guatemala by Uxibal. Their goal is to improve the lives of local women by teaching and employing them to make fashionable leather goods. I love their boots too! 

Pitcher- This beautiful silver pitcher would make a lovely gift filled with spring flowers. Made by a collective in India who mainly employs stay at home moms! Sold by Ten Thousand Villages online and perhaps at a store near you. 

Throw Pillow- Made in Vietnam and sold by Ten Thousand Villages. 

Picture Frame- Add in a #tbt worthy photo of you and your mom from back in the day and you've got a priceless treasure. Made in the Philippines, by an organization created to support marginalized women and youth. 

Body Butter- This lavender body butter is handmade in Malawi and sold by Karama Gifts, a non-profit who sells products made by artisans from all across Africa. 

Necklace- If you're more of a last minute gift giver and don't have time to wait for something to be shipped, look for this beautiful necklace at Anthropologie! It's made by artists in Kenya. You'll find other fairly traded goodies on their shelves too! 

PS. Check back next week and we will be featuring locally made products from the Seattle area and other small businesses across the U.S. 

Want more ideas?  Check out our new Pinterest board "Fair Trade & Locally Made" 

Karama for Christmas

Looking for perfect gifts for friends and family? How about getting them a gift that they'll love that also has a story? Here are a few of my favorite products, made with love in Africa by Karama artisans. I was able to watch all of these products be made last spring! 

Necklace- Made from melted shrapnel by HIV+ women. Read more here...

Cute Owls- Not only are these adorable gifts for children, they are made by a community deaf and physically disabled people in Tanzania. These artisans, who have been tossed aside by society are shown that they are valued and taught the skills to make beautiful products.

Scarves- perfect for a friend, sister or mom, made in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The process to create these is amazing, I got to see all the steps, from Ethiopian silk worms, to women spinning the silk into yarn, the yarn dyed all sorts of colors and finally woven into beautiful scarves.

Coconut Fiber Baskets- These stacking baskets are a lovely neutral to go in anyone's home and
have been woven by blind men on the island of Zanzibar.

Striped iPad Case- made by a sewing school for women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who are recovering from fistula surgery.

Notebooks- Made by the same artisans who make the owls! Perfect for a stocking stuffer.

Karama: Jewelry with a Story

Believe it or not, the metal that make up these earrings, bracelets and necklaces were once bullet casings and other forms of scrap metal salvaged a former conflict area. The metal is collected, turned into beads and made into beautiful jewelry by an organization that employs mainly HIV+ women. 

The Entoto Mountain Region, outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has an interesting history. The area was known to have a spring of holy water, rumored to cure those who trekked to it of HIV. However, the "cure" seemed to come in a unique way, as organizations and even the Ethiopian Orthodox Church,  started providing and encouraging these displaced people to begin taking antiretrovirals. As the people became healthier, a local church began enterprises to employ them and the Entoto jewelry program began.   This Wall Street Journal article, does a great job of telling the story if you'd like to hear a little more in detail. 

Now, the jewelry has expanded outside of the Entoto region. When Jason and I were in Ethiopia last spring, we got to visit their workshop in Addis Ababa where many HIV+ women happily sit side by side chatting and expertly stringing beads together into beautiful creations. 

Here are a few of my favorite! All available at karamagifts.com. 

Lucia Earrings

Baubles & Beads Necklace

Wrapped With Delight Bracelet

Karama

Greetings from Nebraska! It seems fitting that while I'm on my current adventure across the U.S., I FINALLY find the time to properly tell you about my trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania with Karama last spring. I promise I'll be back later this week to tell you about life on a tour bus with 9 other people!

For now, Karama...

^^some of the seamstresses posing with a pennant banner they made in Dar es Salaam^^

When Jason and I heard the story of Karama, we immediately fell in love and knew it was an organization we wanted to support. Here's the origin story according to Dyan Larmey, the founder of Karama:

While living in Ethiopia, I developed friendships with many women who seemed to have no way out of the poverty they were in. Many were selling local food, their own clothes, or even their bodies just to be able to send their children to school or to provide food for their elderly loved ones. They seldom thought about their own needs. These women were natural entrepreneurs and creators. We would brainstorm a little idea...give them a small skill to use and POOF they were off to try it...always creating and working hard to sell what they had made. They taught me so much about graciousness, value and dignity. I wanted to help them sell their products. I realized that every dollar spent on these products was a vote for these women to be successful. Karama was born. (Read more here...)

^^sunset off the coast of Zanzibar^^

Karama is run entirely by volunteers, mostly women, the Karama Mamas. They invited Jason and I to join them and photograph their trip to buy product from their different vendors in Ethiopia and Tanzania. We were THRILLED to get to go with and document the trip, meet, thank and encourage the women and men making the jewelry and scarvesI love.

^^my first time on a private plane!^^

This trip was a whirlwind of interesting things, wonderful people and beautiful places. This little summary will hardly do it justice, but I have to start somewhere...

^^amazing beaded metal jewelry made from melted down shrapnel^^

In Ethiopia, we visited HIV+ women making beautiful jewelry out of melted down shrapnel, and I watched silk worms spin silk at a fair trade organization. Then weavers in the slums of Addis Ababa invited us into their homes to watch as they worked, turning the silk into beautiful scarves. 

^^Ethiopian jewelry makers^^

Next we flew to Tanzania's capitol, Dar Es Salaam, where we visited an organization teaching  women how to sew, offering them jobs there and skills to take back to their own villages. We took a charter flight to what seemed like the middle of nowhere to stay in a guest house run mostly by deaf and disabled people where we learned how to sign and bought beautiful glass beaded necklaces, carved picture frames and paper made from elephant dung, all made in the onsite workshop. 

^^walking to the weavers' homes in Addis Ababa^^

 Another charter flight took us to Zanzibar. We stayed in Stone Town where the streets are too narrow for cars, so we took mopeds to our hotel instead.  We visited sights that left our hearts heavy like Zanzibar's former slave market and it's dark underground cells where slaves were crammed for days, awaiting transport to Europe or the Middle East. Then we saw hope, in the form of blind men weaving baskets. Simple, yet beautiful baskets. And a sewing school where Christian and Muslim learn a skill side by side, becoming friends.

^^sewing class in Zanzibar^^

The word Karama, means dignity in Arabic and that's the perfect word to describe overall what I saw on this trip. We saw people, who were given the freedom to create, people who were loved and encouraged and given a chance to take care of themselves.

I'll be posting more about Karama this fall, highlighting some of their amazing products and the people who make them. 

Karama Africa

Jason and I are in Africa! We're currently in Ethiopia, then headed to Tanzania's mainland and then the island of Zanzibar to shoot for Karama. I hosted a party selling Karama and Noonday fair trade gifts before Christmas last year and really fell in love with their products and the way they are produced. Karama offers a variety of jewelry, scarves and other gifts made by artisans from all over Africa. Naturally I was thrilled when they asked us to come take pictures for them. 

Karama is the Arabic word for dignity. Learn more about Karama's mission here.  

I've scheduled posts for this week including a couple of guest posts! We'll be traveling around a bunch and I'm not sure how much internet access I'll have. Of course you'll be inundated with photos and stories from the trip when I return. 

Image Neema's Crafts via Karama

Holiday Gift Guide: Fair Trade

Last night I hosted a little party for friends to come and purchase gifts from Karama and Noonday, two fair trade brands which sell products made by artisans from around the world. Christmas is a great time to put a little extra love in the gifts you're giving. By purchasing fair trade, you're insuring the people who made it are being paid a fair wage for their work and supporting communities all around the world. 

Karama's Knots of Love Necklace might have been my favorite find of the night. (Thanks to Jason for buying it for me for an early birthday present!) It's from Ethiopia and made out of recycled artillery metals by a collective of HIV+ women. I just love the idea that shell casings, the remnants of conflict found in the mountains of northern Ethiopia, can be repurposed into something beautiful. I have it on in the photo above, behind the super cute alligator I'm holding which, clearly, I was really excited about. 

Both brands offer great gifts for friends, moms and sisters: beautiful jewelry, scarves, iPad cover, even the perfect present for the yoga nut in your life. A lot of this looks like it came straight from Anthro. Many of the ladies who came last night were surpised at the quality of products and variety. 

What are some of my other favorite products? Well, ok, just because you asked! 

I love Noonday's Stacked Arrows Necklace. The Knitted Bangle (on my wrist in the alligator photo above) is made from alpaca yarn knitted around a gourd, crazy! The Baby Alpaca Striped Blanket look so cozy and the Handmade Stationary (above) is beautifully created by 6 women in the slums of Jaipur, India. Noonday also offers Sseko Sandals, which we love!

Karama's Papa Owl (above) would make an adorable gift for a child. Love these earrings. Their fabric covered notebooks are a perfect stocking stuffer for most anyone. The Maisha Scarf is currently around my neck and not coming off anytime soon. 

All of the products are available online and will ship in time for Christmas! Check out karamagifts.com and noondaycollection.com.

Happy shopping! 

PS. Our visit to a fair trade soapstone co-op in Kenya last year.