Sunday, November 30, 2014

Ethical Fashion Holiday Gift Guide for the Boho Princess

HAPPY ADVENT!!! I am so excited to kick of the Christmas season by attending mass with my family, and thinking of ways to show love and celebrate with others by giving them gifts that have positive residual impacts! I'm talking about gifts that do good for the world!

The holidays are obviously an important time of the year. Not only for families to come together, but to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!  I have partnered with Elisabetta, the founder of the incredible new start-up, Kurandza to bring you this gift guide. As this season of gift giving begins, we find it very important to give gifts that truly matter and make an impact!  You should not have to sacrifice style for charity. When I say "charity" I mean gifts that provide economic empowerment more than gifts that give back. Why not give gifts that help change the world for the better?  There are SO many fabulous brands out there that do these two things simultaneously!

Thus, in this holiday gift guide, you can find amazing gifts that are cute, fashionable, handmade, ecofriendly, sustainable, vegan, organic, fair trade, and fun while also helping to provide education, freedom from sex slavery, and economic empowerment to communities (and many women empowerment groups) across the globe! Making a purchase that matters means you are giving a gift that leaves a positive print on the world by supporting marginalized groups and providing hope. ;)
And now...
Ethical Fashion holiday guide, gifts that give back, social good
1 || Boho Chic Leather Boots from Teysha, an ethical fashion brand that provides employment opportunities to artisans in Guatemala
2 || Naomi Headband from Shop Indigenous, an online boutique social enterprise that curates chic, feminine clothing and accessories that make you look great while helping society at the same time!
3 || Hazelnut Chocolate Bar from Dagoba, a chocolate company that works to conserve rainforest biodiversity while promoting the rights of their workers
4 || Santa’s Lip Scrub from LUSH Cosmetics, an eco-friendly business that sources from small scale producers around the world, using organic fruits and vegetables as their main ingredients
5 || Mati Original Bangle from Kurandza, a social enterprise that teaches the trade of sewing to Mozambican women, the majority of whom are HIV-positive, so that they can earn sustainable incomes and become self-sufficient
6 || Black and Cool Teal Long Necklaces from Kwagala, an organization that provides counseling, housing, and vocational training among other social programs to young victims of human trafficking in Africa
7 || Lip Color Passionate from LUSH Cosmetics
8 || Bhavani Capri PUNJAMMIES™ from International Princess Project, an organization that creates pathways to healing for women who were involved in human trafficking in India, by teaching them the trade of sewing and selling their items in the U.S.
10 || Blue Arrows on Red Clutch Purse from Manos Zapotecas, a fair trade company that provides employment opportunities to artisans in Mexico
11 || Niguse Scarf from FashionABLE, a social enterprise that creates sustainable jobs for vulnerable women in Ethiopia

Thank you for reading our Holiday Gift Guide, and for considering making a purchase with a purpose, giving gifts that give back! Creating this graphic gave me, yet again, a new respect and intrigue for graphic designers. As you can tell by the title, Elisabetta and I chose boho-type items... as for the princess part, well, I believe that every girl is a princess. ;) Let me know which is your fave and if you are going to buy any of them. Don't forget that many of these places are having black Friday, cyber Monday, giving Tuesday sales!




Joyously Celebrating Advent,
Christine


P.S. Don't forget to check out all the awesome Black Friday Weekend and Cyber Monday deals I have collected! Yes, they are all ethical fashion, sustainable, fair trade fashion. Click Here!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Interview with Elegantees: Women's Fashion to Fight Human Trafficking

Casul chic Elegantees
How to style Elegantees and Seamly.Co maxi
Casual Chic Look with Elegantees and a Maxi
Women's fashion apparel to help fight human trafficking
Eco jewelry made in the USA of reclaimed brass and vintage materials
5 Way Maxi Dress Skirt || c/o Seamly.co via Fashion Revolution
Women's casual fashion apparel made in the USA of reclaimed jersey knit
Bajo Gato Blanco Sneakers || c/o Mipacha
Ethically sourced and sustainably produced shoes, handmade and handwomen in Peru

Photo Credit: Pink Creative Studio

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Have you ever wondered how you can help end human trafficking (as a consumer)?

Millions of men, women, and children are trapped in human trafficking in every moment. According to the UNOCD, there are more women trapped in human trafficking then men. Human trafficking is not just a women's issue, but a human issue. As a consumer, you can discover your "Slavery Footprint" and choose to avoid purchasing from companies which are known to support sweatshop conditions and potentially labor trafficking victims. However, you can go one step further! Companies such as Elegantees provide fair waged employment and housing for survivors of human trafficking. More than just employment and housing, Elegantees also helps women move forward and pursue further education if they so desire. Purchasing products from companies such as these helps bring about change, empower, and you are making a purchase you would have done anyways.

I have realized that are many women's jewelry and accessories companies which empowers survivors of human trafficking through employment and support programs. However, I have found many fewer clothing companies which support survivors of human trafficking. Elegantees are one of the few. 

And now, let me present to you my interview with Elegantees!



Fashion for freedom... I love it! Tell me how ELEGANTEES actually helps end human trafficking? 
One of the biggest problems with being rescued from sex trafficking is many women are lured back into it if they do not receive proper care and financial independence. Our passion is on the restoration end of this so they are not vulnerable again. Sewing jobs provide a sense of accomplishment, independence, and a way to take control of their life again.

How many survivors are you currently employing? 
Six women. There are four women in Nepal and two in the New York City area. There are additional women that we teach sewing classes to in a safe house in NYC.

If my readers would be interested in volunteer modeling for you, where can they apply? 
We love to do photo shoots and welcome various women as models. There is a tab on our website here, and we normally schedule shoots in NYC. It can also be for those travelling to NYC. If you’re taking a vacation, modeling for us is something to add to your to-do list.

Why the name "elegantees"? How do you pronounce this?  
When starting Elegantees 4 years ago, Katie wanted to create tops that are modest and elegant that are made from quality tee-shirt fabric. This way, they would be super easy to wear, wash, and style. The “elegant tee shirt” became the staple item in each collection. Lately we’ve been venturing off into dressesaccessories, and, soon, skirts!

Tell me about your founder, Katie! 
Ten years ago, Katie Martinez came to the city from the farm she grew up on in Iowa for the fashion industry. She excelled in the industry and dreamed of starting her own business. When doors were opening to start the brand, there was a grief in her heart for sex trafficked victims, so she sought ways to use Elegantees to help.


Tell me about the startup phase of ELEGANTEES? Would you say you are still there? 
The startup phase was in Katie working nonstop as she temporarily moved back to her parent’s house in 2010. Since then, growth has happened, but perhaps not in the way that would impress typical business standards. We’re a team of over 20 volunteers, plus our paid sewers. We are planning to open a store in the near future, and we are currently researching how to make this happen. It is a possibility to be able to hire more survivors to sew, hire more survivors to work in the store, and if demand increases, we’ll open positions to paid staff as well.

I know you are currently based in NYC. Has this helped your business grow and network? 
The Garment District is here and lots of creativity. It’s inspiring. We do get the opportunity to network, although we wish we could do more of it. Katie is a stay-at-home mom, and Wildy (our design lead) works full time and is wedding planning.

Can my readers purchase ELEGANTEES in boutiques across the nation? 
We are in a very limited number of boutiques, but the main reason for this is not having someone dedicated only to the relationships with them. We get requests from buyers often. There is a wholesale representative in training, so soon we will be able to offer wholesale with more serious pursuit.

Where is your fabric sourced from?  
Most of the qualities we’ve been using lately have been sourced locally in Nepal. This has been great for us since we’re a very small company, and we don’t have much purchasing power to have a lot control of this.

Where do you see ELEGANTEES in 5 years? 10 years?
Our vision is to see every sex trafficking victim in New York City and Nepal receive a safe housing option and an employment opportunity. We will continue to pursue ways to grow and expand in order to see this dream become reality. When we break even, we intend to donate significant profits of our business to organizations that are restoring victims, that are working with law enforcement, and providing care and counseling.

Aside from purchasing your beautifully crafted product, what message does ELEGANTEES want to translate to their customers?
We’re not the cookie-cutter fashion brand. Our lifestyle advertising is relatable, and in our opinion, very beautiful. Beauty is something that radiates from the inside out. While she is captivating, a woman’s value isn’t placed in her looks, but through her value in what she can offer to others.

Follow Elegantees on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

They also have a sale today for Black Friday, so check them out! ;)

With Love,
Christine


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Interview with Elisabetta of Kurandza: Empower and Educate Women in Mozambique through Jewelry

Kurandza bangle bracelet and stud earrings
These beautiful Kurandza stud earrings and bangles have such beautiful glitzy accents.

4 All Humanity Dress Shop Indigenous with Kurandza
Mati Original Bangle, Thandi Original Bangle | c/o Kurandza
Empowering and educating HIV-positive women in Mozambique through entrepreneurship and creative design
Tortoise Computer Glasses | c/o Firmoo
Nude Boho Shawl | Urban Outfitters
A Line Blue Chevron Flare Dress | c/o Shop Indigenous (4 All Humanity)
Boho chic women's ethical fashion apparel, fair trade, sustainable fashion retailer
Nude Ballet Flats | Shoes of Prey
Photo Credit: Pink Creative Studio

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Kicking off my new blog with an interview with the amazing new brand, Kurandza. This social good, ethical (slow) fashion women's African jewelry line is GORGEOUS! They sell bracelets and earrings handmade from the traditional Capulana fabric by women in Southern Mozambique. I love this brand because it is a brand which signifies hope and beauty. Each purchase of jewelry provides HIV-positive women fair employment, and a means to stay healthy and provide for their families. These pieces are all so cute too - say hello to statement pieces that state your fashion savviness and belief in women's empowerment, education, and social change! I hope this interview inspires you as it did me.

 Without further adieu, please join me as I interview Elisabetta, the Founder of the fashion for good social enterprise, Kurandza.


What is the inspiration behind Kurandza?
While I was volunteering with the Peace Corps at a hospital in Mozambique in southeastern Africa for the past three years, I noticed that many HIV positive women in rural villages were unable to reach the nearest hospital every month to pick-up their anti-retroviral treatment because they didn’t have money to pay for transportation. My community counterpart and I had the idea to start a sewing cooperative for these HIV positive women so that they could earn an income, pay for transport to the hospital, and remain adherent and healthy! We procured funds to start the cooperative, built our small workshop out of mud, trained the first group of women in sewing, and started to produce jewelry. When I got back to the U.S., the reaction from family and friends was overwhelming and because I knew that I wanted to find a way to remain connected and continue working with these women, I was inspired to create Kurandza.

What does Kurandza mean? Is there a certain way to pronounce it?
“Kurandza” means “to love” in Changana, the local language of the women with whom we work in Southern Mozambique. Our organization is a partnership based on mutual love and understanding between people of different cultures. Phonetically it is pronounced “Koo – Rahnd – Zah”.

Your jewelry is all handmade. Tell me more about it!
Yes, all of our pieces are handmade with LOVE by our women artisans in Mozambique. Our women spend time on each piece, making sure that it is carefully handcrafted for our customers. Sometimes it takes our women a whole day to make just one set of earrings because they want to make sure that they are of the best quality!

kurandza, mozambique, african jewelry

Would you consider your brand as an ethical fashion company? Why or why not?
I would definitely consider Kurandza to be an ethical fashion company because of our social mission of empowering and educating women in Mozambique through entrepreneurship and creative design. In everything we do, we think of how we are working towards our mission and benefiting our women partners.

Where do you source your materials?
All of our products—jewelry, bags, and accessories— are made with traditional fabric called “Capulana” that we get in Mozambique. Capulana cloth is used daily by women in Mozambique either as a head-wrap, around their waist as a skirt, or as a way to carry babies on their back.

Where do you see Kurandza in 5 years? 10 years?
I hope that in the near future, Kurandza grows to be a prominent brand with great demand for our product so that we can build a larger workshop in our current village and create new partnerships in other communities, working with more artisans and making a difference in the lives of more and more women in Mozambique.

What message do you want people to take away from your line? Aside from it's beautiful jewelry.
By purchasing one of our pieces, you are not only receiving a beautiful and unique item, but most important you are helping Mozambican women to become self-sufficient, enabling them to provide for themselves and their families.

My blog's name is beYOUtiful hope. How do you define beauty? :)

I think that beauty is all about being comfortable and confident with who you are and letting your own personality and style shine through.



Follow Kurandza on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!



Once Again Inspired,
Christine


P.S. Don't forget that Kurandza jewelry would make great holiday gifts! Not only are the pieces gorgeous, but through them you give the gift of hope. Also, I love their eco-friendly packaging. :D

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Newness is Here!!!




The last few months I have been thinking about what it means to be a young woman. When I write this I mean, what it means to graduate college, and not have people telling you what to do, or telling you that A or B is the best option for your future(like professors do in class). Has anyone else gone through this feeling? It is a bit frustrating.

This past year I have been watched my love for Disney Channel watching shows slowly fade, and my yearning to find my place in society, where I can earn income, contribute, and grow increase. This past year I have also been making my way into the ethical fashion world by saying adieu to fast fashion choices(no, it is not easier to do, yes it is worth it)! With all these things happening on top of living life as a daughter of God, I have decided that this little outlet of mine was due for a makeover to reflect my new life outlook. 

What better way to celebrate than with a new look and vision?

To celebrate this new mini-beginning, I have redesigned my blog, created a logo, lined up interviews and collaborations, and am going to be introducing you to inspiring every-day, sisters in Christ, so they may help inspire you on your faith journey as they have done for me! 

Stay tuned because I am going to add new sections to by blog in the next few days! I hope that this new direction on my blog will help us all rediscover fashion, rediscover what it means to be beYoutiful, and help remind us to always appreciate the God that created us.


With Love,
Christine

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook

P.S. Kurandza also launched their new website today! What a coinky-dink! They sell beautiful jewelry, made by HIV positive women in Mozambique. Every purchase of their apparel ad jewelry helps give these women a steady income and a new life. So head on over there!



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

GIVEAWAY + Yellow Spaghetti Celebrating 1 More Day

LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art Photography
LACMA Fashion blogger

Location: LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), Los Angeles, California
Model: Jackie

Celebrating One More Day until Newness on Beyoutiful Hope!

One of my goals when I visited California was to do a photoshoot at LACMA. I have always felt that photos taken here were a part of the iconic Southern California fashion blogger scene, after having seen Shae Marie of Peace Love Shae do a photoshoot at LACMA a few years back. Fast forward to...well, now and I had the opportunity to live in SoCal and visit LACMA with friends. My friend who is modeling here for me is someone you have seen on my blog before. 

I want to take a moment to point out what makes her beyoutiful, because I feel like people spend too little time genuinely uplifting each other. Jackie has a joyous spirit that has a yearning to see what is best for others. She is a strong, empowered women, who is a hard worker and also likes to have fun. This gal is not hesitant to lend a helping hand and truly lives out what it means to have a sisterhood with other young women. She is growing daily in her faith journey, which is so beautiful. Oh yea, she is also so beautiful, like... I would buy my kid an American girl doll of here if there was one. :p


With Love,
Christine

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook!


P.S. Like free stuff?  CLICK HERE to enter the Snowpeak x Sseko Designs "Ultimate Fall Giveaway"! 
Learn more about Sseko Designs from my last post, here.



Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Wisdom Cookies + GIVEAWAY Celebrating 2 More Days

Quail Hill Irvine, Southern California Photography
Thrifted Tomboy Girly Fashion:
(AKA: how to rock a beanie with a floral dress)
Beanie | Thrifted
Floral Dress | Thrifted
Leggings | Lucy's Closet
Timerland Boots |  Lucy's Closet

Model: Lucy
Location: Quail Hill Trailhead, Irvine, California

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As mentioned yesterday, I am celebrating this 3 day countdown by sharing my favorite fall photoshoots. Today I am sharing this sunrise photoshoot I took with Lucy. When I am with her I feel like I am being given wisdom cookies because this girl is not only a ball of joy, but she is so wise, patient, and invested in being successful at what is in front of her. I am inspired by her faith and sincere conviction to help others. Also, you don't see many young adults now days who are into the traditional Catholic Mass... and I mean in Latin! 

This lady is so wise and fun. Today, as a part of my 3 day countdown, I celebrate Lucy and her heart for others through Christ.


So Blessed and Grateful,
Christine


Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

P.S. Like free stuff?  CLICK HERE to enter the Snowpeak x Sseko Designs "Ultimate Fall Giveaway"! 
Learn more about Sseko Designs from my last post, here.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Sunrise Vixen Celebrating 3 More Days

Quail Hill Irvine California Photoshoot Fashion blogger





How to Style Tall Moccasin Boots:

Simply Sustainable is a Niagara Falls, Canada - based retailer which sells all fair trade and hand made jewelry and accessories. The green pendant worn here is made from the semi-precious stone Aragonite, found in Argentina. The owner and artist, Leah, does a lot of traveling between Canada and Latin America for her brand and community building. If you follow her on Instagram, you too will be able to join in her travels.  
Loose Top and Snug bottoms | Monse's Closet
Tall Brown Moccasin Boots | Goodwill
Thrifting, thrifting, thrifting! As I have been in California, I met two amazing thrifters, this gal being one of them. Don't forget that a great way to shop ethically is to shop second hand! Did you know the average consumer trashes 70 pounds of clothes and textiles per year? What if instead we swapped clothes and purchased second hand every now and then?

Model: @monserawr

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As the title of this blog post indicates, new things are acomin' onto this here blog! So, to celebrate the 3 day countdown, I am going to be posting my favorite photoshoots from this fall along with a little style segment. Today marks 3 days left until the "something new" here at Beyoutiful Hope!

Until Tomorrow,
Christine

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Sseko + PUNJAMMIES™ GIVEAWAY


This week's ethical fashion blogger giveaway...


Win a pair of Preethi PUNJAMMIES™, women's 100% cotton pajamas (pyjamas). PUNJAMMIES™ are made by survivors of sex slavery in India who are paid at above fair trade wages. Over 150 women now have the opportunity to safe, dignified, and freely chosen jobs through PUNJAMMIES™! Your purchase from International Princess Project helps prevent  the exploitation of women in India.

+

Win a Dusty Midnight Sseko Designs clutch. All Sseko products empower and help high potential women in Uganda save for a college university education. 47 women have attended college through employment with Sseko Designs! Your purchase at Ssekos Designs provides education to women in Uganda, Africa.


CLICK HERE to enter!


Anticipating Your Entries,
Christine