This Malia Designs Clutch Is L&G Lovely

Malia Designs Agatha Clutch, $36

This clutch is made in Cambodia, fair trade certified, and according to Fashioning Change, supports the fight against human trafficking. How? Malia Designs employs women workers in Cambodia and donates a percentage of sales to nonprofits working in the area. Scrutinize for yourself here.

Fashioning Change provides a thorough and pretty well designed background of Malia Designs, and I'm guessing other such companies that they stock. The online shop just kicked off in the last week or so officially, and is still in beta design, but it's looking pretty good.

Happy Monday! If you have a little extra energy, feel free to send it my way. Shoots!

Happy Feet Thanks to The Bootstrap Project

I love this footstool. 'Nuff said. And if it's not, then just know that that the footstool is made by an artisan in Tajikistan and his goods in turn are made available to the world via The Bootstrap Project. To be all transparent and stuff, they did send me a wonderful email wishing me happy holidays, but I don't think this makes me biased... Either way, make your own mind up about the project and goods by reading all abouts it here (yes, the "abouts" is intentional. Because I like it. No questions allowed!).

Quite possibly the most fun socks ever... Nadzhida's Stockings made in Tajikistan, $60

I'm sure I'll be sharing more of its artisans and products in the future -- I'd love if the cashmere creations from Nepal one day included that white maxi skirt of my dreams! But I can't complain about adorable hats, either...

As for the organization itself, The Bootstrap Project is an interesting example of globalism meets nonprofit meets microfinance meets business. The company's blog is a fun behind-the-scenes of the work, artisans, and travel involved. Explore away, and see what you think.

Happy Friday, all! Boy, that came fast.

Acumen Fund Words of Wisdom

"Low-income people face a different set of constraints because of their economic situation, but they make decisions, like everyone, that are based on status and beauty and avoidance of risk, and not just 'what’s good for them.'"

THANK YOU for saying this, Acumen Fund. It is somehow forgotten way too often, whether it's by news sources or NGO marketing campaigns, that poor people are people too, with (and with the rights to have!) the same wants and desires, not just needs. It's what makes us all human.

Read all of Acumen's 10 Things We've Learned to Be True.

Beulah London Supports Survivors

Beulah London Tigris Dress, £356

Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who has lived and worked for a nonprofit in the red lights district in Amsterdam about the complications of the sudden upswing in awareness and campaigning against human trafficking. While awareness is important, she said, the movement isn't necessarily offering up answers for those who survive the industry after brothel raids.

These people who survive sex trafficking have been hardened, or don't know where to turn. They may have even been "freed," and are sending money to impoverished families in home countries.

The women, an acquaintance of my friend said, consider themselves survivors, not human trafficking victims. And to take any means away from someone empowered enough to believe they have the will to survive is a dilemma in itself. There has to be another option, one that offers long-term surviving.

This is where I find the Beulah London model interesting. While the clothing reads a bit more mother-in-law than hot new style (and is a bit above my price range, of course), the mission behind it is worth a gander. Here is what its CSR states:

"Alongside every purchase of Beulah, a canvas bag is given which has been made by women victims of trafficking in India through a project based in Kolkata. The women are provided with fair wages, health insurance, and training schemes that help them start their journey towards freedom. Currently the project employs circa 150 women. Natasha and Lavinia's vision is to further the women's textile skills so that one day they can be involved in the whole process from start to finish. In the meantime, all the clothes are being made through ethical means on a separate production site."

Peony Skirt

With some wedges and a chambray tank?? Just maybe ...

Plus, all kinda British celebs are lovin' up on Beulah London:

Pippa Middleton wearing the Shibani scarf

Learn more about Beulah London here. And please let me know if you have heard of a company or mission that you think addresses this issue as well!

Bhalo for a Monday Pick-Me-Up

Saturday Shirt, $135; Cargo Shorts, $155

As I hinted on Friday, today's post is about Bhalo. This company has a fun, quirky, patterned fashion sense, and is created in Bangladesh. Everything is handcrafted/dyed/loomed and eco-friendly. The focus is on fashion inspired by the region and travel, made under ethical working conditions, and engaged in community development.

Scarecrow Trousers, $195

Sale jacket!...

Tailfeather Jacket, $40 (only large left)

There are also lovely dresses, embroidered skirts, and gauzy shirts, but I'm in a jacket, pants and shorts kind of mood (blame the "cold" Honolulu weather!). If you would like see the rest for yourself, go here.

Hope everyone has slept off the Tryptophan haze and is enjoying the final touches of fall!

Skyping with the Fam = Happy Holidays! + Bhalo

Consecutively,

1. Happy Thanksgiving from the Harmon family in Colorado!
2. Happy Caesar named brother Robert, with lil sis Alyse! (All the single ladies, line up. He's a keeper. All the single men, bummer. That pretty lady's been snatched up. Though she's also a keeper.)
3. Happy Anna winning 30 piece of gold on Dark Tower!

There's a bit of a story behind #3. See, back when I was a wee thing, my dad had this amazing game. It was called Dark Tower, and it made all fantasy lovers' dreams come true. Brigands, dragons, warriors, gold. And then he gave it away, and forever regretted it. For his 50th birthday, we bought it for him on Ebay (and it was not easy -- there are apparently a lot of nerds in the same boat) and then we coded a book so he had to guess what was coming in the mail for him.

It finally showed up when I was already back on the islands, and they've been Dark Towering away. But today, it's my turn! Thank goodness for Black Friday.

Oh, and yeah. I won. Above is a Reese's cup on top of the Dark Tower, because chocolate can only make things better. Here are a couple of quotes from our Skype sesh game:

1. Mom: Who am I? I'm so confused. Oh, there I am.

2. Conversation about haggling over the price of soldiers at the bazaar (the bazaar kicked me out):
Mom: Tom, did you tell her to haggle?!
Me: No, I wanted to.
Dad: See! She's her own person!

Gotta love 'em. As for your L&G find (as if that's not enough. Really.) ... check out the Thursday skirt from Bhalo:

100 percent handwoven cotton (don't judge me for not spelling out the 100 because it's at the beginning of the sentence ... it's my blog, I can do what I want to! Anywayyy...), cross stitch inspired by traditional Bangladeshi pattern, made in Bangladesh.

I'll be sharing more about Bhalo on Monday, so if you don't feel like researching, just hold out until then for more loveliness! (PS Thanks to Lloso for this find.)

Until Monday, happy aloha Friday and start of the holiday season, everyone.

What's a Girl Gotta Do for Some Social Studio?

For this outfit, I would probably give up my roommates' dog and say she ran away (Janna and Dan, if you're reading this, I KID! Maybe.) or work a banquet on Christmas (oh wait, I'm actually doing that one ... the plight of the part-time underemployed). Either way, I'd definitely frolic around town in it, like, every day?

Amiright?? Top is the Trapeze Tank for $90; bottom is the Jersey Pant for $110. The whole outfit is made by Melbourne's The Social Studio, which uses all repurposed materials  and creates its clothing from the styles and skills of refugees. They even have a cafe and studio. I can't even get into how great the organization, and working for it, sounds. Read more here. (I'd even go so far as to label it "awesome," but I just read a frequent traveler's account of his top pet peeves about Americans, and that was towards the top of the list. Well played, sir.)

But yes, more importantly, I'll take one of each in size small please. Or maybe medium, if I wanna rock it baggy kine .... Dreamin' away for the holidays. (PS Don't listen to fashion nazis, I endorse light neutrals year 'round.)

Just some images from the website. Seriously, read more about Social Studio here, because I'm not doing its story justice. I originally heard about it from Stephanie over at Fashion at Liberty, and just featured the pants for my snow-day style post over there. Check 'em.

Also, if anyone has any good suggestions of nonprofits to straight up donate to, holla at a girl. Time to start "shopping" for da mama.

Happy Turkey Day, folks! I'm thankful for banjos, beach, and family -- the third of which I'll be Skyping with tomorrow AM.