Tampilkan postingan dengan label Dutzi Designs. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Dutzi Designs. Tampilkan semua postingan
Holiday Gift Guide: Give & Give Back
Usually I have gifts purchased or in view by the first week of December and am sitting in a pretty decent situation counting down the days until the 25th. Usually. For some reason this year is a repeat of last when I found myself in a bit of a frenzy, kind of stumped for what to buy and with only a couple tchotchkes tucked into the closet. One thing I don't want to do is just click away at items on the internet to make it go away (although it is tempting). Giving meaningful gifts is half the fun of giving in the first place, so one thing I am planning to do is give at least one item that gives back to each member of my family. It's really easy (at least for me) to get swept up in the excess of it all, even if I don't necessarily purchase mass amounts. And then without fail as I'm wrapping presents a degree of chagrin sweeps over as I think of thoughtful things left out that could have made an impact on someone else's life too. So with that in mind here are a handful of wonderful goodies that can make a difference and do double duty at the holidays:
1. Pura Vida Bracelets - These are so cool to pile on and are the perfect stocking stuffer. Pura Vida provides food, clothing and shelter for the 15 Costa Rican artisans who make these bracelets, and donates 1% of each bracelet sold back to The Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting oceans and beaches worldwide.
2. Glassbaby - I raved about Glassbaby last year (see here). These votive holders are beautiful and come in a wide array of colors. Different colors give to different causes, and one of my favorites to gift is the BFF. A. love the color. B. 10% of proceeds go to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers C. get your colors/sets here.
3. TOMS Shoes - I'm such a fan of TOMS. For every pair of shoes sold, a pair is given to a child in need. I recently had a chance to spend an afternoon at TOMS and left feeling so inspired and moved by the spirit of giving that permeates the company. Everyone in my family is getting a pair this year. Secret's out!
4. Made With Love Recycled Rubber Bracelets - made by a Women's Cooperative in West Africa, these bracelets not only provide the women who make them with a viable means of support, they are also sold to raise funds for L'Empire Des Enfants--a center for homeless children from the streets of Dakar, Senegal. The center provides shelter, meals, education and training as well as works with local organizations to reunite children with their families. I have a set of these bracelets and love them!
5. Mother and Child Candles - made in California by Maura Peters, all profits from these candles are donated to the Tibetan Healing Fund (THF) a not-for-profit humanitarian organization established to improve primary healthcare and education for rural Tibetan women and children in the Tibetan regions of the P.R. China.
6. Dutzi Design - this business is near and dear to me. Founder Ariane Dutzi has become a dear friend and it's been wonderful to watch her business grow. Ariane designs the bags and then empowers Mayan men and women, skilled craftspeople, to earn a living and set fair prices for their work as they bring her designs to life.
Do you consider/include gifts that give back in your holiday shopping? If you have additional ideas, please leave in the comments. I'm hoping to knock out some serious shopping this weekend!
6. Dutzi Design - this business is near and dear to me. Founder Ariane Dutzi has become a dear friend and it's been wonderful to watch her business grow. Ariane designs the bags and then empowers Mayan men and women, skilled craftspeople, to earn a living and set fair prices for their work as they bring her designs to life.
Do you consider/include gifts that give back in your holiday shopping? If you have additional ideas, please leave in the comments. I'm hoping to knock out some serious shopping this weekend!
Dutzi Design Inc: Handmade Bags and Totes That Give Back
While out shopping last week amidst my current existential crisis *remember I mentioned that here* I visited a friend's shop in Laguna Beach. As I expressed my dire condition (drama queen anyone?) she had this bright look in her eye and I knew she was about to haul something out of her magical little back room in yet another attempt to seize my wallet.
The Dutzi Design e-Commerce site will be up and running in September. In the meantime, Ariane has sent me an item list with basic pricing to go over with you. If you are interested in learning more and/or purchasing, please send a quick email to carrieonnn@gmail.com.
I would love to get your thoughts on this one ladies. There really is nothing more gratifying than helping someone out...and getting a handbag or tote in the process is more than a fair trade!
Enter Dutzi Design
When she opened the box and began pulling out samples I immediately picked up the faint smell of burlap. The scent was very familiar to me because I grew up on a farm on the Canadian Prairies and was tasked with helping my parents dig potatoes out of the garden in the fall - transferring them to none other than, you guessed it, burlap sacks. The smell of those bags took me back in an instant - it was wonderful! The designs were pretty special, too.
Ariane Dutzi is the Founder and Designer of Dutzi Design Inc. - a handbag workshop in the Yucatan that was created in 2009 to empower women to meet, work together and learn the basic rules of entrepreneurship. Dutzi is a former fashion editor who worked for the likes of Elle, Vanity Fair, Glamour and Mademoiselle while living in Paris and New York before moving to the Yucatan. I had the opportunity to speak with her at length today and she is truly a fantastically warm and inspiring woman who is committed to empowering the Mayan people.
~Burlap Tote~
Ariane didn't just want to create another handbag, belt, or other accessory...she wanted to be able to make a difference in the lives of the people of the Yucatan. Family is very important to the Mayan people so her business model allows women, and now men as well, to come to the workshop for training, pick up the materials, and deliver the finished, handcrafted bags.
~Burlap Tote~
The craftswomen and men are paid for each bag they make, which gives them the freedom to work from home while caring for their families. Not only does this provide them the flexibility to manage their lives, but with Ariane's training and oversight they learn the value of consistent quality and on-time delivery.
~Burlap Tote~
I have to say I absolutely love the idea behind Dutzi Design. Let's face it - there is no assembly line involved here. When you buy a bag you know that it was handcrafted by one person from start to finish. One set of hands made that bag and it is a unique item.
~Raffia Tote~
Not only that, but the individual who made it is a mini-entrepreneur. They are paid per bag and make a personal investment in each piece they construct which, in turn, results in a sense of ownership and pride in each piece that is produced. I love that these craftspeople are given the opportunity to keep family their focus while learning a trade, developing business acumen, and managing their personal lives.
~Burlap Clutch~
I don't know about you, but this type of item really speaks to me. I like knowing that I'm helping someone who otherwise might not have a lot of choices. Knowing that I'm investing in another person's life and helping to strengthen a community gives me a sense of pride as a consumer but, more importantly, a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood as a member of the human race *which I realize may sound cheesy, but is genuinely how I feel*. Remember when I jumped off my wallet for the Lemlem Tunic? It seemed like a chunk of change at the time, but I feel so good inside when I wear that cover up. Like I'm playing my part, too.
The Dutzi Design e-Commerce site will be up and running in September. In the meantime, Ariane has sent me an item list with basic pricing to go over with you. If you are interested in learning more and/or purchasing, please send a quick email to carrieonnn@gmail.com.
I would love to get your thoughts on this one ladies. There really is nothing more gratifying than helping someone out...and getting a handbag or tote in the process is more than a fair trade!
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