Ladies, check out this fabulous find of the week…
Same Sky is a fair trade company founded in 2008 whose mission is to empower women worldwide and inspire a movement of women empowering women. The inaugural project was based in Kigali, Rwanda, where Mary Fisher, an author, artist and speaker who travels the world advocating for those who share her HIV-positive status, taught artisan women a style of crocheting used to create beautiful glass bead bracelets.
The company now employs HIV-positive women, who survived the 1994 Genocide, to hand make these lovely creations and help rebuild their lives at the same time. In addition to their wages (which are 15 times higher than the average for women in sub Saharan Africa), the artisans receive a daily stipend that covers transportation and a daily meal to take their medication.
I found this cause especially moving, and I highly suggest reading more about the history behind this effort on their Web site at samesky.com.
The bracelets are crocheted with hand-blown glass beads that come on a non-stretch cord that rolls on the wrist. They come in small and medium and adjust to fit as you wear them. A wonderful palette of colors gives you numerous options to choose from. These would make excellent bridesmaids gifts and would be perfect additions to their wedding ensemble. And if the bracelet wasn’t enough, each comes with a card hand signed by the artisan, creating an even more special connection between maker and buyer.
I love this company, and I think you will to. Though headquartered now in New York, the bracelets can be purchased on their Web site at samesky.com.
Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.
Photos courtesy of Same Sky.
