These are places like the Democratic Republic of Congo or Sierra Leon. An estimated 3.7 million people have died in wars funded by diamonds.
That's why it's vital when you're looking to add a new piece to your jewelry chest, you make sure it's ethical jewelry.
As a consumer, where you spend your dollars matter. You can use them to support businesses that damage indigenous communities and pollute the environment. Or you can put them where they'll do the most good.
Before you buy your next piece of jewelry, here's everything you need to know about ethically sourced and sustainable accessories.
Related: Why Investing in Developing Countries Helps All of Us
Serendip Silk Thread Handmade Bangles
Ethical jewelry focuses on jewelry that is created sustainable. It's done in a way that supports indigenous communities and the environment as a whole.
Ethical jewelry is often made:
When you're looking for ethical jewelry, there are two main things you need to consider. These are traceability and sustainability.
When you're buying new jewelry, you need to know where it comes from. You need to be able to trace it to its source, down to its specific mine where the gemstones and precious metals left the earth. But this is a pretty big feat.
Being able to track this entire route shows that the jewelry company cares about what they're putting into the world. It proves they're choosing the best way to create high quality, ethical jewelry.
Since the jewelers can source their materials back to the ground, the company can inspect every step. They can guarantee that humans and nature are being treated ethically.
Secondly, we all want our jewelry to be sustainable. It needs to be sustainable for the land, for the communities involved, and in the business practices from which materials are sourced. This is why the jewelry company needs to be able to trace the materials back to its source.
Gods and Monsters: The Apollo Bracelet
Ethical jewelry comes with plenty of benefits, too. First off, you know that no one was hurt in making your jewelry. But your jewelry can be something you can be proud to stand by too.
Ethical jewelry creates economic opportunities for developing countries. It also ensures people aren't being taken advantage of in areas where there's not a lot of protective oversight.
Consumers want to know their purchases are going to support a good cause. So businesses have to be able to prove their materials are ethically sourced. This is done through fair trade practices that protect the environment and the people around them.
Consumers now have a right to ask a business to prove their jewelry doesn't ruin lives in its production.
Other organizations, like Good On You, examine brands to see how well they meet standards for ethical jewelry. This helps businesses make real, positive changes in the world and lets consumers put their dollars where they matter most.
Fair Trade Certification is a third-party certification. It originated to protect the people responsible for sourcing the things we consume. In many industries like agriculture, fishing, and jewelry creation, the people at the source are abused and neglected along the way.
Fair Trade wanted to change that, and ensure laborers were safe and well-compensated for the vital work they do. Fair Trade also ensures goods are produced without involuntary labor or child labor and that they've done so in safe working conditions.
That's why you may want to purchase your gold from a company that meets Fair Trade standards, instead of recycled gold. There's evidence that using recycled gold doesn't prevent any new mining. The demand for gold's value alone means that whether you buy it in your ring or someone else buys it for wealth, gold will still be mined.
But if you buy gold from a company that ensures Fair Trade standards, it means that the people mining your gold will be doing so safely. They'll have protective gear while handling mercury. Gold mining is the largest cause of mercury pollution, often by small scale miners.
Since the movie Blood Diamonds came out in 2006, people have been more concerned and aware of the way their jewelry purchases impact the world.
By opting for ethically sourced jewelry, you ensure that forced labor and child labor weren't involved in creating your bling. We don't have to explain why that's an awesome thing.
The cruelty that existed in the jewelry industry for centuries can't be undone by opting for more ethical means of sourcing materials. Some argue that consumers turning to ethical jewelry is letting big jewelers off the hook.
In 2000, The New York Times argued jewelers are turning "conflict-free diamonds" into a virtue. Instead of facing up to damages done to affected communities, they get to tout their ethical jewels.
No one has ever had to take responsibility for those atrocities. No restitution has ever been made.
So some jewelers are opting to find new ways of creating jewelry. They're going away from traditional sources of jewelry like gold, silver, or diamonds. They're turning to more sustainable and ethical sources for jewelry.
We see a wider variety of new styles and materials in jewelry than has ever been seen before.
Now there's a demand for ethical jewelry and clarity all along the manufacturing and sourcing process. Despite this, there isn't a lot of ethical certification in the fine jewelry industry. Below, we've listed the existing certifications.
The Responsible Jewelry Council is verified by an independent third-party certification process. It holds a set of standards called the RJC Code of Practices to promote best practices and sustainability in the fine jewelry industry. These practices directly align with 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Responsible Jewelry Council code of practices looks at issues within the supply chain itself. It has a Chain-of-Custody Certification that tracks a precious metal or gem from its source.
This ensures that its manufacturing meets ethical standards all along the supply chain. It watches for things like business ethics, human rights, and social and environmental impacts.
The Kimberly Process was introduced to keep diamonds from fueling war zones and conflict. At the same time, it protected legitimate rough diamond trade. The Kimberly Process requires members to certify the sources of their rough diamonds to keep conflict diamonds out of the market.
However, the Kimberly Process has come under fire. It has been incredibly effective at ensuring diamonds don't directly fuel warzones. But at the same time, it neglects other basic human rights and sustainability issues.
The Kimberly Process focuses on blood diamonds and blood diamonds alone. It doesn't pay attention to broader issues like:
So while the Kimberly Process is a vital element in ensuring diamonds don't fund wars, it's not a sign that jewelry was created truly ethically.
Brilliant Earth boasts that their diamonds go above and beyond the Kimberly Process standards. They meet internationally recognized labor, trade, and environmental standards.
This means their diamonds don't fund rebel movements and don't involve child or forced labor. They minimize environmental impact, support community development, and ensure safe labor practices.
It looks as though Brilliant Earth might be doing a lot to ensure their diamonds are of high quality. But it looks like they miss the mark and don't have fairmined gold.
Fairtrade Gold is a standard in the UK to ensure ethical practices when sourcing gold. However, very few jewelers in the U.S. have adopted this standard.
What's worse, is Fairtrade Gold is a standard, but Fair Trade Gold is meaningless. It's like the phrase "all-natural" in food. It sounds good, but it doesn't have any real backing to it.
As you can see, each of these organizations have their flaws. It’s hard to know exactly where your jewelry comes from unless you do a little bit of digging yourself. If a jewelry brand provides transparency, that’s a good sign. Start there and flip through the website, and contact the crafters if you have any remaining questions.
At Now Chase the Sun, we’re all about transparency. If you want to learn more about our products and process, read about Koshi and how she stays committed to artisan craftsmanship and underserved communities.
At Now Chase the Sun, we pride ourselves on carrying ethical jewelry. We focus on upcycling abandoned materials like seeds, tires, or newspapers to create truly unique works of art.
We collaborate with different artists from all over the world to create locally sourced and sustainable jewelry.
Check out or Be Calm Volcanic Lava Bead Bracelet. Proceeds go to build schools in 25 villages in India, so over 1500 children can get the education they deserve. It's one of the ways charity bracelets can help change the world.
Or you might like the Zola Long Mughal Mural Hand Painted Seed Earrings. Each unique pair helps support painters in small villages in Rajasthan.
Related: Charity Bracelets: Are You Actually Helping a Good Cause?
The choices we make with our purchases dictate the way our world grows. Choosing ethical jewelry from safe, clean sources protects indigenous communities. It keeps contaminants out of vital waterways and our environment as a whole.
When you choose ethically sourced jewelry, you're making a statement. You're saying you won't stand for the kind of indecent treatment evident in the creation of many pieces of jewelry.
Make sure your next piece of jewelry makes a statement you can stand by. Check out our complete line of ethically sourced jewelry pieces at Now Chase the Sun.
]]>Among the various forms of this branch of medicine, one of the more recently popular trends are healing stones or healing crystals. You might have heard people talking about these different kinds of stones, but there’s a lot of mystiques and misconceptions around what they are and how they work.
Many different types of healing stones and crystals exist, each possessing their own unique healing abilities for your mind, body, and soul. They aid in the flow of positive energy, get rid of negative energy from your body, and bring about an improvement in your physical, mental, and emotional health. The reason so many people are turning to this form of medicine is to helps rive acceptance, reflection, as well as mindfulness.
While some use healing stones as a part of their spiritual practice of gaining peace, promoting love, and restoring their energy field, others place it on certain parts of their bodies known as ‘chakras,” so as to promote healing. Others wear them within jewelry, like the pieces found at Chase the Sun, bringing their healing properties with them wherever they go.
Let’s now take a look at what healing stones and crystal therapy are all about, and the different kinds of healing stones that exist, along with their benefits.
Healing stones or healing crystals belong to the alternative medical technique of crystal healing. This technique makes use of healing crystals and stones for curing ailments and protecting people against diseases. Stones are considered as elements of healing that enable negative and disease-causing energy to leave the body, and healing and positive energy to enter your body.
Much like the various forms of energy medicine, healing stones, too, utilize the inherent healing force of the body in order to heal and nourish us in numerous ways. Medical researchers and physicians are looking into these healing stones now more than ever due to the attention and popularity they have gained in the last few years. If you do decide to get a healing stone, it’s important to get it from a brand that’s authentic and reputed. Nuwan Stones, for example, has a wide variety of healing stones for you to choose from, based on the kind of effect and healing you require.
We know from physicists that matter is basically energy in a physical form, and healing stones are no different from that. Their inception can be traced back to them coming into being over the years, being subjected to high pressure, which is why these stones have supreme concentrations of energy. In addition to being used in different aspects of technology, these healing stones also help in uplifting your health.
There are different types of healing stones that are found around the world, and each stone possesses a unique energy that can produce therapeutic effects. Here are some of the various kinds of healing stones and their benefits:
Lava stones have a calming effect on the body. Wearing jewelry with a Volcanic Lava Bead can create a grounding effect on the wearer, reducing symptoms of anxiety. Because of this benefit along with their porous nature, this stone is often used with essential oils. Many lava stone wearers prefer lemon and lavender essential oils because of their ability to reduce stress.
This healing stone was recently discovered from Madagascar and resembles small flowers, hence its name. Its known for correcting and balancing energies within the body, making it the perfect jewelry for someone looking to find their correct life path. Sometimes it can even reveal hidden talents or uncover the wearer’s potential strengths. People who have recently experienced trauma or a tough life experience sometimes rely on Flower Agate to help them move forward and focus on the present and future. Get stuff done with Chase the Sun’s Gods and Monsters: Dionysus Bracelet.
Experience tranquility and wholeness with jasper, a healing stone that absorbs negative energy and balances yin and yang. With that sense of balance comes a better ability to organize and tackle problems head-on. You’ll experience faster thinking and feel your imagination take wind, transforming your ideas into action. You’ll feel reenergized while wearing Matte Jasper.
Related: 15 Meaningful Jewelry Gifts This Season
People feel protected when wearing Onyx, since their senses are sharpened and they feel more aware. Onyx’s defensive properties work against negativity as well, whether it be your own negative thoughts or negative comments from a co-worker. They can even ward off nightmares and fears associated with the dark, which is why people often place Onyx on their nightstand. Wearing Onyx prolongs your strength as you go through demanding physical or mental obstacles in your life, from a big project at work to overcoming an illness. Your stamina and focus will improve, giving you a boost of self-confidence and a level head.
Chrysocolla balances all your chakras, promoting physical and mental strength. This healing gem opens you up to love thanks to improved communication. It even promotes truth-telling and impartiality, reducing mental tension and allowing you to feel more confident and level-headed. When it comes to physical benefits, Chrysocolla can treat arthritis, bone disease, blood disorders, lung problems and more. You’ll feel your muscles strengthen while wearing Chrysocolla and it even treats PMS and menstrual cramps.
This stunning gem helps reduce stress and ease anxiety. An added sense of clarity allows wearers to speak with clarity and integrity. People who are often nervous or stressed may develop a “go with the flow” attitude, eliminating fears and frustrations. If you're giving a presentation, wearing Blue Tiger Eye can give you a strong connection to your audience. If you’re flying, wearing Blue Tiger Eye can ease your fears or stress.
Charoite has become a source of comfort and symbol of endurance for its wearers. People experiencing life-changing events, like a job loss, gain courage to start over and push for a better future. If you’re lonely, charoite is also known to provide emotional healing and make people feel less alienated. This healing stone also awakens wearers’ analytical abilities and keen observation, making decision-making easier and making wearers feel more determined to cover obstacles.
Moss Agate is a stone of new beginnings. Wearers feel their souls being refreshed, allowing them to appreciate their own qualities and life. But it also brings the possibility of improving your life with wealth and higher self-esteem. Moss Grass Agate wearers have better communication and find themselves getting along well with others. It encourages trust and hope and can even eliminate depression.
This stunning stone cleanses and stabilizes the wearer’s asura while alleviating feelings of negativity and stress. Because you will feel a better sense of concentration, self-confidence and decision-making, Flourite is known as a learning aid. Physically, Flourite improves balance and coordination. Wearers may also have a boost to their immune system, helping them heal from wounds or even spinal injuries.
Rose quartz with its beautiful pink hues is known to cure heartache. If you feel agitated due to whatever reasons related to your love life, then having a rose quartz stone can make you feel calm. It’s good to wear this as a pendant, so that the stone can stay close to your heart. This helps in promoting self-love, healing wounds, and also allows your heart to recover from the past and open up to new relationships. Not only does it help you in loving others, but it also helps you develop love, trust, and respect within yourself. Stay open to love and friendship with Chase the Sun’s Gods and Monsters: Turan Bracelet.
The agate healing stone can be found in a wide variety of colors. It provides you with clarity of thought and improves your mental function, stabilizes your aura, increases self-awareness, gets rid of negative energy, provides emotional stability, and boosts self-worth. You can have it with you just before taking an important exam, or right before going to talk to someone you love, so that you can communicate better.
This purple healing gemstone is known to bring about courage, peace, and strength. Amethyst is mainly a soothing stone that boosts healing, and possess a quiet yet potent energy that makes you more creative. Owing to its tranquil properties, amethyst also serves as a thoughtful gift for someone who is going through mood swings, anxiety, or is trying to recover from addiction. You can wear it anywhere to initiate physical and spiritual healing. Chase the Sun’s Gods and Monsters: Hyacinth Bracelet is the perfect piece of jewelry for someone looking for courage and strength.
Moonstones work especially for women. This white, clear, or rainbow-colored healing stone is famous for bringing about new beginnings, and encouraging inner growth and strength. Strongly linked to the moon and feminine strength and beauty, moonstone helps you in gaining peace and harmony from within, and makes your intuition stronger.
It was also used by the ancient Indian Gods and Goddesses, which is how it gets its status as regal and sacred. Moonstone helps in getting rid of materialism, managing your ego, and also aids in curing problems such as menstrual issues, obesity, hormonal changes, water retention, and so on.
Related: Charity Bracelets: Are You Actually Helping a Good Cause?
Citrine is also known as ‘the money stone,’ because the yellow color of the stone is connected to its association with gold and wealth. This is why it’s advised to carry this stone along whenever you go to financial institutions such as banks, and also business meetings that are related to finance. By keeping it with you or placing it in front of you, it allows you to attract financial stability and wealth.
Citrine also helps in getting rid of negative traits and welcomes positive factors such as warmth, optimism, clarity, and motivation. It also stimulates metabolism, and helps in fighting indigestion and nausea. Hearing difficulties and sleep problems can be cured with this healing stone as well.
Selenite, known as the ‘master healing stone’, doesn’t even need to be charged, and can actually be employed to recharge and clean other healing crystals as well. Popular as the most abundant healing crystal, it’s found in several places such as Brazil and Mexico, and also in ancient evaporated salt lakes and sea bodies. Selenite helps in both physical and mental healing, and gives peace to whoever wears it and carries it around. It transports the spiritual world to you, and shows you where you go beyond this life.
The beautiful color of aquamarine attracts individuals to it regardless, and the benefits of it are an added bonus, of course. Your problems related to your teeth, eyes, and digestive system will vanish away with this healing stone. It’s heard that sailors used aquamarine in the past to bring them luck while they were at sea, and some use them even today for the purpose of safety and protection.
Aquamarine is said to bring happiness to the one who wears it, and helps in accelerating the healing process, allowing you to grieve and eventually let go of whatever is holding you down. It is also known to do away with the fear of water, promoting meditative energy, and bring back a lost lover.
One of the oldest stones to exist, turquoise was rumored to be used by kings, chiefs, wizards, and so on. Reputed as the stone of wisdom, turquoise has cropped up in almost every ancient culture, and earned its value as the healing stone that protects the wearer. Your body contains meridians, and turquoise is known to strengthen them and support your intuition and meditation.
The blue color of the healing stone connects it to the Throat Chakra, thereby helping you communicate clearly. By carrying turquoise with you, you will be carrying along a symbol of protection and wisdom. It also helps in healing problems related to the ears, brain, throat, and neck.
It’s easy to be transfixed on this stone’s unique and beautiful appearance, but people who wear this stone will experience other benefits as well, from spiritual to physical. With that in mind, here are some insights on what lava stone beads can do.
Related: Charity Bracelets: Are You Actually Helping a Good Cause?
Lava stones are the oldest stones in the world, and many cultures have used them in their rituals for centuries.
They originate from volcanic eruptions, much similar to obsidian stones. When the lava shoots out of the volcano and runs down its side, the hot liquid rock dries up and forms a lava stone. Because of this process, these stones often represent the idea of "rebirth." Experts believe that the healing properties came from the strength of the volcano.
The Lava Stone was created during the Roman time where the engineers used it to build the massive dome of the Pantheon and as a construction material for a variety of architectures.
The 18th century marks the first time that these stones were used as jewelry. After the cities of Pompeii were discovered in Italy, people wanted these stones as souvenirs. These common stones were made into rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for tourists.
Check out lava bead jewelry from Now Chase The Sun
The chakra is a concept from Indian culture that focuses on the body’s spiritual power. There are seven different chakras, all responsible for distributing the energy of the body, which is referred to as Qi or Praana.
Lava stone users believe the stones stabilize the chakra because of its secure connection with the earth. When the chakra is stabilized, the mind and body will feel positive and safe.
Lava stones have a powerful calming ability to relax the body. Because the stones originate deep within the earth, it is believed that they carry energy similar to the place that they belong.
This energy reduces negative emotions and replaces them with positive thoughts and feelings. Lava stones can also increase the overall energy so that the wearer will feel focused and confident.
Check out lava bead jewelry from Now Chase The Sun
Lava stones are porous, which means that they have lots of tiny holes inside, which helps diffuse the essential oil.
There are over 90 essential oils with different properties and benefits. As more and more Americans become stressed and anxious, many people turn to alternative therapies — like essential oils — to combat the symptoms without experiencing the side effects of prescription medications.
Lava stone wearers often choose lavender essential oils to decrease stress symptoms from day to day challenges.
If the user wants something uplifting to help them concentrate, then lemon essential oil can energize and promote healing. Lavender, on the other hand, is more relaxing and used for its ability to relieve stress and to help the user fall asleep. Some people prefer to immerse their lava stone jewelry with lavender oil and place it under their pillow for a good night's sleep.
Related: 15 Meaningful Jewelry Gifts for this Season
This silver bead bracelet is handmade with volcanic lava stones that are created from the strength of the volcano. The lava fluid forms the black porous balls that harness the incredible healing properties. It brings a sense of relaxation, calmness, and emotional tranquility.
Check out lava bead jewelry from Now Chase The Sun
An interesting fact about this jewelry is in the name itself. It's called the Loki’s Blade Bracelet because the word "Lokios" is associated with flame, and the flame is how these stones were created.
This volcanic bracelet is made in San Francisco and is accented with matte carved silver beads and jasper. Similarly to the bursting strength of the volcano, the little black porous balls contain powerful healing benefits that can bestow peace and tranquility to the wearer.
Check out lava bead jewelry from Now Chase The Sun
This elegant silver bead contains white turquoise and white lava surfer necklace that fits comfortably around the neck.
Its exquisite style makes it unique for a surfer necklace, but it still maintains the beach vibe with rocks and smooth pebbles on a white sandy beach.
The White Turquoise is the rare component of the necklace with remarkable healing properties that provides health and wellness to the body. It's a protective stone that acts as an amulet and enhances one's connection to mother nature. It gives the wearer strength, confidence, and courage to help them adapt to any changes in life.
Check out lava bead jewelry from Now Chase The Sun
Lava stones are more effective if worn directly close to the skin, practically touching it without any barriers. This is imperative to allow the energy of the rock to flow directly to the body.
The most popular way to wear lava stones is through the bracelets around the wrists or as a necklace around the neck. It's recommended to keep the jewelry close during both night and day. Some people will store their lava stones in a room close to them to help stabilize their energy and clear out negative emotions.
Check out lava bead jewelry from Now Chase The Sun
Lava stones can help alleviate stress and anxiety as well as keeping the wearer grounded to mother earth.
It can be challenging to find authentic and quality Lava stone jewelry, but luckily Now Chase The Sun has a wide array of selections to help cleanse the chakra and clear out negative emotions to allow positive energy to flow to the wearer.
These health benefits can be amplified by using essential oils to provide further relief. If you’re struggling with stress and anxiety, pick up a few lava stone jewelry from Now Chase The Sun, and experience its positive impact.
When we hear stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes, it takes us to another world that is similar, but more exciting, than our everyday life. These stories explain everything from religion, culture, politics, and emotions. These are concepts that we can relate to and use as a lesson to improve our lives.
Because of the immense value that mythology gives us, it's no wonder why they become the center of our lives, even in the jewelry that we wear. Now Chase The Sun has a sparkling and meaningful collection to showcase both the stories and legacies that mythology plays in our lives.
Here are the gods and monsters that brought this collection of jewelry to life.
Related: The Story of the Goddess Collection
Apollo is one of the most skillful and versatile gods. In fact, he might be the god of many things, including poetry, art, music, archery, medicine, and much more. He is the son of Zeus and was born on the island of Delos with his older sister ARTEMIS (goddess of the hunt).
Apollo is a kouros, which means he is athletic and youthful in appearance. He is also an oracle god in Delphi, which means that he could predict prophecy through the Oracle Pythia.
Apollo is the leader of the Muses, also known as Apollon Musegete, and was the director of their choir because he is the god of poetry and music.
Hermes created the lyre for Apollo, which became the instrument associated with him.
At the drinking parties in Olympus, Apollo assisted the Muses on his cithara, while the goddesses danced the night away. Both Zeus and Leto were proud of their son, who radiates both grace and beauty.
This bracelet is named after Apollo and is made of matte Green Turquoise, which many cultures believe is a symbol of wisdom and power. The Turquoise’s energy provides health benefits to the head, ears, nose, and throat. It can also help alleviate headaches, balancing issues, and cataracts.
Check out the God and Goddesses collection from Now Chase The Sun
People worshipped Dionysus as the god of the grape harvest and wine drinking. Because of his association with alcohol, he was also connected to parties, ecstasy, and madness. His primary connection was with wine, and oftentimes, winemakers would offer sacrifices to him to ensure a good crop.
This Bracelet is named after Dionysus, the Greek God of the grapes and wine. This elegant bracelet contains flower agate, which enhances the energy levels in the wearer to help the wearer remain productive. It also has healing powers to mitigate emotional problems and physical ailment as well as balancing the Chakra.
Echo falls madly in love with Narcissus and continues to pursue him despite his lack of interest in her. She pines over him until her body withers away, and only her voice remains.
However, she is not the only one who is doomed. One day, Narcissus stops for a drink at a small pond. When he sees his reflection in the pool, he falls hopelessly in love with himself. Unfortunately, he cannot catch his own reflection and stays by the pond until he starves to death.
The Echo and Narcissus necklace is designed perfectly to tell the story of these deities. It combines the component of the green earth from the wood with the pale translucence of water.
The necklace contains Anyolite, which is the combination of Ruby and Zoisite. Anyolite reflects joy and passion for life and is known to enhance the wearer's love life.
The labradorite from the necklace contains a mystifying property to open the door to self-discovery. It awakens one's awareness, intuition, and psychic abilities.
Check out the god and goddesses collection from Now Chase The Sun
Chloris was taken away by Zephyrus, who transformed her into a flower deity after they were married. Together, they have a son, named Karpos, and she eventually turns Narcissus, Adonis, Crocus, and other gods into flowers.
This bracelet is named after Chloris, The Nymph of Flowers.
This piece of jewelry contains flower agate, which stabilizes the body's energy and provides abundance into one's life. It can help the cluttered mind stay focused and get into the groove of getting work done.
Sirin is a creature found in Russian mythology that has a head and a chest of a beautiful woman, but the body of an owl.
Legend claims that when men hear the half-bird half-woman, they forget everything in their life to follow this creature, and ultimately die. People saved themselves from the Sirin by making loud noises to scare the bird off. But as time goes by, people view the Sirin as a harmonized being. It was believed that only happy individuals could see this creature, and she was eventually viewed as a symbol of happiness and eternal joy.
This Sirin Bracelet is made of Black lava stone and Flower Agate. This is an excellent combo because flower agate can enhance one's focus and concentration to get things done. Lava stones, on the other hand, can stabilize the individual's chakra and to improve relaxation and calmness to reduce anxiety. Therefore, it creates harmony and balances to help the wearer live a happy lifestyle.
Related: Charity Bracelets: Are You Actually Helping a Good Cause?
In Chinese mythology, Nüwa is the first individual with the ability to create all of humanity. In the beginning, Chinese society was extremely matriarchal, so Nüwa was considered a significant deity. She has saved humanity by fixing a hole in the sky after a great flood. Today, Nüwa is still a popular deity, and women often worship her for divine assistance with fertility and marital issues.
She is usually depicted as a creature with a human face and a long serpentine body, but some people see her as a woman dressed in traditional Chinese clothing.
This delicate bracelet is made from Rose Quartz and was named after the Chinese Goddess Nüwa, known for fertility and happy marriage.
The rose quartz reflects passionate energy for the unconditional love that opens the chakra of the heart. Its primary function is to enhance every aspect of love and appreciation in marriage, family, friends, and much more. It can also help the individual forgive other people, and move on to live a happier life.
Check out the God and Goddesses collection from Now Chase The Sun
The Panlong dragon came from the Far East, and it only reveals itself once every 12 years. It prefers to be near water, but is known to dwell in various types of habitats. This is a Chinese dragon that symbolizes auspicious power and strength as well as control over floods, typhoons, and rainfall.
The Panlong Bracelet is made of Black Onyx and Moss Grass Agate.
Black Onyx destroys negative energy and prevents it from draining the individual's body. It aids in improving emotional and physical strength and stamina, especially during times of stress and grief.
Moss Grass Agate is a healing stone that provides the power to interact with the human organic system and is often used as a talisman to strengthen the warriors. This stone is also known for attracting abundance and wealth. It's excellent for business owners to increase prosperity and expansion.
Check out the God and Goddesses collection from Now Chase The Sun
Loki is a giant and is known as the trickster and god of mayhem. He helped the gods of Asgard when Thor lost his hammer. Thrymr, the giant, had stolen the hammer and took it home with him. He would only return it if he could have Freya's hand in marriage.
This jewelry is made from Lava stones, which originates from a volcanic eruption. The larva hardens to create a porous ball with a variety of healing benefits. They bring a sense of relaxation and tranquility to the wearer.
Rama is the seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is known for slaying the demon king Ravana. Rama and his wife, Sita, are the perfect picture of purity and marital devotion. In addition to that, the adventures of Rama reflects the importance and rewards of fulfilling one’s duty or dharma.
GODS AND MONSTERS: RAMA BRACELETS
The Rama Bracelet is made of Blue Flower Agate, which helps stabilizes the body's energy and manifest abundance to the wearer. The stone also enhances physical and sexual energy as well as improving focus, concentration, and energy to help the individual get their day to day task completed.
Check out the God and Goddesses collection from Now Chase The Sun
Turan was a young winged girl that appeared in the bronze mirrors. Sometimes, she is richly robed with jewelry, but other times, she appears nude. She is often paired with her young lover Adonis. She is associated with birds such as the dove and swan and is the symbol of love, fertility, and vitality.
The Turan Bracelet contains rose quartz, which reflects unconditional love to open the heart of the chakra. The quartz is known to enhance all types of love, such as platonic, romantic, self-love, family, and much more. The intense energy of the stone can also instill forgiveness, reconciliation, and empathy.
The bracelet also has black onyx that can absorb negative energy, and prevent it from harming the individual. This stone aids in improving physical strength and staminal to get through stressful situations.
Check out the God and Goddesses collection from Now Chase The Sun
Classical mythology gives us hope and perspective in life. Each story takes us to another world and teaches us valuable lessons that we can use and pass on from generation to generation.
These gods and goddesses serve many roles and even show up in the jewelry that we love and admire. Now Chase The Sun has an ample amount of selections from necklace to bracelets made with stones with powerful healing properties. Each of their collections is named after the deity and made to resemble their stories and legacies.
With so much power and history, it's no wonder why these myths continue to live with us forever.
Economic aid is not enough. Instead, developing countries must be able to develop a self-sustaining, productive, and growing economy, which in turn results in better wages, infrastructure, and so forth.
By building prosperous economies and an educated task force, most of these countries will outgrow those hardships and forge a brighter future that is beneficial to both the developing countries as well as the global economy.
A great way the rest of the world helps developing nations to get to this better state is through international aid. But money doesn’t solve problems like we think. The right strategy for helping developing countries takes a little more thought, and creates a brighter future with economic strength and alliances with foreign powers. At Now Chase the Sun, we take part in positive investment by creating opportunities for artisan crafters to support their families with their creations. Here’s what you need to know about investing in developing countries.
Related: Charity Bracelets: Are You Actually Helping a Good Cause?
Most of the foreign aid comes from wealthier countries, but smaller allies can also contribute. Bilateral aid is given from one country to another while multilateral aid is given from an organization (which receives the money from a wealthy country) to several developing countries.
Unfortunately, there has been consistent flow of aid into developing countries that hasn’t actually translated into successful increase in income growth and flow.
Over the past four decades, Africa has received international aid amounting to over $500 billion, but the continent hasn't registered an appreciation in per capita income.
There are three main reasons why international aid is not being helpful in developing countries:
The more aid developing countries receive, the more dependent they become on another nation. Because developmental aid is provided as a way for supporting local development projects, the members of the community usually have no other source of income.
They heavily rely on the donor money to fund the project and unfortunately, this work is unsustainable. Rather than a steady profit flow, they receive occasional aid that is often contingent upon a political environment that is outside of their control.
In most cases, foreign aid in developing countries doesn’t end up achieving its supposed goals because it ends up in the pockets of corrupt officials. It’s during the process of budget allocation and also the implementation period of the projects that massive amounts of money are stolen, leaving projects unfinished. The culprits then ask for more money, which they often end up stealing again.
The problem with corruption is that it isn’t easily quantifiable. It can be covered up as wastage or inefficient use of the funds. Also, because the people receiving the aid are not educated in how to anticipate the use of money, the implementing bodies on the ground end up diverting funds with no one to hold them accountable.
Measures, like implementing a thorough audit capacity on top of paper trails, paying attention to power structures, and educating the local populace on the importance of participation in the process, have made an impact in battling corruption but the effect is not nearly as much as we’d like to see.
In most cases, aid inhibits local industry players, as their services are replaced by outside powers. For example, food aid hinders the ability of regional farmers to sell their produce and also makes locals dependent on food types that cannot be found within their own region. Cheap, imported food becomes easier to acquire and the market prices affect the prices that local farmers get on similar produce. This results in poorer farmers and declining food sustainability. Because of this, the developing country continues to remain in a vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.
Unfortunately, because of systemic corruption and lack of education, foreign aid has failed to become a saving grace for most developing countries. Instead, it has contributed significantly to the state of poverty in these countries. But there are ways to combat this, to provide aid in a manner that isn’t entirely direct funding to NGOs and other large organizations.
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Investing in local businesses like buying artisan products from local communities provides a sustainable way for the community to make a living. Educating and working with such communities to help reach sustainable solutions plays a huge role in building domestic economies and alleviating poverty at a grassroots level.
What most donors learn during their research on how they can help a community is that, more often than not, the economic solution is already there in the hands of the community. Unfortunately, it’s mostly unexploited due to a lack of resources such as money, tools, and information or poor management of resources.
Since their products are bought collectively for a fair price, they can develop other community-wide projects from their profits that will lift them out of poverty. Also, as the market expands for its products, they will create employment for more people along the supply chain. That’s why at Now Chase the Sun, we tap in to the creative minds of locals in India and Kenya. We give them access to a global marketplace and instill them with the entrepreneurial mindset that could inspire them to take their craftsmanship to the next level.
Investing in businesses also helps stimulate the country’s overall economic development. Whether the investment means merging with another company or being involved in a joint venture, the results usually mean more jobs are created as the company expands. Also, such investments open up more foreign markets for business ventures, better access to technology, and lower cost of production, among other benefits.
With investment in local businesses comes the need to train the workers so they can better handle the influx and scope of work. In developing countries furthering one’s education can be difficult because of poverty. But on the job training can offer work experience which creates a populace of skilled workers. With more skilled individuals in the workforce, the company can expand and some of them can even start their own businesses.
When local businesses receive a boost, they are able to perform better in terms of productivity and pay their workers well because of the profits. Investors can help by increasing capacity. This means introducing the latest technologies to the businesses so that they can compete on a global level. Equipment and facilities are much more beneficial to a growing business in some cases than a set amount of money. By increasing the workforce’s capability, one’s boosting the economy of the country.
Investing in a country’s economy or buying into companies in developing countries can be financially rewarding for both parties involved. It’s a viable and sustainable way to continually experience the growth of the economy and advance the quality of life for the people there. And seeing as the global economy is expanding more and more, this model of business and investing is only bound to bear even better fruits.
Developed countries can also buy produce, building materials, or minerals. Imagine if the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted this approach. Instead of facing constant war and poverty, the government together with scrupulous corporations from economic superpowers could engage the communities and create a model where their crafted goods could be sourced locally, ethically, and sold at a fair price, which is then used to improve the infrastructure, economy, and lives of the people.
This is just one example of how buying from countries raises their local productivity more permanently, unlike temporary aid.
In this globalized economy, each country has to carve out a niche for themselves that they can tap into in order to market their products. Developing countries are tapping into the e-commerce aspect of trading and marketing their products with great results. The reason for the success is because the online marketplace is better at efficiently delivering goods and services.
In the digital market, customers have better access to more diverse products at lower prices. Buying from artisans (or other entrepreneurs) in developing countries is more expensive than buying from mass-producing economies like the United States or China. But by buying from developing countries, not only is one contributing to the growth of the country’s economy, but the items on sale are more unique and artistic. For instance, you can find all kinds of handcrafted jewelry that’s one-of-a-kind and sustainably produced.
Here is why buying online from developing countries benefits their economies:
With issues like overhead charges and warehouse fees mitigated, businesses in developing counties can thrive and make a better profit which contributes to better quality of life. Also, e-commerce has shorter shipping times, so these entrepreneurs are able to send larger quantities faster and sell more of their products.
By reducing reliance on imports the cut that goes to the middlemen becomes part of the business profits and can be utilized for expansion or to pay better wages.
When e-commerce thrives in a developing country, it attracts more investors and thus strengthens the economy. Buying from online businesses in developing countries shows that factors like internet connectivity and regulation are not an issue to impede sales and growth. These are factors that investors look at when seeking investment opportunities. The more customers from wealthier countries buy from the more visible online companies in a developing nation, the faster the investors forge partnerships to capitalize on this growth.
Want to know what’s behind Now Chase the Sun? Read our story.
Buying from online businesses in developing markets helps them to expand to newer markets and better prices. The global market is expanding and offering more opportunities to unique and interesting business ideas. For example, artisans in developing countries offer their customers very unique, custom created pieces that can’t be mass-produced. These are new markets that offer better prices helping the artisans make better profits. This contributes directly to the economy of the developing country as the artisans pay their taxes.
New markets also provide an opportunity for the online business to explore better production practices that will help with expansion. And with increased expansion comes more job opportunities back home as the artisans need more hands-on help and skill to meet the demand of their products.
Online businesses thrive on excellent customer experiences. Good relations between companies, suppliers, and business eventually lead to better trade relations between countries. This means that the developed countries are happy to forge mutually beneficial trade treaties where artisans are able to enjoy fair trade with their partners.
Instead of the wealthier country offering financial aid, they can instead offer expertise and equipment aid to different industries where they have established mutual interests. This allows the locals involved in the industry to have an online market to sell their products to, and the developed country is guaranteed a consistent supply of products that they need for the benefit of their own economy. Such an arrangement is less likely to attract corruption as there’s no direct money involved. As a result, the local communities benefit even more and can grow their craft.
When developing countries are peaceful and thriving, the world is better off as trade opportunities bloom and economies grow.
Military alliances are formed that help keep regions stable and prosperous. Although the challenges that exist in developing countries are many and in varying degrees, not helping address them, makes the world a less safe and stable place.
The best way to address the disparities in economies between developing and developed countries is to put aid in more sustainable ways to prevent wastage, theft, and corruption. Equipment, capacity building, and technology are some of the ways that developing countries can access aid that will help them grow and stay the course of prosperity.
If you want to help invest in sustainable futures for developing countries, check out our accessories at Now Chase the Sun handcrafted by artisans around the world.
]]>Related: 15 Meaningful Jewelry Gifts for this Season
The Maasai tribe is concentrated in East Africa in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania in the Great Rift Valley region. They are pastoralists who survive by herding livestock and eating milk, meat, honey, and livestock. Women live in manyattas, or small groups of huts, and gather under acacia trees during the evenings to make beaded jewelry. Women perform most of the physical work in a village and only craft beadwork after finishing other daily tasks. It became more popular around the world in the 19th century due to inter-tribal and inter-continental trade.
Thanks to brands like Now Chase the Sun, Maasai beadwork is widely available to the general public. You can check out our products like the Naruki Maasai Beaded Bracelet, a geometric design with bold colors, the Naruki Abstract Beaded 3 Tier Statement Necklace, and the Naruki Maasai Collar Necklace. Like the best of Maasai beadwork, our bracelets and necklaces were made in Kenya by artisanal crafters.
Check out more of our beaded accessories here.
As a whole, a beaded Maasai collar can represent a village. John Sakuda, a member of the Maasai NGO SIMOO, says, “When you are wearing this, you are carrying the whole village on your body.” Not only beautiful, Maasai jewelry holds special significance because of personal, emotional, and historical value.
Beyond its overall symbolism, intricate details add extra layers of meaning to Maasai jewelry. Different styles and different color beads indicate qualities about the wearer. Unmarried women typically wore flat, beaded disks to indicate gracefulness and women of a higher social class typically wore more colorful beads.
Each color was associated with a loose set of values, including:
Related: Charity Bracelets: Are You Actually Helping a Good Cause?
While Maasai beadwork is worn by both men and women, the craft itself was traditionally performed by women. Learning how to craft beaded jewelry was considered a social duty. Now, however, both men and women use jewelry-making to support their families. Before using imported goods to make beads, the Maasai used dried glass, shells, and seeds. It is made without machinery, and the traditional methodology and meticulous hand-based techniques make these accessories something special.
Maasai beadwork is typically worn as necklaces, but pendants and bracelets are other popular forms of traditional Maasai jewelry. At Now Chase the Sun, we offer multistrand necklaces, single strand collar necklaces, and bracelets, which are amongst the most traditional forms of Maasai jewelry. These range from simple, monochromatic designs to tiered necklaces with bold architectural features.
In addition to our classic designs, we also offer Maasai beaded accessories for dogs, including dog collars and leashes with unique designs. Maasai beadwork makes dog collars extra durable and unique, adding a touch of artisanship to your daily dog walk.
Find out how we got started at Now Chase the Sun here.
Beaded jewelry was used to mark special events, like engagements and weddings. When a bride marries, her mother makes an engagement necklace with intertwined strings to indicate the union between bride and groom. Using a leather circle, cowry shells and a geometric beaded design, she also makes a wedding collar. When community members give gifts to the bride, a new knot is tied - a loose knot for a cow and a tight knot for a goat or sheep.
The most extravagant Maasai collars are worn on a bride’s wedding day, but other women wear complex collar necklaces while dancing. These have a larger diameter than everyday Maasai jewelry and are used to accentuate motion. A dancer may wear many collars stacked in a row, and they soar up and down as she moves.
In terms of the everyday, Maasai men and women both wear beaded pendants that correspond to their age group. Each ten-year range marks a distinct generation’s identical pendants. Aside from these pendants, Maasai beadwork each has a unique design.
While the Maasai previously used local resources like clay, wood, copper, brass, and bone to craft beautiful necklaces, jewelry, and other goods, they now also use imported materials. Through trans-Saharan trade and trade with India, they came to acquire Italian Murano beads from as early as 1480 and glass beads from other locations. It also became popular to use Czech beads. Maasai beadwork is not an isolated cultural occurrence, but an intercultural craft that changes as time passes.
At Now Chase the Sun, we pay homage to older traditions by using early methods of dying seeds to create jewelry. Other pieces use newer techniques and materials, like the Naruki Multistrand Glass Bead Necklace.
Now that you’ve read all about Maasai beadwork, check out our line at Now Chase the Sun. Lovingly crafted by artisans based in Kenya, our beaded accessories add unique design to your wardrobe while also providing economic and creative opportunities for the artists. These accessories are just one of our many product lines that celebrate cultural diffusion and honoring history. At Now Chase the Sun, we believe in craftsmanship opportunities as a way to help those in developing nations remain self-sufficient. Participate in sustainably sourced shopping with a cause by checking out our product line here.
Related: Charitable shopping that helps others
At Now Chase The Sun, we support jewelry with a cause, and are dedicated to bracelets that double as social statements and support good causes. A portion of profits made selling from our bracelets and other products go to nonprofit organizations supporting low income artisans and marginalized communities around the world.
In this post, we have highlighted the bracelets whose proceeds go to charity. We’ll also explain why these bracelets are effective as types of donations.
Let's dive in!
Related: Charitable Shopping that Helps Others
While some well-meaning charitable organizations offer generic merchandise that you’re only buying to make a positive impact, the bracelets at Now Chase the Sun are unique, tasteful, and highly detailed. Pictured above are their Be Calm volcanic lava bead bracelet, handmade by Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee women.
There are options for everyone, including down-to-earth surfer necklaces for men, understated black lava bracelets, precious stone bracelets for those with a penchant for story, and bracelets with a pop of color for those looking for something fun.
Not only are their products stylish, but they provide work for refugees and donate to meaningful charities. Through their partners, they promote aid by giving to education centers in 25 villages in rural India. With the belief in fostering entrepreneurship and collaboration, Now Chase the Sun employs Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee women, Dhokra metalsmiths, and other craftsmen in San Francisco to provide economic and creative opportunities.
The Lokai are classic examples of charitable bracelets with deep meaning which makes the wearer have a personal attachment. Other than that, they’re made and sold for a worthy cause. For as low as $18, you can order this adorable wrist bracelet that features a black bead at the center which contains sludge from the legendary Dead Sea.
A beautiful set of white beads surround the black bead. The story has it that inside the white beads, there is pure water from the Everest Mountain. Other varieties feature red beads.
The Lokai bracelets are popular with athletes and wealthy personalities. Some of the big names who don them include Oprah Winfrey, Arian Foster, and Kris Jenner. Individuals can buy them from online stores such as Amazon.
They've got a deeper meaning in that they demonstrate to everyone who wears them humble beginnings and that life lessons are two ways. There’s a time to flourish and a time when everything seems low, and one needs a supportive hand.
That's not all, these pieces are for a worthy cause, as at least 10% of the sale proceeds go towards a donation to charitable organizations. Examples of these include the Cure Alzheimer fund, which supports patients suffering from degenerative brain disease.
Lokai have a wide following on the social media with thousands of rabid followers on Instagram who turn out in droves to express their support of this incredible jewelry and thereby a notable cause.
The Chavex bracelets are made with a simplicity that's meant to inspire. They’re a signature brand for various charitable organizations such as the "Fisher House Foundation", "Susan Love Foundation", "Partners in Health" and much more.
Also, they have a Children's line for supporting kids such as "Pencils of Promise," "Lunch Box Fund" and "Whole Kids Foundation."
Their iconic design features moderate beads with each braid loaded with a tag for each charitable cause.
They’re silver coated and made from a stretchable wire that makes it a good fit for anyone irrespective of size. Each color represents a cause, for instance, blue represents water.org; red is for Gift for life and much more.
Currently, they’re trading at a sale price of $22, and for every purchase, 25% of proceeds go towards supporting a charitable cause such as “Ending Hunger Project”. This generous contribution has seen a whopping $1 million going to various charities.
Chavex supports nearly a dozen charities at the moment.
Pura Vida, which also means Pure Life, is the big brand name behind the Pura Vida bracelets. They’re elegant, waterproof and an easy fit since they have strings for tightening to adjust to size.
Likewise, the brand has set itself apart on the premise of helping the community through donations. The organization has a primary mission to protect the oceans and the beaches from mass destruction.
1% of the sales proceeds go towards the Surfrider organization whose efforts preserve the sea and beaches all over the world. Approximately 50,000 people are working as volunteers and are committed to the cause of protecting the environment.
Some of their activities include cleaning beaches as part of their preservation methods. They offer jobs to tens of artisans who design these bracelets and eke a living off of the sales.
The bracelets come in different colors for supporting various charitable foundations. Currently, they’ve donated approximately 1.7 million dollars to a variety of philanthropic organizations.
Most recently, during the school shooting in Sandy Hook, they offered a total of $30000 as part of the memorial donation.
Related: 15 Meaningful Jewelry Gifts for this Season
Love Charity Bracelet has been instrumental in supporting livelihood for hundreds of women worldwide. That said, they are charitable bracelets with sales proceeds supporting different charities for a worthy cause.
These pieces of jewelry feature an inscription O, and they come at different prices depending on the make and materials. Some gold plated can fetch up to $56000. They feature a unique locking system that allows the use of a screwdriver to fit.
The love charity is a special line that features a golden band and a silky cord. LOVE dominates and is noticeably present. The foundation contributes $150 for every bracelet sold to various charities. The bracelets have seen several influential people promote them, such as Eva Mendes.
The Isla Ida Bracelets is a line of artisanal jewelry that helps in creating awareness for various charities. They promote charities across a wide spectrum as a way of giving back to society.
The organization has a mission to bring together people from various walks of life and support the needy. They also conduct studies aimed at saving lives and saving the environment.
At least 10% of its sales proceeds from their awareness items go towards supporting various charities globally. They encourage people to wear these bracelets and share stories that are useful to other causes.
Examples of charities they support include; "Safe Child Thailand", "Breast Cancer Research Foundation", "Big Cat Rescue" amongst others. Each cause has a bracelet attached to it.
These are for people who love the sea and who dream of bigger things. The materials include shiny stones that illuminate under the sun. The bands are for both men and women and available in different shades such as gold and silver. Other than the beauty, the Batu Bali are charitable bracelets that focus primarily on donations to a worthy cause.
They offer a means of employment to hundreds of people in Bali and are a way of serving the society for sustainability. They’ve partnered with other organizations to clean the beaches of Bali of plastics and plastic bags.
However, their most important cause is the donation of 50% of the sales proceeds to the "Bye Bye Plastic Bags Foundation" to save the planet. By supporting the initiative, the charity organizes beach cleaning exercises and provides alternative environmentally friendly disposable bags.
The Brave bracelets support charities tackling human trafficking, especially concerning women. These have an inscription of the word BRAVE as a way of helping women stand up against abuse and trafficking to other countries in inhumane ways.
10% of their revenue goes towards supporting these charities. These are symbols of courage where there is no more strength. They primarily work with various teams to support programs that help young girls in Cambodia, including the Free to Shine Organization.
They support several artisans from Cambodia, mainly the poor and disabled. They also have dozens of women and artisans working in a workshop in Cambodia. Most of the income goes towards paying wages and other benefits like insurance and education.
Joye bracelets are tailor-made and support a wide variety of charitable organizations. These bracelets are charms, and each has a noble cause it supports. They also have a website and an Instagram page with various followers who showcase the multiple charms.
They support various causes; for instance, their wisdom bracelet helps children achieve their educational goals through the provision of books per child per year.
On the other hand, the trust bracelet offers food to a needy family in times of disasters and emergencies. Some of the organizations that they support include Friends International, which is an Asian charitable organization that works with poor communities.
Alex and Ani is a charitable organization that also makes beautiful pieces of jewelry. They give back to society by partnering with a variety of organizations in every corner of the globe. Their pieces have a unique design, and sales from the bracelets support organizations by offering direct aid.
They also raise awareness for noble causes. Their main varieties are the charm bracelets that have a silver shine or a gold appearance. Each has a special symbol with an ancient meaning mixed with an infusion of modernity.
Embrace your love for style and providing aid with these premium leather bracelet or non-leather bracelet made from recycled products. These bracelets are upcycled, made from life jackets worn by refugees. With either choice, you will raise awareness about refugees in the United States in two ways. First, you’ll create economic opportunities for refugees, since each bracelet is made by refugees in Minnesota. Second, 50% of your purchase will go to their charity partners. Their charity partners have a commitment to help displaced refugees become self-sufficient, and provide mentorship opportunities to young refugees.
The above list is only a small subsection of organizations helping drive charitable goals through bracelet sales. By supporting organizations like these, you're not only helping give back to society, but also transforming your simple piece of jewelry into a social statement.
At Now Chase the Sun, we are committed to social impact through conscious jewelry crafting, including both upcycling and collaboration with non-profit organizations. That’s why our jewelry is made using semi-precious stones, repurposed sunflower seeds and magazines, and why we donate proceeds to NGO OFERR and other charitable organizations. See more of our bracelets and think about how you can partake in sustainable style.
Related: 19 Ways to Help Refugees
]]>Below is an overview of some of the best companies that give back.
Source: Now Chase the Sun
Now Chase the Sun is a company that creates economic opportunity for craftspeople in need of income. It was founded by Koshi, whose company functions with an ethos of entrepreneurship, fair trade, and giving. The company offers a selection of sustainable and beautiful jewelry, including handmade bracelets with healing stones, surfer necklaces, and unique earrings with brass cast in intricate patterns. Other materials include ethically sourced fabric donated from Lululemon factories and discarded tea boxes and magazines. Most of the products at Now Chase the Sun were carefully crafted by Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee women and other craftsmen in San Francisco.
In addition to providing economic and creative opportunities to craftspeople, Now Chase the Sun donates a portion of their profits to philanthropic organizations. For jewelry like the Be Calm Lava Bead Bracelet, proceeds go to education centers in 25 villages in rural India. For items crafted in San Francisco like the Athena Bracelet, 15% of proceeds are given to the Bay Area Charities. Each with a unique aesthetic and intriguing narrative, these accessories are perfect for handmade gifts.
Source: eBay
Giving Works by eBay is a charitable shopping platform designed for eBay users. With this corporate giving initiative, buyers and sellers can help to support various charitable causes in the United States as well as abroad. eBay Giving Works enables buyers to shop and support their favorite charitable causes at the same time. Meanwhile, sellers also get to donate a small portion of their sales to their favorite organizations.
This is a successful program that has been donating millions to various organizations. It should be noted that more than $521 million has been donated since it was established. In 2013, the organization raised $85 million.
The designated charitable causes include supporting basic needs, environment, animals, arts, and humanities. Understand that the PayPal Giving Fund has screened all the charities that are supported by Giving Works. This means that all contributions are sent to valid organizations.
Source: Ten Thousand Villages
This is a fair-trade organization that usually advertises unique, handcrafted products designed and created by disadvantaged artisans. This non-profit organization is more than your basic retail outlet, allowing consumers to shop to help others.
Ten Thousand Villages features handcrafted gifts that are one of a kind. These ethically sourced products help to ensure the creators earn a modest living in safe working environments. The organization spans several countries in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
What makes Ten Thousand Villages stand out is that it celebrates the art of craft and culture. Plus they partner with various organizations to improve the global economy. Keep in mind that women and people with disabilities are the most excluded group in the global economy. Therefore, these corporate donations help them to gain financial independence while enhancing innovation.
These malls are becoming increasingly popular. They provide consumers with an excellent excuse to spend money. The platform allows users to donate money to some of their favorite charitable causes by just shopping.
These sites usually work just like other platforms, e.g., iGive and Goodshop. When a retailer shops from their website, a designated portion of their purchases go towards specific charity organizations. Keep in mind that customers don’t need to pay more for their purchases. All you need to know is that they deduct a certain percentage from what you’ve already paid; these monetary donations are disbursed to charities.
Related: How We Got Here or There and Back Again
Source: H&M
The holidays are just around the corner; make sure that this season, you buy your gift card from H&M. For every gift card that’s purchased during the holidays, this brand will donate to UNHCR under its “Educate a Child” Program. This money is used to educate refugees, so, your donation will help these children to get school supplies through the education program.
Source: Wag.com
Wag.com is an online site that caters to the needs of a pet parent. The site has over 20,000- products. They include litter, health goods, treats, and toys, among others. To support animals, Best Friends has an online store at Wag.com known as the Best Friends boutique. This organization sells various pet products, and 50 percent of the proceedings are channeled to various animal societies. The money is usually sent to one of the biggest sanctuaries in the US, which takes care of abandoned and abused animals. Besides that, they also send contributions to other animal shelter programs.
Source: Books for Good
This is a simple charitable cause e-commerce site. When you purchase a book, the proceeds will go to the community. Books for Good supports various nonprofit groups and organizations. They include the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona-based Friends of Libraries, and many others.
With every clothing that you buy, you are spreading warmth during winter. It should be noted that Twice as Warm typically gives a new winter clothing item to a needy person with each purchase. Their charitable mission is to “wear one and then give one.” Twice as Warm sells scarves, beanies, caps, tees, and others. This can be very beneficial for the homeless during the cold winter season.
Source: BoxLunch
This is a civic-minded brick & mortar as well as website that has a broad range of merchandise. BoxLunch features a full range of home goods, collectibles, accessories, gift and novelty, and apparel, among others.
For every $10 that you spend in this platform, you are indirectly providing a homeless person with a meal. BoxLunch through Feeding America usually delivers over 1.6 million meals annually to the needy. One fun aspect about BoxLunch products is that they frequently reference pop culture, so you’ll definitely find them trendy.
Source: Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand sells ethically sourced, sustainable suds. Their products include body lotion, sugar scrub, and body wash. The products are made with vegan essentials and palm oil for a clean and sustainable environment. For every item that you buy from them, the brand will donate a month of clean water and bar soap to a child in need.
It should be noted that Hand in Hand is environmentally and socially conscious. That means, their products are 100 percent natural and are cruelty-free.
Source: The Company Store
For every comforter you buy from the Company Store, a homeless child somewhere will also get one. For every comforter sold, this brand usually donates an equivalent to the homeless.
Did you know that more than 200 children in the US are homeless every night? Besides that, did you know that a million of them experience homelessness annually?
To reduce the discomfort that homeless people are often exposed to, the Company Store helps to bring nationwide comfort to these kids. The brand’s charitable cause is to give blanket donations through Family Promise or other affiliate companies.
Source: Sudara
Punjammies is a subsection of Sudara. The latter is an online shopping site that helps sexual slavery victims in India. Punjammies is an ethically sourced clothing brand that features beautiful flowy pants, which are a favorite for most women. They come in various forms, including Capri, long, or short.
To help victims of sexual violence, every purchase on punjammies pants helps these women. The brand helps to create jobs and train these individuals with the necessary skills that they need for survival. This is to help them break free from sexual slavery and poverty.
This is a popular e-commerce site that sells stylish and unique accessories and apparel. KNO Clothing is a brand dedicated to the charitable cause of sustaining the environment. As a result, the items stocked here are made with sustainable fabric or materials. Despite being an environmentally conscious platform, this is also a charitable shopping outlet.
It’s worth knowing that KNO usually gives 50 percent of its profits to the homeless. Every purchase that customers make means that a homeless person will definitely benefit. The company normally partners with other housing organizations that aim to reduce the growing number of homeless people.
Related: Add Some Color to Your Wardrobe and See What Happens!
Source: TOMS
TOMS is a famous online brand that sells shoes. The accessory brand has a charity section which helps those in need. For every TOMS pair of shoe that’s purchased, the company gives one pair to a homeless child. The brand’s ethically sourced products have evolved over the years, and TOMS now has a global presence.
Apart from shoes, you can also buy sunglasses and many more. For every pair of sunglasses sold, TOMS will assist a person in need to improve their vision. This might be through offering eye exams, eye surgery, or giving them a pair of glasses.
Source: RED
Although AIDs is manageable, it’s still a global epidemic. Over 400 babies are usually born with HIV every day. While a pill to manage this kind of transmission costs around 20 cents, there are still women in marginalized areas who can’t afford this treatment.
RED is a famous collaboration that features several iconic brands. They include Starbucks, Apple, Beats, Bank of America, and AirAsia. For purchases of their products and services, each company usually donates a particular portion to RED. The main goal of this collaboration is to reduce the HIV/AIDS epidemic. RED’s catalog is full of tech devices, so if you are interested in innovative gadgets, your purchases can help to sustain a worthy cause.
Source: Amazon Smile
Amazon Smile is a shopping platform operated by Amazon as an initiative for corporate giving. It contains the same shopping features, products, and product prices as Amazon.com. But for every item that a customer buys on this page, Amazon usually donates 0. 5 percent of the product price to a charity organization you want. Some of these charities include Operation Smile, Pencils of Promise, the ASPCA, the Nature Conservancy, and the American Red Cross.
Source: Diff Eyewear
This is a designer eyewear brand that sells eyeglasses made from ethically sourced products — Diff’s primary mission is to use designer products for a good cause. For every pair of glasses sold, Diff Eyewear will donate a pair of reading glasses to kids with eye problems in rural Africa. Besides that, they help to provide free vision exams by partnering with SABO Project.
It should be noted that since 2015, this premium eyewear brand has donated more than a million eyeglasses. Diff is a socially-conscious platform for corporate giving that strives to improve the quality of vision for those in need.
Source: Faucet Face
There is still a global epidemic, but we all understand that water is a basic human need. No one can survive without clean drinking water. However, there are still parts of the world that struggle with clean water access.
Faucet Face is an e-commerce site with a charity arm. The brand hopes that it can reduce the water epidemic by offering corporate donations. For their sales on the hummingbird feeder, Tap is Terrific, and the hose glass water bottles sold, they donate 2.5 percent. They also donate a water filtration system after selling five or more water bottles.
Source: Goodshop
Goodshop is an online shopping mall that designates a portion of your product purchases to a worthy cause. Also, the brand also offers discounts frequently. When you shop, you’re both giving and saving.
The e-commerce site features thousands of retail stores. Regardless of where you make purchases, monetary donations will be made to your favorite schools or charity organizations. At the moment, Goodshop works with over 110,000 organizations. They range from community groups, local schools, and national charities.
Source: Figs
Over the years, Figs has consistently donated thousands of scrubs to millions of healthcare providers. Its charity arm spans over several countries, and it’s facilitated by the Threads for Threads initiative.
Understand that millions of medical professionals in marginalized areas don’t have access to scrubs. While scrubs are considered as basic medical supplies, some medics have never even owned them. This brand has, therefore, made it a mission to provide them with these necessities. Figs have partnered with 60 organization so that every technician, nurse, or doctor has a protective gear. Additionally, this helps patients to get the best healthcare services possible. For every set of scrub that you buy from Figs, they will provide an equivalent to medical providers in need. They have donated more than 75,000 sets so far. Plus, their charity services span over 26 countries.
Conclusion
We all love to shop, but not everyone has the financial means. There are a lot of people living in poverty and other difficult circumstances. Luckily, there are eCommerce and businesses that will donate a portion of their earnings to these individuals. For anybody with a big heart and wallet, these listed stores provide an opportunity to shop and to help those in need.
Related: Asking for Help and Saying Thank You
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To start off our list of meaningful gifts, the Echo and Narcissus necklace from the Gods and Monsters Collection is a beautiful selection of hand made jewelry for your loved one. This boho chic accessory is made of anyolite for joy and labradorite for self discovery. These meanings are fitting for its mythological inspiration. The beautiful nymph Echo was enamored with Narcissus, who was so in love with his own reflection that he never noticed his suitor. But the synergy of the forest-like green and crystalline translucence of water brings the two lovers together.
Another jewelry creation from our Gods and Monsters collection, The Nuwa Bracelet glimmers with rose quartz and a rustic appeal. We draw inspiration from ancient Chinese art, specifically from the Chinese Goddess named Nüwa. The goddess of wedding jewelry, Nüwa signifies infinite desire between married couples. Looking down upon earth from her Celestial Realm, Nüwa gave birth to humanity by filling a clay form with love. Like rose quartz, she evokes a soothing presence.
Each Nuwa bracelet is made with delicate rose quartz that evokes a feeling of love. Between sections of rose quartz lie golden embellishing accents, intricately detailed and dazzling.
Simple, sleek, and mysterious, the Black Tassel Earrings are jewelry for a cause, handcrafted by women war refugees from Sri Lanka who live in refugee camps in India. These dangling earrings boast detailed engravings on a metallic base, and the tassels are made with fine, black filaments. An exquisite but subtle embellishment, the tassel draws inspiration from African tassel jewelry, French couture, and Middle Eastern traditional garb. They are a perfect pairing for any woman’s little black dress.
Indulgently crafted with handmade Dhokra Brass, these Paisley Park Earrings are unique earrings inspired by ancient Indian art and folk culture. Dhokra metal casting originates in Orissa, India, a lineage craft that is largely forgotten. With efforts to preserve these traditions even in the modern era of fashion, we use these ancient art techniques to create a delicate paisley motif with intricate engravings. Paisley pieces hang delicately from round tokens engraved with a sun-like pattern. The lost wax technique was used to create ornate images of gods and goddesses on lamps and boxes.
The Zola Mughal Mural Hand-painted Seed Earrings are ethically sourced and draw inspiration from cultural fashion trends. Truly one-of-a-kind, each seed is individually dried and hand painted by trained miniature painters in remote Rajasthan villages. Each bead is unique. When you caress these handcrafted earrings in your hands, you’ll know that each paint stroke was added with love and care.
The unique Helen Bracelet from the Goddess Collection is a handmade bracelet made with Charoite and Rose Quartz. Charoite is a spiritual stone symbolizing presence and acceptance, and rose quartz signifies love. Helen of Troy was the most beautiful goddess, and her love for the Greek god Zeus was unrelenting and strong. Empower your beloved with this handcrafted bracelet.
Related: The Story of the Goddess Collection
Apollo, the God of Music and protector of herds, is a protecting presence who liberated people from pain and played his lyre at weddings for the gods. A companion of the three Muses, he was also an oracle who could foresee the future. Inspired by Apollo, the small-beaded bracelet adorns your hand with matte Green Turquoise. The Egyptians, Persians, Chinese, Aztecs, and native Americans all thought turquoise to be sacred and frequently used it in ceremonies. Like Apollo, turquoise is often associated with divination. Turquoise also has healing powers for headaches and balance.
The unique Be Calm Volcanic Lava Bracelet consists of refined volcanic lava beads and a silver bead accent. They signify strength and hold healing powers, especially for promoting a sense of relaxation. These ethically sourced handmade bracelets are one of our bestsellers, and each purchase will help to fund education centers in 25 villages in rural India.
This unique necklace is surely a statement piece, and no two are alike. Reminiscent of ancient East African spiked tribal necklaces, these unique pendants hanging from cloth are made from collected tea cartons and magazines transformed to look like lustrous jewels or shells. With a remarkable shimmer and distinctive aesthetic, the sunburst necklace is sure to turn heads.
Maasai Fire Tiered Necklace
Our Wear Everywhere Necklace might just be your friend’s new staple piece of jewelry. This unique necklace is made by hand, and features wooden beads encased in richly dyed natural cotton with a choice of ten colors. Between each wooden bead is a silver accent. These beads tell the story of minimalism and sustainability. They are luxurious despite their matte color.
Related: Add Some Color to Your Wardrobe and See What Happens!
The eye-catching Coconut Dreams Necklace invokes images from ancient Indian art. There are three unique pendant choices, but since they’re hand-painted, each one is one-of-a-kind. The monkey pendant is inspired by the Hanuman langurs or monkey commander of the monkey army in the Hindu Sanskrit poem, the “Ramayana.” The flower and vine pendant draws inspiration from the fragile Champak flower, which is sacred to the Hindu God Krishna. Finally, the peacock and tree pendant is inspired by the mythical Garuda bird who carried Lord Vishnu.
Each of the three pendants are inspired by the dreamy tropical weather in India and Sri Lanka, constructed with coconut shells and brightly colored cotton cord.
The striking Athena Bracelet inspires wisdom and strength, just like its namesake goddess. A beautiful handmade necklace of chrysocolla and blue-tigers-eye, the bracelet will allow you to pursue your business endeavors with controlled power and wisdom The chrysocolla stone is one of prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit, meant to boost your intuition. The blue-tigers-eye is a healing stone for eye problems and vitality.
A more simple but nonetheless beautifully crafted jewelry creation, the Surf’s Up Surfer Necklace is a favorite amongst both men and women. A necklace that is perfect for cruising the waves and enjoying the ocean breeze, these unique necklaces have an additional meaning. Each of the surfer necklaces pays homage to a national flag, and you can choose between four color combinations. The beautiful colored beads are accompanied by wooden beads, creating a detailed monochromatic palette with subtle differences in tone. These make for great couples’ necklaces, and you and your partner can mix and match colors.
High in contrast, the Hyacinth Bracelet from our Gods and Monsters line combines the protective qualities of the healing stone, fluorite, and the youthful qualities of amethyst. Fluorite, an aqua-colored stone for harmony and groundedness, helps to lift the spirits. Amethyst is a healing stone for physical ailments and the emotions. Together, they create the power of Hyacinth, a Greek hero beloved by Apollo. It was Hyacinth who gave Apollo his musical capabilities.This unique creation combines the powers of darkness and light, fragility and strength.
Now that you have seen some of our unique jewelry at Now Chase the Sun and have a brief background of the meanings behind our products, know that it is you who can complete the story behind whichever gift you choose. Think about the material function and inspiration behind each piece, and which is the best fit for the person for whom you are buying the gift.
The black tassel earrings might be perfect for a monochromatic dresser, adding a subtle accent to a sophisticated outfit. The Apollo Bracelet might best suit an appreciator of music, and each time they sit down at their instrument, they will think of you. The Athena bracelet will complement your business-minded friend and help them present with confidence at any meeting. Every choice is special, and you cannot go wrong with any of our sustainable, unique selections.
Read more about Koshi, the founder of Now Chase the Sun, and her inspiration behind some of the jewelry you see here. You can find out more about her partners across the globe and how they work together to promote an empowered, sustainable future in style and fashion.
Related: Asking for Help and Saying Thank You
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Head wraps are traditional cultural dress in various parts of the world, and they include turbans, headscarves, and other hair coverings. Sometimes they are a regional fashion choice, and other times, they are worn for a religious or spiritual reason. One early practice for wearing head wraps occurred during the 13th Century BC Assyrian Empire, which is now modern-day Middle East and North Africa, where women wore veils.
In the photograph above, a woman weaves in Akwete, Abia State in Eastern Nigeria. She wears a headwrap with a bright African print. This head wrap is called Gele, a popular choice for the Yoruba people of Nigeria. In the old times, it was a symbol of wealth for women. It was known to be a highly transformative fashion statement. This traditional clothing accessory can be tied in diverse ways with a small or large knot. There are special Gele for occasions like weddings and other celebrations, called the Aso-Oke. While informal Gele are made from the same fabric as traditional clothes, there are couture gele made with premium fabric and even embroidery, as well as Gele accentuated with precious stones and beads.
Head wraps are traditional for most African cultures, and most women wear a head wrap every day. In addition to being tied, Gele can be pinned at the bottom so they can be worn like hats. Nigerian fashion has seen a boom in business, and tailors who make everyday Gele as well as couture designers with global influence are reaping the benefits.
Many men wear head cloths too, including turbans. Turbans are usually worn for religious reasons. Men who follow the Sikh faith wear turbans use the turban to signify equal status among the religion’s followers. The turban was worn from the 15th through the 18th century in South Asia, but only by the elite class in society. Indian and Mughal emperors wore highly elaborate turbans that were often bejeweled and heavily embroidered. Since the Sikh faith teaches equal status amongst everyone, it mandates that followers wear a turban to signify this core belief.
It also performs the function of respect. Covering the head in public and in religious spaces signifies humility and covers uncut hair, which is another identifying component of faith. Unlike men, women wear a long headscarf called a chunni or a dupatta.
The turban comes in many colors, and people who wear this cultural garb can also wear it in prints. For Sikh weddings, many people choose to wear red turbans. Turbans come in different styles, some of which are for special occasions. For the Dastaar Bandi, or turban tying ceremony, a larger turban is usually worn. The Dumalla turban is typically worn by Nihang Khalsa Sikhs, and originates from a kind of turban worn in battle. It is held in place by a Chand Tora, a metal symbol of a crescent sword with a double-edged sword at the center of the turban. This kind of turban is now considered formal. A Gol Dastaar turban is slightly smaller, and a Patka turban is tied with the hair in a bun at the very top of the head.
Men wear bandanas all over the globe as a fashion choice. While some head cloth apparel around the world functions as a cultural or religious marker or regional standard of dressing, others like the bandana are more generic multi-regional fashion choices that have been adapted all over the globe.
The word bandana most likely originates from the Hindi word bāṅdhnū, which means ‘to tie.’ It is actually thought to originate from these South Asian and Middle Eastern head wraps, but is now also associated with Western culture and cowboys.
In many cultural outfits, draped cloths are a commonality. Draped fabric can be seen in Indian traditional clothing as well as tribal clothing. It can easily adapt to the weather, with heavier draping for the cold and lighter draping for heat.
This cultural dress is thought to be one of the oldest forms of clothing in the world. The Indian sari (sometimes translated as ‘saree’) is mentioned in the Vedas, one of the oldest pieces of literature dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization from 3300-1300 BCE. The cloths used to make saris were luxurious exports traded in some of the earliest trade systems. Now, it’s often still worn every day and even on the runway at couture shows.
The design philosophy behind the sari is the ancient Hindu belief that stitching cloth renders it impure. That’s why the cloth is worn with a sophisticated draping. More than 80 ways of draping the sari exist. Sari cloth often includes cotton or silk.
The above photograph shows children in Sware, Kenya, wearing a mixture of draped clothing and stitched dresses. Below, Masai Kenyans wear more traditional outfits. Kenya alone has more than 70 ethnic communities, so African fashion is widely diverse and ultimately irreducible to a single style.
One type of traditional African clothing is the Kanga, which is especially popular in Eastern African regions. The kanga is usually brightly colored and consists of a thin, breezy cloth. They originate from the 19th Century, when Muslim women in Zanzibar and Mobasa bought printed bandanas from Portuguese traders to sew together and drape.
In addition to wearing these draped clothing in a traditional manner, African designers draw inspiration from draping in mainstream fashion lines for a unique look.
The above picture shows Mexican traditional dresses for baile folkórico, a kind of Mexican traditional dance that often includes mariachis. These traditional dresses are not worn on an everyday basis, but are saved for dance performances. Baile folkórico originates from various Mesoamerican traditions and styles, including danza, mestizo, and bailes regionales. It comes from Indigenous, European, and African influences. The veracruz, for instance, represents African influence. When many women perform together, the ruffled dresses become a spectacle as the women turn and tap.
During Spanish occupation, these dances had to be practiced in secret because the Spanish aimed to erase this cultural practice. However, indigenous populations maintained the dances and now performances often happen outside for everyone to enjoy.
Ruffled dresses are also an important component in Spanish culture, especially for the flamenco dance. The flamenco dance originates in Andalusia, Spain, and the ruffled dresses are similar to those worn by farm workers (who also wore aprons to cover the frills). Originating from cattle fair style, the flamenco dress is now worn to perform these traditional dances.
Tassles are now a common embellishment on all kinds of cultural garb and even in interior design. They were originally a common Middle Eastern flourish. The kandora is a kind of menswear without a collar that features a long tassel called a tarboosh. Similarly, the dishdasha is a white or earth-toned traditional wear with a tassel that tends to be shorter.
Wooden beads are a minimalist fashion accessory that can add an accent to an already bright outfit, or add a nice touch to other earthy tones. Wooden beaded jewelry originated in 10,000 BC from Libya, and Egyptians in 1500 BC also produced these accessories. Makai beaded jewelry uses strict tribal rules to dictate the color and design of jewelry and when it can be worn. These beads were a lucrative trade item. Often times, wooden bead jewelry holds a spiritual significance.
Feathers are a common feature in clothes around the world, especially in contemporary Western clothing. That’s partly because feathers were an important aspect of Native American traditional clothing due to the strong symbolism that birds hold. The eagle is a symbol for bravery, strength, and spirituality, so eagle feathers were used in sacred ceremonies.
Feathers are often used to adorn Native American headdresses in many tribes. Warbonnets, a common symbol of Native American culture but only actually worn in about a dozen tribes (including the Sioux and the Cheyenne), were made of feathers, ermine skins, beads, and sometimes red dye.
Related: The Story of the Goddess Collection
The women wearing traditional clothing in Malindi, Kenya show brightly colored prints and colorful jewelry. African clothing is often tye-dyed, a technique used to produce bright patterns that are often one of a kind. There are different techniques depending on the material, including wool, raffia, and cotton.
Related: Add Some Color to Your Wardrobe and See What Happens!
The Vietnamese cultural dress pictured above is called an ao dai, previously worn by both men and women but now primarily worn by women. This cultural dress is traditionally worn with white trousers. It pervades Vietnamese art and culture, and originated as the costume for southern courtiers during the rule of Nguyen Phuc Khoat. It is influenced by Chinese cultural wear.
While the original Ao Dai was plain, the influence of French-trained Vietnamese artists in the early 20th century created elaborate ao dai designs.They became increasingly romantic and feminine, soon becoming a symbole of beauty and exquisiteness.
The cheongsam, also known as a qipao, also has a high collar. However, it is slightly more close fitting than the ao dai. While these dresses are an iconic aspect of Chinese fashion, they originated in 1920s Shanghai. After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912 and following the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, traditional robes were forgotten and replaced by these dresses.
While they are an adaptation of the early changpao, a men’s garment, they are now known to be a symbol of femininity. These dresses were known to be a symbol of the cosmopolitan woman in the 1930s and the 1940s. They lost popularity in the 60s, when mass-produced clothing was an easier option.
Last but not least, plaid is a common Western fashion that originates back to Scottish culture. It was first called a tartan, which is a weave between alternating bands at right angles. The first known use of plaid actually dates back to the 8th Century BC, as the mummified corpse of the Cherchen Man was discovered in Central Asia wearing ‘a twill tunic and tartan leggings.’ Plaid became popular in Scotland in the 1700s and made its way to the United States during Scottish immigration.
In the 18th Century, Scottish immigrants traded these plaid garments for pelts and woven blankets made by indigenous people.
Not only is cultural garmentry diverse, but many traditional clothing pieces that we associate with a specific culture draw inspiration from other regions and cultures. Now more than ever, it is becoming common for designers to draw inspiration from these unique garments all over the world.
One of the greatest benefits of our interconnected culture is the diversity of cultural trends and fashion practices. It is often interesting to see clothing on the runway borrowing from more traditional roots. Nevertheless, it’s always important to remember that there is a fine line between celebrating culture and appropriating it.
That’s why at Now Chase the Sun, we handcraft our artisanal products in regions all over the world. Our gorgeous Sunburst Necklace, for instance, is made by Sri Lankan women, and the Harmony Bracelet is made in India. Our accessories draw inspiration from fashion from around the world, and you can spruce up your favorite outfit with these exquisite pieces.
Related: Asking for Help and Saying Thank You
In particular, there’s been a trend in consumers trying to make conscious choices about what they buy, focusing on choosing ethical and environmentally-friendly products and companies. This shift is tremendously heartening and a good sign for our future. This is one fad, unlike gladiator sandals and Silly Bandz (remember those?) for which we highly encourage everyone jumping onto the bandwagon.
However, making good choices when purchasing, especially when it comes to clothing and accessories, isn’t always easy. It can be confusing trying to track down exactly what a company’s business practices are and evaluating their impact. Further, most people don’t know the exact definitions of what it even means for a product to be ethically sourced or fair trade. This article will help you figure out the difference and explain why it's worth your while.
Though the terms “fair trade” and “ethically sourced” refer to different movements with different origins, both emphasize the critical importance of a production process that does not harm its participants. More specifically, these movements strive to achieve international trade practices that are fair to the laborers, particularly as they may be low-income or otherwise disadvantaged.
The fair trade movement originated in the 1980s with the goal of protecting farmers in developing countries from the consequences of low international prices of products such as tea, coffee, and cocoa. It’s an international and intercultural movement aimed at creating trusting, respectful, and mutually beneficial relationships between laborers and consumers.
In many ways, the fair trade movement is about bringing awareness to the exploitative conditions under which many people work internationally. It focuses on highlighting the true cost of goods so that when we buy something we think beyond the price tag and consider all of the potential harm that might have been done during the production process and along the supply chain. In that way, fair trade is about far more than the stuff you buy. It’s rooted in a philosophy of justice, equality, and human rights.
The fair trade movement doesn’t oppose global trade but insists that it should be in service of the people, including artisans, farmers and workers, traders and brands, consumers and civil society, and not just a small group of wealthy people.
The main principles of fair trade are as follows:
Products that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark have met a certain set of standards, being shown to have been made under ethical conditions. This includes a safe workplace, a right for employees to unionize, opposition to child and slave labor, a fair price, and conservation and protection of the environment.
Originally, FAIRTRADE designation was given to consumable products, like produce and dry goods, but today, fashion and clothing companies can also be called FAIRTRADE if they meet the correct standards. That means that the clothing companies, among other things, use environmentally friendly materials and fabrics and that the conditions of their factories are fair to employees.
Related: The Story of the Goddess Collection
The ethical trade movement came a little later than the fair trade movement, in the 1990s, around the time when the media began to expose the harsh conditions of workers. These workers are the ones producing clothes, shoes, toys, and food for multinational corporations. As such, the ethical trade movement encourages retailers and brands to work to improve the conditions of their employees throughout the supply chain and throughout the world.
Ethical sourcing and the ethical trade movement are not organized or centralized in the same way that the fair trade movement is, meaning that there are no exact agreed-upon principles or requirements for a company to use this terminology. That’s why it’s always recommended to do your research about an organization’s exact practices.
That being said, companies usually use the moniker “ethically sourced” for their products when they have taken steps to source ingredients and materials in a manner that is sustainable for the environment and considerate to the workers and their conditions.
Related: Add Some Color to Your Wardrobe and See What Happens!
Due to the increasing consciousness of consumers about the origins of their products and the impact of their purchasing decisions, “ethically sourced” and “fair trade” have become buzzwords that, unfortunately, can be exploited by companies to market their products.
Especially because “ethical product” and “ethical sourcing” have no clear definition, as a consumer, you must be attentive and proactive in order to avoid being taken advantage of. This is similar to the use of terms like “natural” on food packaging, which is meant to entice health-conscious customers but is not actually regulated or legally defined in any particular way.
We recommend keeping in mind a personal set of standards that you would like a product or company to meet in order to buy from them and then doing your research before purchasing to see if a particular item meets your standards. This has the added benefit of encouraging you to slow down and be thoughtful about your purchases, which can lead to a decrease in spending and buying things you don’t really need.
If you haven’t completely bought into the movement of people striving to increase the percentage of ethical products they buy, you really should. It’s one of the few things you can do to make a significant impact on our world, improving things for the better.
First of all, purchasing fair trade or ethically sourced products means that you are personally contributing less to the exploitation of workers around the world. You don’t have to feel responsible for being the reason why a 12-year-old girl has to sit in a factory for 16 hours a day, sewing until her fingers bleed. It might sound extra, but it’s the reality of the situation.
Often, clothing companies don’t even know that the pressure they are putting on their factories to reduce costs can lead to workplace abuses like wage violations, a lack of breaks, and dangerous or unhealthy work conditions. Workers are banned from going to the bathroom or taking water breaks, all for what is usually staggeringly low pay. If that sounds like an environment that you would not personally agree to work in - we sure wouldn’t - it’s only logical to choose to buy from companies that don’t create this kind of work conditions for their employees.
On top of that, choosing an environmentally-conscious company means that you decrease your carbon footprint, something that has never been more crucial than it is today. There are several ways in which clothing manufacturing impacts the environment. First, synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are essentially plastic, meaning that they are not biodegradable, they use a lot of energy during production, they are sourced from non-renewable resources, and they are processed with chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment.
In contrast, natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and hemp are biodegradable and often use less chemical processing. Clothing companies can be even more environmentally-friendly by using organic cotton, which does not use pesticides or chemicals in the growing process, or Tencel, which is made from sustainably harvested raw wood materials.
The additional benefit to you is that these types of fabrics also tend to be softer, lighter, more breathable, and wick away sweat. That’s what we call a win-win.
Like we mentioned, attentiveness to the impact of our products on the environment is crucial at this moment in time. Ice is melting worldwide, sea levels are rising, wildfires are increasing, changing temperatures are affecting wildlife and their habitats - and that’s just what’s already happening.
Scientists warn that in coming years, hurricanes and storms will become stronger, floods and droughts will be more common, less freshwater will be available, our food supply will be disrupted, and diseases will spread. It’s serious, guys. Scientists say we only have one decade left to avoid the most severe consequences of climate change.
Compared to these consequences, being more aware of what we buy is really a small price to pay. And, hey, at least you’ll be wearing breathable linen when the temperatures get to record-high, unbearable levels.
...Too soon?
In a capitalist economy, every time you make a purchase, you’re essentially voting with your dollars. Your purchase creates more demand in the market for ethical and fair trade products, sending a message to corporations that it is important for you to buy - and even that you are willing to pay more money for - products that come from a company that engages in ethical business practices. As a result, more and more companies will have a financial motivation to move toward participating in fair trade.
This isn’t just theoretical. Recently, as a result of the increased number of people in the United States who are abstaining from eating meat or any plant products (often also because of the impact of the factory farming industry on the environment), major international fast-food chains like Burger King and Carl’s Jr. have begun to offer vegan options on their menus. This is an example of direct cause and effect between consumer purchasing actions and an environmentally-friendly change in major business practices.
What we’re trying to say here is that your actions really do have an impact. Choosing to buy ethically sourced or fair trade clothing makes a major difference in the lives of workers around the globe, including their livelihood and their quality of life. And it seriously affects the environment - which impacts literally every single being on the planet: human, animal, and otherwise. That makes it something worth seriously considering.
Even if you don’t change your entire approach to consumption - because, hey, nobody can resist buying something from Walmart every once in a while - just buying a fair trade shirt every so often is an admirable step in and of itself. Heck, even just reading this article and seriously considering the impact of your buying decisions is a worthwhile activity, because it means that you’re opening your eyes to a reality that can be hard for some to swallow: what you do matters. It’s up to you to decide if you’ll use that for good or evil.
Okay, that was a bit dramatic. But our point still stands. Whether you buy a completely ethically sourced wardrobe, or just a fair trade banana every once in a while, you’re making the world a better place. While you’re here, check out Now Chase The Sun for ethically sourced jewelry and accessories made by low-income artisans, refugees, and small business owners/entrepreneurs all over the world.
Related: The Best Places to Buy Affordable Ethical Clothing
These brands are also pioneers in the sustainable and ethical clothing movement. Developing innovative ways to manufacture their clothing to reduce environmental impact and offering radical transparency end-to-end in their supply chain for consumers.
If one’s looking for a guilt-free shopping experience, here are the best places to buy affordable ethical clothing.
For the purpose of this article, we’re using the following price scale:
$: Usually below $50
$$: Usually $50–$100
$$$ | Usually $100-150
$$$$ | Usually over $150
Website: https://www.nowchasethesun.com
Philosophy: Create economic opportunities for craftspeople and refugees
Products: Handcrafted jewelry, artisanal dog collars
Price: $ - $$
Based in: San Francisco
Now Chase The Sun believes in the notion that style and art have no gender. The brand provides an extensive collection of clothing accessories such as bangles, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces - all ethically sourced and made. Each product is hand-made with no mass production, and the brand also supports charities by donating a portion of their profits. Their products are made by artisans and refugees with low incomes as well as small business owners or entrepreneurs.
The brand is run by Koshi, who brought together her unique style with her vision of creating change that really matters. Rather than just provide immediate economic aid, Now Chase the Sun fosters autonomy by providing craftspeople with opportunities to create and make their own profits. At Now Chase the Sun, we’re especially dedicated to the causes of sustainability, the refugee crisis, and education for women and girls. That’s why we use recycled materials and donate some of our proceeds to various education centers. Check out our shop here!
Related: Add Some Color to Your Wardrobe and See What Happens!
Interested in finding out more? Check out our line of jewelry at Now Chase the Sun.
Website: https://www.everlane.com/
Philosophy: Radical Transparency and ethical craftsmanship
Products: Men’s and women’s apparel, business casual
Price: $$ - $$$
Based in: Los Angeles
Everlane has long stood for radical transparency and believes in selling ethically-made affordable basic wear. They offer a wide assortment of items such as apparel, shoes, and accessories. Their one of the more prominent and large-scale sustainable brands out there and make it a point to be very clear on how their items are made. They even offering consumers the chance to visit their factories online to gain a peek into how things are made and by whom.
Website: https://wearpact.com/
Philosophy: Sustainable, fair trade materials
Products: Menswear, womenswear, children’s clothes, casual apparel and undergarments
Price: $ - $$
Based in: Boulder, CO
PACT is an organic, eco-friendly, and fair-trade brand that is GOTS certified. They offer lots of basics to wear that are long-lasting. They provide a range of items such as underwear, leggings, t-shirts, and hoodies. All of these are ethically sourced and fair-trade certified as well as being manufactured 100% organic. PACT is also affordable in pricing, and many of their clothing items are well-designed.
Website: https://www.nicopanda.com/
Philosophy: Diversity, gender-neutral fashion, sustainable materials
Products: Gender-neutral streetwear
Price: $ - $$
Based in: New York City
Nicopanda offers streetwear and is designed by founder Nicola Formichette, who's a famous style icon in New York City. The brand is one of the few streetwear/hip-hop brands that are also gender-neutral and vegan-friendly with its clothing items while offering eclectic collections and vibrant prints.
Website: https://riley.studio/
Philosophy: Radical transparency
Products: Upscale casualwear
Price: $$ - $$$$
Based in: London
Based in London, Riley Studio is a boutique clothing brand known for using recycled materials in its production. The brand boasts a transparent value chain and believes in doing better by the planet and its people. Riley Studio also partners with companies to innovate its manufacturing methods such as using recycled polyester and yarn. They believe in diversity and versatility; as a result, they've got a robust gender-inclusive philosophy when it comes to its clothing designs.
Website: https://t-o-o-g-o-o-d.com/
Philosophy: Self-acceptance
Products: Gender-neutral workwear
Price: $$$$
Based in: Lancashire
Toogood was founded by Faye and Eric Toogood and is a gender-neutral and sustainable clothing brand. The brand's design sense is inspired by ‘utilitarian workwear' and boasts a unique collection of items. They offer collections with unique stories that reflect the brand's values such as Collection 003, which highlighted the importance of self-acceptance and fighting against conformity. All items are designed and manufactured in Lancashire.
Website: https://www.alternativeapparel.com/
Philosophy: Eco-friendly clothing
Products: Casualwear and undergarments
Price: $ - $$$
Based in: Venice, CA
Alternative Apparel has been in producing eco-friendly clothing for a while now and is a brand that prides itself on the non-toxic and low-impact dyes it uses in the manufacturing of its clothing items. The brand offers affordable pieces both in clothing, bags, and accessories - all made by factories under fair labor practices, with a strong focus on fair pay and safe working conditions. It’s sweatshop-free clothing!
Website: https://amourvert.com/
Philosophy: Luxury sustainability
Products: Menswear, womenswear, floral prints
Price: $$ - $$$
Based in: San Francisco
Made locally in San Francisco, Amour Vert is an eco-fashion house that positions itself in the luxury tier. With cute prints and the use of high-quality fabrics, their items are built to last and look stunning. Rarely will you find an item under $100 but this price tag comes with an extremely sustainable supply chain that minimized the environmental impact as much as possible.
Website: https://eckhauslatta.com/
Philosophy: Global fashion
Products: Statement pieces
Price: $$$ - $$$$
Based in: Los Angeles and New York
Eckhaus Latta is a designer brand that can be found in high-end shopping centers globally. It's a strong believer in gender neutrality and makes this a prominent feature of their yearly fashion shows such as the most recent Spring/Summer 19' collection. Their items often carry bold prints and eloquent cowhide - all built to do any gender elegantly.
Website: https://www.livefashionable.com/
Philosophy: Fair labor practices
Products: Clothing and accessories
Price: $$ - $$$
Based in: Nashville
The ABLE brand has always believed in offering clothes that are made ethically with fair labor practices. They also stand for empowering women in fashion and offer more than just clothing items. Recently, they've launched a jewelry and handbag collection that is also ethically produced. Slightly pricey, this comes with better fabric quality and charm - their pieces are thoughtfully made.
Website: https://www.mottandbow.com/
Philosophy: Minimize environmental impact
Products: Denim
Price: $$$
Based in: New York
A Canadian brand Matt & Bow has long stood for diversity in its hiring and the use of recycled packing to help minimize its environmental impact. They offer premium denim as well as t-shirts, all coming in a variety of fits and colors to suit women and men of any size. Every sale also results in a percentage being donated to Equitas - a human rights and equality advocate group.
Website: https://www.peopletree.co.uk/
Philosophy: Local sourcing
Products: Womenswear
Price: $$ - $$$$
Based in: London
People & Tree has environmentally friendly clothing options and is a pioneer in eco-fashion and the use of organic materials. All clothing items are also made by locally sourced items as much as possible in order to support the local and marginalized communities. They focus on a minimalist aesthetic but offer a wide variety of color options. Each item is fair-trade certified and more on the affordable side. It’s a great cheap sustainable clothing brand option with strong ethics and transparency offer one peace of mind with the purchase.
Website: https://www.outdoorvoices.com/
Philosophy: Using recycled materials
Products: Athletic apparel
Price: $$
Based in: Los Angeles
Outdoor Voices provides lots of activewear for men and women at an affordable price. Their athletic items are durable and long-lasting and manufactured using recycled materials. The brand itself is continuously looking to improve its efficiency in using recycled material but also maintaining the high performance and quality needed for outdoor wear.
Website: https://www.krochetkids.org/
Philosophy: Local sourcing, reflect cultural values
Products: Apparel and accessories
Price: $ - $$
Based in: Spokane, WA, Uganda, Peru
Krochet Kids Intl. uses artisans from Uganda and Peru to create unique, on-trend apparel and accessories that reflect the cultural values and design sense of these artisan communities. The brand helps to empower these communities by offering fair wages and implementing a rigorous monitoring and evaluation system for the manufacturing practices employed there to ensure everything is ethical, fair, and safe. It employs these artisans as part of a program and supplements them with broader education so that they can lead empowered lives.
Website: https://www.tentree.com/
Philosophy: Mitigate environmental impact
Products: Comfortable clothing
Price: $$
Based in: Canada
Tentree is best known for its eccentric graphic t-shirts and for their practice of planting a tree for every t-shirt purchased. The brand also has various sustainability initiatives underway that are not directly related to its business of selling clothing items. The company simply believes in doing good for the environment and reducing the negative impact brought on by the apparel industry.
Website: https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/index.html
Philosophy: Sustainability
Products: Casual apparel
Price: $$$
Based in: Stockholm, Sweden
& Other Stories is one of the most sophisticated sustainable and ethical brands out there. It has spent considerable effort to minimize its negative impact on the environment and has sought to use renewable energy and recycled materials in all of its product lines. It also employs and advocates for transparency in the manufacturing process - offering fair wages and employing safe labor practices. As far as clothing goes, most items are trendy in design reflecting collections similar to what is offered by H&M or Zara - but better and higher in quality.
Website: https://www.madetrade.com/
Philosophy: Transparency
Products: Womenswear and accessories, furniture
Price: $$ - $$$
Based in: Portland, OR
Made Trade is another fair-trade clothing brand that believes in 100% transparency. It focuses on women's apparel, shoes, and accessories. Offering only USA made vegan items that are fair-trade certified and meets their sustainability values. The brand also gives back to charities a portion of its profits, and when it comes to ethical fashion brands with great designs, they're a great one to buy from.
Website: https://www.radhourani.com/
Philosophy: Transparency and sustainability
Products: Genderless luxurywear
Price: $$$$
Based in: Canada
Rad Hourani was one of the pioneers in genderless fashion, offering items way back in 2007. In fact, the designer was the first one to introduce a genderless collection. Hourani's store offers a variety of pieces that capture the eye. Jersey turtlenecks, artful vibrant prints, and monochrome shirts. Following ethical practices, this is a great designer brand if one's looking for items that are unique.
Website: https://sanchosshop.com/
Philosophy: Sustainability
Products: Clothing
Price: $$ - $$$
Based in: Exeter, UK
A boutique brand from the UK, Sancho’s offers reasonably priced basics that are sustainably made. All clothing items are fair-trade certified and made only using natural organic materials. Offering both men and women options, this boutique curates their collection of apparel and accessories, making sure to only use organic and fair trade producers when doing so.
Website: https://kotn.com/
Philosophy: Transparent material sourcing
Products: Casual, business casual
Price: $ - $$
Based in: Toronto, CA
KOTN has gained popularity in recent years for being one of the few Certified B corporations with direct relationships with the farms that produce its raw materials used in manufacturing its clothing items. The brand offers fair wages to its employees and only works with partners who do the same. Sales from its items also involve a portion being donated to fund schools in Egypt where its Egyptian Cotton is sourced from. Ethical and affordable makes KOTN a favorite among consumers.
We can no longer ignore the fact that our impact is affecting the planet. It’s critical that we try to be as sustainable as possible and take better care of our home. Luckily, there’s no need to give up a love of fashion and style for the sake of saving the planet. Many fashion companies are taking a more sustainable approach to clothing. But no wardrobe is complete without accessories, so be sure to check out Now Chase The Sun for ethically sourced accessories.
Related: How We Got Here or There and Back Again
When I was younger, I used to wear a lot of black. My wardrobe as so ubiquitously black, that one day when I was in Sri Lanka for an extended period, a visiting friend pointed out that the neighbor had directed him to my house, by saying "Oh that girl who always wears black? That's her house over there!".
For someone who has always hated being predictable, it was a wakeup call that I had pigeon-holed myself! This started my first slow forays into introducing color into my world. Since I’ve moved to San Francisco, with it’s windy grey days and multitudes of festivals and costumed events, my wardrobe has become more eclectic. I swing between the standard neutrals and black, with the occasional foray into elaborate costumes for events. The ultra neutral or black color palate coupled with boots or Toms and a tech hoodie, topped off with a windcheater is almost de rigeur uniform of the San Francisco dweller. Jewelry is often understated and delicate – thin gold or silver chains and tiny stones. Nothing too bright, nothing too crazy - which seems BIZARRE for the city that spawned a plethora of tie dye and the hippie movement in the 70s!
I checked out dozens of jewelry stores – online and in store. They all had beautiful stuff (and I bought some lovely pieces) but I began to wonder - where has all the color gone? I was weirdly reminded of the V.E Schwab novel “A Darker Shade of Magic”, where the universe is populated by co-existing versions of London - “Grey for the magicless city. Red, for the healthy empire. White, for the starving world.”
There's been a lot of research done on how the colors we chose can influence the way we feel. We all know that sitting in a dingy grey and dark room all day can make you feel sluggish and uninspired. Similarly an all-white and neutrals space can be soothing and calming.
So, bearing that in mind - Can adding a pop of color to your outfit change your mood?
Add some color to your life….
We all need a little brightness these days! xoxo
According to Conscious Colors (a site that advertises the transformative nature of working with color), color is the frequency, vibration, and energy of light. Each Color is a unique wavelength of the visible light spectrum and vibrates at a unique frequency that produces its own distinct benefits for your body, mind and spirit encoded in its energy.
Could a black, greyscale wardrobe affect your mental state? From what I could find online - if you aren’t feeling centered or secure, black can feel like a security blanket. On the more negative end of the scale, it can enhance feelings of depression.
According to the Northeast Holistic Center, color has a major impact on our conscious and subconscious minds. The center’s website comments that by consciously utilizing the energy of color in our daily life, we can empower ourselves and assist in our own healing process.
Personally, I know this works, because as soon as I add a red lip or a red necklace, I instantly feel more vibrant, sexy and energized. Blue makes me feel serene, green makes me feel fresh and pretty, while yellow makes me feel like I can do anything!
Adding pops of color to your wardrobe can be a little daunting. Also – a lot of people I talked to seem to actually be scared of bright color. A young co-worker complimented me one day saying “I love how you always wear a splash of color. I could never do that”. That struck me as sad! Why ever not? Thinking about it though, I get it, as I STILL love black and my neutrals. Old habits die hard.
An effective compromise to actually wearing colorful clothes, could be as simple as wearing colorful accessories - statement jewelry, scarves, hats or purses. Accessories can lift an outfit from “drab to fab” as per Queer Eye’s fashion experts.
My entire collection has the feel-good factor of jewelry sourced from small-business entrepreneurs, refugees and artists in countries with high unemployment and not much economic opportunity. We’re helping sustain employment and livelihood, while also getting a beautiful, unique piece of jewelry that is ethically sourced and sustainably hand-crafted. I’ve collaborated on the designs to curate a collection that is bright, modern and bold. Our pieces (from our Kenyan collars to our cloth necklaces, and semi-precious bracelets) will boost your mood and elevate an outfit to take you seamlessly from the office to an evening out, or to a festival. Mix it up, layer multiple pieces and have some fun – at a price point that won’t break the bank!
So, my challenge to you - add one element of color to your wardrobe - whatever that color is, and in whatever form, and tell me how that makes you feel. I want to hear from you - so please comment, message and let me know how you go!
Just for fun, some interpretations on favorite colors and their associated chakras*:
Red: Red is a very emotionally intense color and serves your Root Chakra. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. Deep Red is helpful for rooting and grounding and decision making; Bright Red can help energize your physical body and increase circulation;
Pink: encourages gentleness and self love.
Orange: Orange is associated with the sacral chakra, joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
Yellow: Yellow is associated with the solar plexus chakra. It symbolizes joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy.
Green: Green is associated with the heart chakra. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, fertility and is thought to have great healing power. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money.
Blue: Blue is associated with the throat chakra, and with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness.
Indigo (my favorite!): Indigo is associated with the third eye chakra. It represents our deepest thoughts and spiritual wisdom; It is the color of intuition and perception and promotes deep concentration during times of introspection and meditation, helping you achieve deeper levels of consciousness.
White: White is associated with the crown chakra – and with light, goodness, innocence and purity. It is considered to be the color of perfection and can represent successful beginnings.
Purple: Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.
Black: Black is associated with power, elegance, formality and the unknown. It usually has negative connotations, but can also denote strength and authority.
* The 7 Chakras are the energy centres in our body in which energy flows through. The word 'chakra' is derived from the sanskrit word meaning 'wheel'. Literally translated from the Hindi it means 'Wheel of spinning Energy'.
I’ve been making bracelets lately. It’s not something that I’d planned, I just figured I’d give it a try since I should be able to do the work myself, in order to design better. Turns out I love making bracelets. So I created a line that we’ll make here in San Francisco, not just me, but friends who want to get involved too. We’ll be donating 15% and up of proceeds to Bay Area charities.
I couldn’t believe the response people had to my little collections of bracelets. First there was a small collection of fire agate, aventurine and turquoise bracelets that sold out as soon as people saw them. Then I made a small collection of lava bead and matte jasper bracelets. I have one (I made around 10) left. As a result, we donated to the Haven Humane Society in August, to support their efforts caring for animals impacted by the Carr Wildfires.
So then I started thinking about what I wanted to try next and decided to be more adventurous. The Goddess collection of bracelets was inspired by my amazing mother Anne.
My mother was an entrepreneur at a time when it was considered unusual for a Sri Lankan housewife to have a job. She left Sri Lanka, went to Bangladesh where she started a school that she ran with her friend, and taught English, History, Literature and Geography to pre-O/Level and A/Level exam students. When I was at school, she taught English, and ran a Sapphire cutting factory. After leaving Bangladesh and returning to Sri Lanka, she then became GM of one of the largest flower businesses in Sri Lanka. And she sent me overseas to University in Australia, and single-handedly paid my fees for the duration of my degree. This was an almost impossible dream for us, but she did it.
Anne is my inspiration for doing what I am doing, she is always my inspiration for anything I achieve in life. She taught me to be kind, to look beyond myself and take time to care for the world, animals and people around me. She also had impeccable taste in jewelry.
It seemed fitting that I create a line of semi-precious bracelets with properties that were nurturing and supportive for women. I’d already picked my Charity - the SFPCA, because Mother dear loved dogs a lot. More than she liked people. And I am fast turning into her. And I’m OK with that!
So I sourced some beautiful beads from all over the US, a few from China, India and Sri Lanka. And I set about creating.
The Goddess collection evolved around a few different design questions (because I can’t help it - I’ve worked in tech a long time, and like any product quality obsessed techie, I can’t help making lists of questions and iterating):
Is it beautiful? To that end I picked delicately hued stones and graded them so each bracelet has not just a thoughtful color palette, but also has the placement of stones and graduation of color carefully designed.
Is it functional? I really thought through the sizes of the stones. I realized that making one side of the bracelet in a smaller stone made it easier to work if you were on a laptop all day. I also realized which sized stones just don’t work for all day wear, and which were really optimally sized and comfortable.
Is it meaningful? Each bracelet is named after a Greek Goddess or a woman who was powerful and unique in the ancient world. My mother raised me on stories of the Trojan war and Greek and Roman mythology. In today’s context, I wanted to celebrate the power we have as women. No matter who tries to dim our light, we will overcome, and we will endure. That’s what women do, and have done for millenia.
Is it powerful? Each bracelet has been triple cleansed in the light of the new moon, purified with Palo Santo, Salt and Sage. The stones have been selected in combinations that are complimentary, to enhance and help develop your strength and spirit.
This little collection of 18 bracelets - well, I put a lot into it. I even kept one for me. It’s Aventurine and Snowflake Obsidian. Aventurine stone is known in the gemstone world as one of the luckiest stones, which makes it a must-have for inviting good luck and prosperity into your life. Snowflake Obsidian has healing energies to help you achieve a balance in your body, mind, and spirit, and clears fear, pain, or worry. Perfect for me as I did an aura reading in Sri Lanka - and aventurine was a hugely balancing stone for me. I have a dodgy hip (I realized yesterday that it’s due to a tailbone injury from that one time five years ago that I fell down the stairs - don’t ask), so I need the healing! My bracelet is called the Demeter Bracelet after the Goddess of Harvest - a foreshadowing of propitious times, I hope!
My husband Bart also has one. His is called the Thetis bracelet, after the sea nymph Thetis who sought to make her son Achilles immortal and invulnerable. It’s made of Blue-Tigers-Eye, which is known to ease eye problems and is known to fortify the blood and increase physical strength and vitality.
I was really pleased with my efforts and had really positive feedback from everyone who saw the bracelets, so I was all geared up to launch them on our website.
Then I was invited to attend a beautiful event hosted by my friend Nimisha, a talented holistic healer and nutritionist (her business is called Mooncycle Nutrition.) I met the fabulous Felicity at the event, and she told me about her business Potli - hemp/CBD infused honey. I am a huge fan of Potli. CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, and the honey offers so many benefits. Not to mention the honey is sourced from their own hives, and they are caring for bees - so it’s a beautiful and holistic story. It also resonated for me, because my father Manik, was a long time advocate for legalization of cannabis, speaking out about it’s medicinal properties for decades. Felicity and I chatted about what I’m doing with Now Chase the Sun, and she reached out to me after the event. She told me about a beautiful private event she’s putting together for select Bay Area women entrepreneurs, and she wanted to see some of my jewelry to purchase as gifts for the talented and incredible women she is bringing together.
Enter the Goddess Collection.
I totally believe in serendipity. The sheer alignment of what Felicity is doing, and the incredible coincidence of this little collection I’d made, was simply astounding. One meeting and two cups of Golden Milk in my living room later, I think I’ve acquired a new friend, and the Goddess Collection is on it’s way to grace the wrists of some truly inspiring ladies. #womensupportingwomen
I’ve added the four bracelets we have left to our shop because I started getting pings from people who wanted one.
Best story, best morning, best everything! Happy Friday all! xoxo
I’ve been thinking about what I want to write about - and my good friend Toan Lam told me to think about what outcome I wanted from writing a blog post. He teaches blogging, so I figured he might know a thing or two! :-)
The outcome - I want all our customers and the people who’ve helped us along the way to know the impact they’ve had. And I need to ask for still more help and support to keep the good momentum going.
Thanks to your purchases, our partners have been able to:
Pay the wages of refugee women who craft our jewelry to earn money for their families. The money has helped them buy medicine, food and care for their kids.
You’ve raised funds for learning centers that educate children from low income families in remote villages and in refugee camps.
You’ve helped independent artisans and small business entrepreneurs (including me) to stay in business and earn an income, and keep doing what they love, just a little bit longer.
You’ve supported organizations that help train and empower women, fund shelters for battered women and HIV drop in centers, in countries where these facilities are pretty unique.
You’ve supported the Haven Humane Society in their efforts to care for animals impacted by the Carr Fire in Northern California.
You did all this by buying some beautiful jewelry.
Thanks to your purchases, we are on to our second order from all of our partners, and are starting to evaluate new partners we can work with, in new countries. So watch out for some gorgeous new stock in the upcoming weeks.
We’ve learned so much along the way - how to operate a point of sale system; all about Sales tax, GST and VAT; which are the good Post Offices in San Francisco; how to craft a high quality bracelet - and also how to survive starting a new business and figuring out how to go about running it!
We’ve also learned about being kind to each other, not just to the people we work with. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s OK to ask for help and it’s OK to take a day or two off. I’ve also learned that I have to take a break to play and walk my dog, or he gets pretty upset with me.
We are so grateful.
For the opportunity to learn.
For you taking time to read this.
For everyone who’s donated their time, their talent, their advice and introductions.
For my cousins Ishka and Mareeni who hosted our first pop up, at Guyomar Winery which was an incredible success - thank you both!
For you - thank you for buying our jewelry and for being a part of this journey.
It’s a big dream and a big journey. I’ll keep sharing more about that, but for now, thank you for supporting us. There is so much more to come, and so much good we can do together.
How you can help:
Please, please talk about us, review us, like us, tag us and share us. It’s a HUGE HUGE help to us, and will only take a minute of your time. We are on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Send us pictures of you wearing your jewelry, post it on Instagram and Facebook.
Come to our events and buy more jewelry!
Our website is live - create a customer profile and share your email. Even if you don’t want to buy - we want to share our stories and inspirations with you. We promise we won’t spam you with email, just one a month to tell you what we’re up to - and we want to hear from you.
Buy from our webshop - and if you don’t see anything you like, tell us what you’re looking for! We’re always looking for new ideas and feedback, and we work directly with the makers, so we can experiment!
We are only a small company, but we won’t always be small. Together, we ARE making a difference, and we are spreading light. We’re going to keep chasing the sun! Thank you for chasing it with us.
“Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
That encounter struck me hard, as we'd just had a really beautiful lunch at the divine Shortmarket Club and here was this woman just trying to feed her kids one meal that day.
I live in a city with a lot of poverty, a lot of homelessness, but nevertheless she was the one that opened up my eyes and made me want to do something more than donating and volunteering a few hours a month. She made me start thinking about how to help people like her in a more tangible way. That led me to realize what I wanted to be doing next. (All this thinking and realizing made my head hurt, but it also made me realize how lucky I was to have someone support me and have my back while I tried this out - so thank you, thank you, to my eternally supportive and wise husband, Bart.)
Growing up in Sri Lanka with the ongoing ethnic conflict that pushed so many Tamil people to leave the country as refugees (more than 60,000 are still living in camps in Chennai, India), you are inescapably aware of the trauma, loss and devastation that people in the war zones of our island have suffered. Our initial goal was to figure out how to work with the Sri Lankan refugee population, to help them earn income.
By partnering with organizations and people who have identified opportunities to foster empowerment and rehabilitation in communities in need, we can be part of the movement towards change. We are working with refugees, struggling entrepreneurs and marginalized communities with high unemployment and typically low incomes for artists and craftspeople. We do this by designing, sourcing and curating our collection of high quality, ethically sourced jewelry and accessories made by artisans in these communities, and retailing them in the US. We buy the jewelry outright at fair prices, so the artisans see the positive outcome right away. We hope that as we gain brand awareness and recognition, we’ll be able to become a sustainable source of income to these artisans.
Right now, I’m now designing and making a line of necklaces and bracelets myself called the Bay Area Charity Collection (something I never expected I’d do) because I want to support our local community endeavors. Also, to be really creative with design, I have to be able to do the work myself. 15% from the Bay Area Charity collection, will go to support Bay Area causes. In September, we supported the Haven Humane Society in thanks for their efforts in rescuing animals from the Northern California Carr wildfires. In October we will be hosting a beading evening. 15% of the sales of the bracelets we make will be donated to Glide in support of San Francisco’s homeless population.
Now Chase the Sun as a business, happened because of serendipity. Each partnership we have formed, has been the result of a happy coincidence, because good people connected us to other good people. You can read more of the story in the “Partners” section of our website, so I won’t re-tell it here!
So far, we have four partners, and we hope to grow and scale to add more organizations and individual artisans to our platform and to market their art and crafts in the US. We are in the process of developing our website and a small collection of our products is available in Union Square, at Ron Pernell Hair Studio – which is super exciting, as Ron is a fashion industry veteran (featured in the SF Chronicle and Apartment Therapy), working with some of the biggest brands in the US. I’m really honored that he wants to carry our collection in his studio.
Our launch party was a huge success this weekend. Big thanks to Guyomar Wine Cellars and the amazing Ishka and Mareeni Stanislaus, for hosting our launch at their beautiful summer wine club party in Templeton, California. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible event that wine club members look forward to all year!
I have to say we wouldn’t be here today if we hadn’t had so much support. Introductions made at the right time, advice given at the right moment – and loads of tears and laughter along the way. Our models are all good friends of ours, as are our photographers, financial advisors, and fashion industry advisors. I feel really blessed by the amount of love and support we’ve encountered on this journey. That’s the real wealth, isn’t it? Good people!
We have already shipped to Singapore, the UK and one of our Maasai dog collars is on it’s way to Sweden! All I can ask is that everybody spreads the word, and we come together to build this wave of good – we can make change happen, and we already are!
“No one has ever become poor by giving”
Anne Frank
Thank you so much to our amazing customers for the overwhelming support at our kick off event!