Archive for Fashion – Page 14

Gianna Fair Trade

Gianna’s life wasn’t all smiles in the beginning like you see her now.  When she was young her parents were divorced and she ended up living in a woman’s shelter for a while.  Even though she did not know at the time, through the shelter was where she would find her passion for women’s empowerment and equality.  Gianna knew education was her way out of the poverty and studied hard so she could get out.  She worked so hard that she went to college at the age of 16 and was the first of her family to go.  After she graduated she move to San Francisco and worked in commercial insurance. However, she wasn’t doing what she loved.  She wanted to help empower women abroad and women who had similar situations to her mother.  So in 2005, Gianna Fair Trade was created.

Gianna Fair Trade is a website where people are able to buy scarves and shawls, home accents, and living room and bedroom pillows.  A lot of these items are made buy woman all over the world.  Her website tells us, “We work with severely disadvantaged artisans around the world who typically live in rural poor villages or urban slums. GIANNA provides sustainable opportunities for meaningful work and on-going support, giving artisans a means to improve their lives and achieve their dreams.”  Gianna travels to go meet with different groups around the world and if they truly have a passion to work hard and improve their lives and the lives in their communities, she discusses what their needs, fair trade, and other matters specific to their village are and then decides whether to work with them or not.  Whenever you buy an item, the woman who made the product receive between 25 percent and 58 percent of the retail prices of their products.  You are not only helping Gianna and her business, but you are helping send someone’s child to school, helping someone get food, or helping a person around the world in another way.

Although there are only a few things that are being sold, what Gianna Fair Trade does have is very stylish and cute for woman who are interested in scarves and shawls, home accents, and living room and bedroom pillows.  My sister is getting married soon so maybe I’ll have to buy her something off of there so I can not only help my sister’s sense of style, but help another woman or community around the world in need.  I found the website to be easy to navigate around and I could find anything I wanted without a problem.  Definitely check it out and have your mother’s and grandmother’s look at it too!  Thanks for reading, happy blogging!

TOK Project

 

“The fact that these girls were being trafficked set in as I realized this was not the type of entertainment we’d signed up for. I was shaken to the core by the dead look of despair in the young girls’ eyes, but from that moment of pain came hope and resolution: something must be done.”

 Micah List said this about an experience he encountered in Bankok. Founder of a new start-up by the name of “TOK Project”, Micah has become an inspirational example of combining personal passion for business with a passion to serve those God calls his servants to love. TOK project originated with hats but has since shifted towards unique men’s ties and bow ties for any and all occasions. Custom bowties, regular ties, or pocket squares can also be ordered. This company has two locations: one in Detroit, Michigan, and the other in Pittsburgh.

With a motto of “Do your Part”, TOK Project incorporates its foundational values through donating 25% of all profits to aid against the fight of sex trafficking in Riga, Latvia. People are sent to build healing relationships with the trafficked girls, educate orphanages and schools about trafficking, raise awareness,and the other in Pittsburgh. and even challenge the men taking advantage of these young women. TOK’s desire is to mobilize a young generation to end human trafficking.

Micah and the TOK Project represent true innovation. He shifted a paradigm by putting together fashion and social justice: a revolutionary and impactful blend. The company seems to target more fashion-oriented young men, but also those who desire to take part in the fight against human trafficking. There are very few companies specifically focused on making unique ties and bowties for men, which differentiates the TOK Project immensely. In addition, the drive of Micah and his team to aid in the social good as well as looking good is fundamental in any startup. To check out Micah’s and the TOK Project’s story and fashion line, check out www.tokproject.com.

JackThreads

Jason Ross is an entrepreneur and a graduate from Ohio State University. He started JackThreads in 2007  after he called it quits on his sports marketing company. Why JackThreads? Ross named the company after his grandfather and threads is another way to say clothes. The name signifies that the site is for guys and that it is young and stylish. JackThreads is a “flash-sale members-only site” that offers discounted clothes and accessories. All one needs to sign up and become a member is an email address that will serve as your login username. You can order various articles of clothing and accessories from watches to t-shirts to suits. $10 gift cards can be earned when someone you have referred makes a purchase as well. He explained how he was not passionate about his sports marketing company and was unprepared because he did not write a business plan or research the market very well. He learned from his mistake and before starting JackThreads, he researched the market and then realized there was an opportunity. He explained how his inspiration came from private shopping clubs in Europe and he knew that there were no flash sale sites that were exclusively for men. Ross was passionate about style and was into street wear so his target market are males aged 18-35, he went into this business solo and built it up for two and a half years before hiring a second person. He worked night jobs such as bar tending so he could work on JackThreads during the day, he also maxed out several credit cards to pay for business expenses. He used his networks to help construct his first website. He was assisted by one of his former professors at Ohio State who assigned the coding as a project. Ross, as well as utilizing his networks, he utilizes mobile apps. The JackThreads app has been on the iTunes top 10 and has over 2 million downloads. Ross says the app plays a huge role in his business, with 40% of all sales being from the app. Ross started the company with only 6 brands, now he has over 450 and has over $20 million in revenue. A lot of lessons can be learned from Jason Ross and his transition from one business to another as well as his story of building his company.

Sweaters Anonymous

This is a really cool story about a young entrepreneur that I wanted to share with everybody. Sarah Gehman, a good friend who I grew up knowing in high school, and ALSO my roommate’s sister, began this business in 2012. Sarah is a missionary with the world’s biggest Christian mission organization, YWAM. Her job title is “Social media/marketing manager and photographer for the Ekballo Project. She is currently based out of the YWAM base is Kona, Hawaii. Sarah raises all her own money and one of the biggest things that she did to do this was through Sweaters Anonymous. It all began with her love of shopping at thrift stores. One day she realized that that she should try to turn this small obsession into something practical and decided that this could be a way to raise money for her YWAM trips. How this business works is that Sarah travels to various thrift stores and purchases used and sometimes new sweaters. Instead of regularly pricing the sweaters, she lists them on her website; http://sweatersanonymous.com/ and instead of pricing each sweater individually, she asks for a donation, so whatever a person is willing to give she will take. It is definitely a unique way to run a business. Sarah has been extremely successful, and she gives all of the credit to the Lord. Sarah quotes: “God is such a good God, and he doesn’t call us to do something that he won’t provide for”. To give an example of Sarah’s success, she has sold over 100 sweaters and has made 3,000 thousand dollars. Sarah has her own personal website, as well as a facebook page that she advertises these sweaters on. Check out Sarah’s Sweaters!

 

Aaron Firestein – Bucketfeet

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Aaron Firestein(28)  loved to draw designs on converse and other kinds of shoes. He would take out some sharpies and draw designs on shoes and sell them to his friends. After he graduated he took his sharpie collection and went to Argentina to learn spanish. While there, he met Raaja Nemani, a man who graduated as an economics major. They met while volunteering at a children’s home in Argentina. Firestein sold Nemani a pair of his custom designed shoes, a pair of hand-drawn shoes that would be the beginning of an amazing business. One year later in the city of Chicago they officially started “Bucketfeet.”

Bucketfeet is a business that sells shoes with designs made by street artists from all around the world. Each artist is payed $250 for their design and receives a royalty of $1 for each pair sold. The business helps artists to showcase their art to the world and to allow them to keep doing what they love. One artists from Brazil said “It is amazing to think that my artwork is being worn around the world. There are over 50 people in Japan wearing my design right now.”

Bucketfeet’s philosophy is that art is expression and that everyone deserves to express themselves in their own way. They believe art breaks cultural barriers, brings people together, and that it tells a story. The company shares the stories of their artists and encourage their consumers to find an artist that that they can connect with.  People can express themselves through the designs created by the artists. Firestein and Nemani also donate a portion of their profits to children’s shelters around the world because children have always been important to them and because that was were there both met.

What started as a small college business has become something global because of Firestein’s love for art and culture. The business he started really expresses the idea that art is for everyone. He and Nemani have empowered artist everywhere to show the world what they can do. The business started in 2011 and in the year 2013 sales totaled about $1 million. The business is growing immensely now that they are being sold in Nordstrom stores across the United States.

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ModCloth

Having recently joined Swing Club at college, my roommates and I have become interested in vintage clothing, because not much could make swing dancing more fun than having a vintage style skirt that flares out when you spin.  While searching vintage clothing on the internet in our spare time away from our studies we came across a website called ModCloth.

As an entrepreneurship major, I found it interesting that the founders of ModCloth, Susan and Eric Koger, got their company up and running while in college.  It all started with Susan’s hobby of collecting vintage clothing, a love that began in high school. With Eric’s help Susan’s passion grew into a business. In college, Susan and Eric began selling vintage clothing online to help pay for books. After graduation from college, they continued the company, adding new clothing from independent designers.  With the continued growth of ModCloth, Susan and Eric now work with over 700 independent designers. Their inventory has grown significantly to include thousands of vintage inspired products from clothes to accessories to shoes and even home furnishings.

Susan and Eric’s ModCloth is a great example of the way in which a special hobby or interest can be turned into a profitable venture, creating great satisfaction for the entrepreneur and their customers.  ModCloth not only creates value for their customers, but they help other entrepreneurs by working with independent designers in their own entrepreneurial adventures.

Stinky Feet Gurlz?

When I first came across the name “Stinky Feet Gurlz” I was like “Yes! Something that I can put in my track shoes for when it rains and they are smelly”.  Little did I know that this company had nothing at all to do with smelly shoes or feet at all.  Stinky Feet Gurlz is a business that was created by Asya Gonzalez at the 14 that involves apparel and accessory items.  These items are fun, simple, and cute clothes and accessories is designs based off of the 1940’s.  These clothes and accessories include t-shirts and a different variety of knitted hats.

Aside from the clothing and accessories, Gonzalez reaches out to people all over the country.  She speaks to large groups of students and teachers about following their dreams with Independent Youth; a peer-to-peer mentorship program that empowers today’s teens to become tomorrow’s business leaders.  She also is actively involved in being a teen radio host that gives teens advice and talks about almost anything.

Other than running her own business at a young age, talking to people about following their dreams, and speaking on a radio show, another thing that makes Gonzalez unique is that she donates a little bit from ever sale to her charity She Is Worth It!.  This charity is about bringing people aware of child sex slavery.  She Is Worth It’s goal is to “have an educational program in EVERY school across America exposing the dangers of trafficking, warning girls that these Pimps are calling themselves “boyfriends” and what our youth and our public MUST know to alert to the issues.”  I think this is so awesome because after recently watching that video about this topic last week, it is a true motivation to see that someone so young is supporting such a great cause.

If you think any of Asya Gonzalez items are cute, I think you should definitely invest in her products!  Not only are you supporting her growing business and getting cute items, you are supporting to the cause of raising awareness about human trafficking.  Happy Blogging!

Janella’s Scarfs

This young entrepreneur began with a passion and a love for crocheting. Katie Knight began crocheting in 8th grade. She did not start creating scarfs until her junior year of high school. She began by making scarfs to give to her friends, and eventually ran out of people to give scarfs to. In the spring of 2014, she began thinking of starting a business with these scarfs. Katie started up her Etsy store in July of 2014, and called it, Janella’s Accessories Store. Her scarfs are classified as Infinity Scarfs, and each one has its own unique personality and pattern. Katie is also my roommate, and she made me one of these scarfs last year. It is warm and comfortable and cute. I personally believe that the scarf making business is a big one, and people are very interested in purchasing products that are hand crafted and that are made with good material. I believe that with time and dedication, Janella’s Accessories store could become a thriving business.

She Skipped a Year of HS for WHAT?!

It takes real dedication to skip an entire year of High School for your passion.

But that’s exactly what Janelle Putrich, a photographer who takes the art and flair of her business to the next level, did. Leaving behind academics and classes, she spent Junior Year refining and perfecting what she was best at – a unique type of photography that captures the depth of a person’s character and the emotion behind the moments of life. This unique style has attracted quite the clientele. For now, Janelle manages her photography and portrait operations from her home near Cleveland, OH.  The creativity and desire for new and exciting things that spurred the inception of her business has allowed her to branch out into also utilizing cosmetology and design in her photos.

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Her inspiration is simple: to represent the stories of life through pictures

“One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to go into the depths of the basement and look through bins of photos from parents’ lives. There was something so special and priceless about seeing what my parents did, how they how they loved.”

I met Janelle at a debate tournament in Michigan two years ago, and since have closely followed her business endeavor. Her insane amount of drive to find new and different ways to tell stories through photography has inspired me to pursue my own passion of film-making more avidly. Because anyone can use a camera, but very few people can create something so unique that people are left in awe.

The innovation in the way Janelle runs her business is that it is so focused on combining art and photography together in a way so as to communicate the very essence of a person. She uses extreme camera settings, backgrounds, costumes, and cosmetics in her portraits. (even going so far as gluing petals to her face!)

 

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People are naturally drawn to pictures taken by a creative eye. Take a moment to observe the one to the left.

This is an upside-down shot of a pond’s reflection. But the way it was composed makes it look magical.

Magic is a good word to describe the work of Janelle Putrich. Through her persistence and creativity she has created a unique art form in an industry that makes it difficult for anyone to distinguish themselves. And through it all, she has determined to give glory to God. That, in itself, is something well-needed in the art world.

 

You can find more of her work at:

http://www.photography4thecreator.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/janelleputrichphotography

 

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“When you invest in a photographer, you are not only investing in photos for yourself, but also for generations to come.  It is important when selecting a photographer that you love their style and that you trust them to capture the moments that really count – for the photos of today turn into the memories of tomorrow.”

Not Just a T-shirt

walk in love.T.J. Mousetis wanted to go to Russia.  But travel was expensive and fundraising a trying task.  So in lieu of sending letters, Mousetis bought one hundred blue t-shirts and had the phrase “walk in love” printed on the front.  His plan:  sell the shirts and use the profits toward the trip.   Not only did he garner unexpected positive interest, but his passion for design and entrepreneurship sparked.

Soon walk in love., a Lancaster, PA based clothing store “dedicated to selling well-designed, high quality products with a positive and inspiring message,” was born.  Mousetis took a simple idea, graphic t-shirts, and developed a business that empowered the individual through their positive messages.

Mousetis’ wife, Brooke Courtney, partnered her natural light photography company with the store to promote their merchandise through photographing local models and friends for the company’s campaigns and look books.  Soon posters, advertisements, and marketing pieces featured everyday Lancastrian people in well-crafted walk in love. clothing.

The millennial generation is often characterized by its deep need for identification.  Walk in love. has offered not only clothing that spreads a positive, Christian based message, but has also contributed to the furthering of Lancaster’s community through creating a company of which the people can be a part.

Walk in love. continues to grow and flex as they expand their store base and variety of products sold.  Their fresh, slightly hipster, and all together fun outlook on design sets them apart from other stores.   Each member of the executive team integrates his or her various talents within the business (photography, videography, design, entrepreneurial minds, etc.)  Walk in love. also remains a great example of the redemptive use of social media as it has sprung up rapidly, promoting through their website, instagram, and twitter.

What started with a simple mission trip fundraiser has become a great entrepreneurial success story.  But please do not take only my word for it, visit their website at http://shopwalkinlove.com/ to learn more!