by Brynn Watkins | Dec 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
When fashion and social justice go hand in hand, progress happens. The company Rags2Riches is no stranger to social justice. Rags2Riches Inc. is a for-profit company based in Manila, Philippines that creates fashion and home accessories out of scrap cloth by working with women living in impoverished cities across the country. Rags2Riches’ philosophy stands upon four bottom lines: people, profit, planet and positive influence. Rags2Riches got its start in 2007 in the poorest districts of the Philippines. According to the Rags2Riches website, women living in Payatas, “one of the Philippines’ largest dumpsites and home to 12,000 families,” were scavenging waste in order to find and recycle fabric scraps for weaving. This became a way for the women to make a living and provide for their families. However, the website reports that, “over time, the industry became exploited by a series of middlemen who controlled both the supply of scrap fabric and the women’s access to the market, which created an unfair value chain for the women who, at the end of the day, earned only pennies per finished product.” Thus, Rags2Riches was funded, providing fair-trade work for hundreds of women in need. With the help of Rags2Riches, the women are taught financial and health training so they can maximize their career potential. To help create its fashionable products, Rags2Riches teamed up with fashion designers Rajo Laurel, Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Oliver Tolentino to help mold the scrap and indigenous fabric into beautiful handbags and accessories. Though Rags2Riches has only been around for four years, the progress the company created has been life changing. It has empowered 450 women across 21 communities in the Metro Manila...
by Emily Snell | Nov 30, 2012 | News Slider
In this week’s installment of Lumination News, Nick Glende and Nicolette Carney are behind the news desk to update you about what’s happening on campus. Madeline Smith offers the latest in politics, Eric Robinson brings you up to speed with sports, Crystal Davis gives the scoop on all things entertainment, and Brynn Watkins delivers your weather forecast. Videos feature Kelcy Smart, Lighting of the Green, a recap of Thanksgiving break, Cocoa and Carols, students’ Christmas plans, financial aid and business office requirements for next semester, finals advice for freshmen, Sewing to Share, StompFest highlights, Sam Schoenheit, and Nashville Spotlight on the businesses near campus. <iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/58153431″ width=”500″ height=”275″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href=”http://vimdeo.com/58153431″>Sewing to Share</a> from <a href=”http”http://vimeo.com/luminationnet”>lumination Network</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.<p> <iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/58153431″ width=”500″ height=”275″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href=”http://vimdeo.com/58153431″>Sewing to Share</a> from <a href=”http”http://vimeo.com/luminationnet”>lumination Network</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.<p> ...
by Brynn Watkins | Nov 30, 2012 | Uncategorized
Looking for shiny new gifts for the holiday season? Why not support gifted merchants from around the world while doing your shopping for loved ones this season! If that idea sounds appealing, then the Red Earth Trading Company should be your one stop shop. Based in Nashville, the Red Earth Trading Co. was founded in 2010 by Travis Gravette. Gravette wanted to create a company incorporating both fashion and philanthropy. While traveling in East Africa, he discovered talented artisans who were getting paid very little for their beautiful work. Gravette saw the talent and drive of these gifted merchants and thought of an idea. This idea turned into Red Earth Trading Co., a company creating hope for merchants in East Africa by generating trade and commerce. The company collaborates with the artisans to create high quality home goods, jewelry and accessories with 100 percent of the company profits going back to help fuel development of non-profits in Africa. According to the Red Earth Trading Co. website here is how the process works: 1. We build relationships with artisans in developing nations that create exceptional products, value their employees and desire to make a difference in their community. 2. We work directly with our artisans to design and create quality products that are fashionable. 3. We pay at or above fair market prices on all products and pay up front for each order. 4. We import our products to the U.S. and sell them for a profit. 5. We cover our expenses and reinvest in the business. 6. At the end of the year, our profits are given to sustain the community development work of...
by Brynn Watkins | Nov 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
Warby Parker is the Toms of the eyewear industry. It was founded on a new, yet simple concept in eyewear. The Warby Parker team wanted to provide “eyewear with a purpose.” After many brainstorming sessions, a collaboration between four friends formed. All avid fans of the famous beatnik author Jack Kerouac, the friends decided to name their revolutionary company “Warby Parker” after two characters in Kerouac’s first novel. Sick of the pretentious and over-priced glasses industry, the Warby Parker team realized the obvious need for a low-priced alternative. So, they did something about it. When you purchase a pair of glasses or sunglasses from Warby Parker Eyewear, a pair is given to a person in need. On the company’s website, it explains the mission further: “Almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses. This means that 15 percent of the global population cannot effectively learn or work — a problem that Warby Parker is determined to address. We’ve partnered with non-profits like VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. We believe that everyone has the right to see.” To do this, Warby Parker needed to create quality prescription glasses at affordable prices. The Warby Parker team decided it needed to bypass the larger eyewear cooperations in order to create a more personal customer-to-company approach. They decided to go with a website format so they could keep prices down and quality up. By eliminating the big business aspect, Warby Parker customers can engage the company directly through the Warby Parker Eyewear website. This keeps prices down and provides customers with higher-quality, better-looking prescription eyewear...
by Emily Snell | Nov 16, 2012 | News Slider
In this week’s installment of Lumination News, Kelly Dean and Jeremy Keck are behind the news desk to update you about what’s happening on campus. Ariel Jones tells you the latest information in political news, Nicci Carney brings you up to speed with sports, Erica Aburto gives the scoop on all things entertainment, and Brynn Watkins delivers your weather forecast. Videos feature Battle of the Boulevard, Running of the Bison, The Contributor, the Nashville Rescue Mission, a Lipscomb Academy student with a perfect SAT score, ESPN3, online course evaluations, how to deal with temperature changes in the dorm, and No Shave/No Makeup November. ...
