Namaste, Nakate

Taking Africa With Me: Bella models two pieces from the Nakate Project's new Fall Collection.

Their motto is a question: Where will you take Africa with you today? 

The Nakate Project is fashion meets philanthropy.

I've mentioned the Nakate Project before, here and in an article written for CBS Local. The people behind the Nakate Project believe that fashion is a powerful tool to change the world for the better. When you purchase and wear a Nakate piece of jewelry, you are providing funds and means for the women in the poorest villages of Africa to gain financial independence. 

So these little necklaces are doing more than just looking pretty around my neck.  Each bead, made by African women, earns them income to put food on their tables, buy medicine if needed, + pay for their children's schooling.  This Fall, the Nakate Project launched four collections, utilizing the Ugandan-made paper beads and incorporating them into fashionable, affordable jewelry pieces, many designed by local Californian + Oregonian artisans. 

To showcase the new Fall collections, Nakate teamed up with 8 bloggers for 8 weeks, each modeling different pieces from the 4 collections.   I was given two Nakate necklaces from their Fall collection, to incorporate into an outfit + share where I "take Africa with me."

WHERE DID I TAKE AFRICA? 

Today I will take Africa with me on my early morning neighborhood stroll. Africa will come with me, when I meet some friends for coffee. Later in the afternoon, I'll take Africa with me to the market, as I pick out the locally grown produce, along with the rest of my groceries, I'll think how lucky I am to have access to fresh food and clean water. 

Africa will come with me to work. As I sort + price my vintage pieces, and hang them on the racks at Fringe, Africa will be curled around my neck, in the form of these two lovely necklaces. My Africa was made by determined women, made of recycled paper, fishing line, metal clasps, and hope. Hope that we can create a sustainable community, not just within our own neighborhoods, but across the world. 

We're all connected, we share somethings in common.  We share more than a common origin, we share more than the same address, this spaceship Earth: we share the same future. And where ever my future goes, I'll be taking Africa with me.
 
This week, from November 21-25th you can get 25% off your purchase with the coupon code ROSEBUD. So click HERE to shop and discover your own piece of Africa.

Nakate Project is celebrating its one year anniversary! If you're in Sacramento, come celebrate with Shanley and the Nakate Project at Article Consignment, December 10th from 6:30- 9:30 pm. You can get all the deets on the Facebook event page by clicking HERE.