“Among other things, my older brother taught me how to crochet.” -Kohl Crecelius
So begins the story of Krochet Kids International. Kohl passed the skill onto his friends Travis and Stewart in high school and they began making unique headwear which they sold to classmates and even gained local media attention.
After high school, the friends began volunteering during summer breaks in developing countries, planting a seed within them to help people in these countries break the cycle of poverty. After spending a summer in Uganda, Stewart reported back about people who had been living in government camps for 20 years wholly dependent upon aid organizations for their every need.
By learning the simple art of crocheting these people could make amazing products that would sell for a fair price thereby enabling them to care for their families and rise above poverty. Now 150 people in Uganda and Peru are working, receiving education and being mentored toward a brighter future due to this initiative.
The best part? The name of the lady who made your hat is written on the inside of the garment. You can go to the website, look up her name and encourage her by sending a thank you note!
In the company’s mission statement, one of the values listed is “Love: We believe actions rooted in love bring lasting and powerful change. Our model for love is that of the ultimate servant: Jesus.”
A new church in downtown Toronto, Trinity Life, is launching in Fall 2013, and has a number of preview events coming up such as brunches, networking socials, concerts, community projects, and worship services. Maybe you’re “shopping” for a new place of worship or have never been to church and always wanted to go…maybe you think church is too stuffy or judgmental – this one is different!
Committed to being culturally relevant, Trinity Life is all about transparency and transformation, being radically changed by God. If you are looking for something more, come to the next gathering 5 pm Sunday at Daniel’s Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East, 2nd floor.
Indigo Handloom is a company with a mission: to provide sustainable jobs to artisan hand-weavers in India, and to preserve the traditional art of handloom. Handloom, a cloth-producing art that absconds from the modern machine textile manufacturing, has an infinitesimally small carbon footprint—and provides jobs to many who would be struggling in a spiraling economy.
Over the last five years, Indigo Handloom has supplied Eileen Fisher, a sustainable, socially conscious women’s fashion house with beautiful, intricately executed scarves.
The scarf I received is called Borrowed Shirt – Sunrise (left) and features a dynamic and vibrant pattern reminiscent of a series of contrasting men’s shirts. The colours brighten up a neutral outfit and lift spirits on a dreary winter day. The soft all-natural fibres of cotton and silk are yarn dyed and finished with hand-knotted tassles.
Indigo Handloom features a variety of textures, styles and colors in their 100% hand-crafted luxurious artisan pieces—all for a just cause: to keep artistic tradition thriving, and to help their artists maintain a fruitful life. Every scarf is produced with richness, from the history and culture of the weavers to each scarf’s cloth and design. Indigo Handloom is committed to reviving this richness, thread by thread, for every season.
By Anya Sarre
Winter is a great time for fashion. There are many simple but beautiful looking things to mix and match throughout the season and you can create some intriguing outfits that will help you exude confidence and happiness. It’s no surprise that confidence is the key to beauty. The better you feel, the better you look, and winter is a superb time to show that off.
One of the best and most fun things you can do this season is layer. Layer absolutely everything, as long as it’s winter-appropriate! Leg warmers and heeled/wedged boots, arm warmers and mid-length armed pea coats, brightly colored leggings under a simple black knitted skirt… the ideas are endless.
When considering winter colors, you should be thinking about warm shades that will add feelings of comfort and friendliness to your wardrobe and attitude. All shades in colors such as burnt orange, rocking red, subtle yellow, and dark maroons will look amazing. When thinking of textures, think of knitted, pleated, corduroy, apparel.
Patterns are another exciting thing about winter. It gives all beautiful women the chance to explore their traditional, classic side. Patterns such as argyle, pinstripe, striped, and polka dotted will make you feel like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn or Coco Channel.
Accessorizing is a very crucial and important part of winter fashion. Keep it simple, and preferably chunky! Try solid, bigger-cut cuffs, and pendants on necklaces. Go for these styles in colors that coordinate nicely with your outfit, and stick to those shades we mentioned before. Also consider awesomely girly jewelry, such as charm bracelets and pearls. Don’t forget scarves, harts, gloves and purses. When choosing scarves for your winter wardrobe, think about matching them with your leggings, jewelry, or shoes. This almost guarantees easy go-to outfit coordination.
Lastly, shoes are one, if not the most important piece to any winter outfit. Black or brown-wedged boots are the absolute number one hot and remarkably easy choice you can go with right now, and the beautiful thing about them is that they are gorgeous on any body type and outfit. You just can’t go wrong! Start mixing and matching your winter fashion—let us all see your inner fashionista!
A nationally recognized celebrity stylist, Anya Sarre is known for her impeccable eye and ability to tie any look together with the perfect accessory. Named “Best Television Fashion Stylist” for her appearances on Entertainment Tonight, The Insider and countless other media outlets, Sarre is the go-to fashion expert for Hollywood’s biggest celebrities.
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Online dating has become the norm for busy single professionals. After a certain age, bars are no longer a viable place to meet a suitable mate (if they ever were) and we like the convenience and practicality of searching for a mate online in the comfort of our homes (and maybe our track pants).
If you are new to the online dating scene or even if you’ve had a profile up on Badoo.com for some time, there are certain rules that are wise to follow if you want to end up with the mate of your dreams.
- Post one good head shot of yourself (no more than two!) in which you’ve had your hair and make-up done. It’s worthwhile to have a professional portrait taken: look out for Groupon deals where you can get them as low as $30.
- Let them come to you. If you are a woman it’s important to let the man make the first move even on a dating site. It raises your value and gives him the opportunity to be the pursuer. In the same spirit, wait a day or two to answer his email, and never give him anything he doesn’t ask for. Don’t offer your number or your private email unless he asks for it and then only give it out if you’re comfortable.
- If you’ve talked on the phone and he’s asked to meet you (NOT the other way around), stay safe and meet in a well-lit public place. Tell someone else where you will be and never get into a car with someone you’ve met online and are meeting in person for the first time. In the spirit of #2, keep the first meeting short (it’s not a date) and make sure you end it first. Leave him wanting more.
- Don’t reveal too much about yourself on the first meeting or even the second. If he asks prying questions like “Why did your marriage fail?” just shrug your shoulders and say “It didn’t work out,” and move on to something less intrusive. Don’t give yourself away too easily.
- Speaking of which…no casual sex. This means no sex outside of a committed monogamous relationship. Marriage is the ultimate commitment and there’s nothing wrong with waiting.
Fashion Takes Action (FTA) has teamed up with Green Living this holiday season to give consumers an opportunity to purchase a green gift from a wide variety of eco-friendly products and services. The online auction will run on the Green Living Marketplace from November 22nd to December 5th with net proceeds benefitting Fashion Takes Action, the only non profit organization in Canada that is dedicated to sustainability in the fashion industry.
The fashion industry is one of the worst offenders when it comes to waste, water and energy, labour and toxic chemicals. Proceeds raised from the auction will support FTA’s on-going efforts to assist members in their sustainability journey, and help consumers make better choices when it comes to their wardrobe.
Highlights from the 2012 Holiday Eco-Auction include:
· Over 35 fabulous sustainable fashion and accessories items
· Luxurious spa getaways and toxic free beauty products
· Local and sustainable restaurant certificates and products for the home
· Women’s bike and accessories kit to get around town in style (with no carbon footprint)
For more information and to preview all items up for bid visit www.greenlivingmarketplace.ca
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary “Luxury” is defined as a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort; something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary; or an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease.
Luxury brings to mind the feeling of fresh, crisp sheets on a 4-poster bed at a 5-star hotel. The sumptuous bedding creates an atmosphere almost unrivalled by the delights waiting to be savoured outside your hotel room. At the end of an exhausting day of sightseeing, the fine bedding awaits you with its promise of a perfect night’s sleep, a rare comfort often unattainable at home.
Many of the world’s most iconic high-end hotels share the same linen provider, a brand synonymous with luxury since 1860. Frette, which began in France in 1860 and relocated to Italy in 1865, today serves such world-renowned establishments as The Ritz in London, Hotel George V in Paris, Savoy Hotel in London, Plaza Hotel in New York, Raffles Hotel in Singapore; The Peninsula in Hong Kong; Inter-Continental in al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia; Four Seasons; and all Ritz-Carlton hotels in the U.S.
Frette’s take on luxury expands beyond hotel stays: its fine fabrics and textures can be enjoyed in personal apparel and décor items including bath robes and linens, pajamas, clothing and accessories. The pure cashmere collection includes exquisite hats, scarves, gloves and blankets. In 2001, the company introduced Luxury and Warm: new collections of home accessories in silk, brocades, precious furs and cashmere.
Frette customers partake in an impressive and storied legacy. The history includes becoming official purveyors to the Italian Royal Family in 1881; creating the Tablecloth of the “Holy Virgin” for the altar of St. Basilica’s in Rome in 1894; dressing the banqueting room of the Titanic in 1911; and Frette products are still used on the Orient Express train.
Are you a mom to a teen or preteen daughter who struggles with body image issues? Do you feel overwhelmed and even hopeless when faced with the barrage of media images your daughter encounters every day? Maybe you are dealing with your own body image issues and fear you are passing those along to your daughter.
As mother to two preteen girls I have dealt with these same concerns. Working as an international fashion writer exposed me to many of the harmful tools used by the industry, especially in advertising media, to keep us feeling bad about ourselves by promoting an unreal standard of beauty. Believe me, Photoshop is only the tip of the iceberg.
I wanted to start a conversation with other moms who are dealing with the onslaught of negative media messages to which their daughters are exposed every day. To that end, I created a free report which outlines 7 lies the media tells that hurt your daughter’s body image (and maybe yours, too) and some concrete tips for improving self-esteem in practical and simple ways. You can access the tool by clicking here and signing up. You can opt out at any time if you find it is not for you.
Sign the petition to stop Barney’s misguided Disney holiday campaign in which the company alters Minnie Mouse’s frame to unrecognizable proportions: “give girls a chance to celebrate the actual bodies they have instead of hating them for not fitting into a Lanvin dress. Then maybe enough girls will get together and demand dresses that look good on their actual, non-digitally altered bodies and designers will just have to become talented enough to design a dress that looks good on them.”
Also, thanks to iFabbo for placing this blog on its list of 50 International Bloggers to Watch and Learn From.
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Looking for love this winter? Now that fall is officially underway, there’s a cool crispness in the air. It’s time for cosy sweaters, the crunching of leaves, and sitting with someone special by the light of a roaring fire. Maybe you’re looking for someone to snuggle up to this winter. If that’s you, here are five tips to dressing for a successful first date.
Keep it simple
The number one rule for a first date is to keep it simple. When you’re meeting someone for the first time, it’s best to steer clear of too many sequins or sky-high stilettos. There are few things more disappointing than arriving decked out in your finest cocktail dress only to meet a date who’s in a flannel shirt and jeans.
Go height couture
Really high heels are best avoided on a first date. If you’ve met your man on an online dating site like eHarmony, and this is the first time you’re meeting in real life, it’s especially good to steer clear of them. You don’t know how tall he is and if that matters to you, you risk feeling uncomfortable. If you know that won’t be an issue, a classic wedge heel can add a touch of elegance to a simple outfit.
Stay warm
In summer, it’s easy to get ready for a date in a cute mini and pretty tank top. In winter, it’s a little harder to stay fashionable AND keep warm at the same time. Black opaque tights and a stylish skirt are always a good mix, as are a pair of black skinny jeans paired with a sparkly top.
Wear your hair up
Attractive hair options for a first date include a sophisticated updo or an elegant braid. It also helps keep hair off your face while you’re eating. If your first date is outdoors, like to a park or a skating rink, adding a beret is a nice touch that will also keep you warm.
Most importantly… smile
The best accessory to bring to a first date is a warm, easygoing personality and a smile. Smiling has been scientifically proven to improve our mood! Of course, a terrific purse that you feel great wearing is also an ideal accessory.
