Happy International Women’s Day! I was approached by my friend Aquila Mendez-Valdez, the beautiful brains behind Haute in Texas, to see if I might be interested in sharing my story for International Women’s Day. At first, I wasn’t sure what my story would be. I’m but one of billions of women around the globe and there are certainly more inspiring stories than my own. But, Aquila sent over some information and products from Global Purpose, an ethical sourcing company that aims to connect women and children in vulnerable communities with education and income opportunities. One of their brands, Village Artisan, employs women in India to create eco-friendly, handmade goods (Texas ladies, these goods are for sale in HEB Blooms departments so please go check them out).

#MoreThanEnough

The stories of the women in India responsible for producing these delicate bracelets and this beautiful journal are beautiful and full of hope. They are doing purposeful work and bettering the lives of themselves and their families. They are proving that they are #MoreThanEnough, the campaign slogan for Village Artisan’s new spring line. I know that a lot of my blog is dedicated to style and fashion, and it can be easy to fall into a fairytale world full of rosé, jet setting, and where a click of a button delivers everything to your door. Life is easy, blah, blah, blah…

But I do care very much where my products come from, and I love when I come across brands that are giving back and working towards a purpose. Village Artisan is not just churning out something factory-made that is identical to a thousand other items like it. They are working with women in Haiti, India, and Uganda to provide skills that will transform themselves and their communities, an effort that supports this year’s International Women’s Day theme of “Press for Progress.”

On this International Women’s Day, I am reminded of my own incredible blessings and all the opportunities available to me to pursue. I grew up believing I could be and do anything I wanted because I had amazing female role models that encouraged me, supported me, and provided me with every avenue possible to achieve my goals and transform my life into what it is today.

Our Stories

Earlier this week I posed a question on Instagram asking you to share about the woman in your life who has inspired you the most and how she contributes so positively to the role of women in our world. Overwhelmingly the responses centered around our mothers. Here are some of the words you used – strength, determined, motivation, admire, wonderful, girl boss, strongest, grateful, inspirational, strong, and beautiful. What I thought was most interesting is that strength was used most and beautiful was used last. Not that our mothers aren’t beautiful, but in a world where a woman’s beauty (physical beauty, at least) seems valued above all things, the women who answered my poll didn’t think of beauty first. It was so secondary to all the other qualities that hold our mothers high.

My own mother was the first person I thought of when I asked myself this same question, and ultimately the support my mother has given me is what frames my own success story. Without her endless sacrifices, unconditional love and support, and sage wisdom (peppered with lots of humor), I know I wouldn’t be where I am today. She has continually let me know that I am #MoreThanEnough.

At the risk of sounding philosophically cliché, I think that “my story” is really just one small strand in the fabric of life that connects us all together, like the beautiful saris worn by the women of Village Artisan. It’s up to us, as women, to make sure that our stories remain connected, that we lift each other up, and that we communicate to the world that we are #MoreThanEnough.

A New Day from Target top (similar here) | Jeans | Watch | Bracelets & journal from Village Artisan at HEB

xo – Erin

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Celebrate International Women’s Day with Village Artisan from Global Purpose appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com

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