Posted by Sophia Hirokawa Lin

Here’s a sneak peak at what we’re working on in the Raven + Lily secret lab :) All my crazy concoctions as a kid with leftover food at the dinner table or when we went to a buffet and did a triple dare to drink the leftover soda mixed with salt are aiding me in my latest development. Essential oils, glass canisters, wafting, coffee beans….

I am thrilled that our next partnership is going to be in Los Angeles, right around the corner from my house. This new collection will be employing and training previously homeless women in downtown L.A.

I can’t say what the collection is yet, but it will be a great gift,  just in time for the holidays :)

~Sophia

Introducing the “Sadik” designer Johanna Hatzenbuehler

I recently reconnected with a local designer here in Austin, Johanna Hatzenbuehler, who is currently teaching Architectural Draping and Advanced Pattern Making at the Austin School of Fashion Design. In the past she has designed accessories and knit wear for Free People and Urban Outfitters. Last year we connected with Johanna through our design partnership division. The sketches and ideas she submitted were very unique, complex, and looked like works of art ready to jump off the page and be worn. Translating her ideas into a piece that our women at Entoto could make was exciting and inspiring. When I went to Ethiopia to visit, the group was finishing the final necklaces for shipment. Everyone there said it was their new favorite.  

Johanna finds inspiration in places like the internet and blogs, and when she travels her favorite places are in Latin America with their indigenous tribes. When she is not able to travel you can find her getting ideas at the local library in the cultural section researching costumes and jewelry from all over the world. 

You can see more of Johanna’s work at www.styleportfolios.com/johannahatzenbuehler 

Her design for Raven + Lily is part of our Spring/Summer 2012 collection and is called “Sadik”.  

-Lori Fox

Raven + Lily Infographic: How We Operate + Our Impact

Dear Friends,

I’m thrilled to share with you our first infographic that gives you a glimpse of Raven + Lily behind the scenes.  Co-founder Sophia Lin created a beautiful info-graphic to show how we operate, who we employ, our supply chain, and our proceeds.  This graph summarizes our impact from just our Fall 2011 sales.

In addition, our team put together 10 top ways we strive to be socially conscious in all areas of our personal lives.  

Please pass this along if you find it helpful, and we’d love your feedback!  Thank you so much for being our valued customers and supporters…you are the reason these women are thriving.  As we continue to grow, our impact on the lives of women and children will continue to grow as well!

Be encouraged!

Hand-loomed with Love by Tirunesh!

This week we launched our newest collection of scrumptious hand-loomed cotton scarves from Ethiopia!

  

The women who make these scarves used to suffer under back-breaking work for less than $1 a day.  Now they have been trained in the traditional artisan skill of hand-looming!  Sophia and I are both major fans of all things hand-loomed, so we are thrilled to be able to offer scarves that will help employ these women using their new skills.  We collaborated with a wonderful non profit called Connected in Hope to help turn their traditional skills into simple, modern designs.

Tirunesh, one of the precious ladies weaving our new scarves, shares her story with us in her own words (translated, of course):

“I am grateful to be a part of this group because I feel safe and I have friends…I work hard and try always to do my best.”

“My name is Tirunesh and I was born in Bahir Darin Northwest Ethiopia.  When I was 27 my husband and I moved to Addis Ababa hoping to find a better way of life. We were very poor so I began carrying fuel wood to help support my four children. I did this every day for 17 years.

Each day I would get up early to collect wood in the Kolfe forest. I would tie the branches into heavy bundles I could carry on my back to the markets in Addis. It was hard work for little money. There were many challenges. I took my daughter to the forest with me and she collected wood too. It was the only way we could earn enough money.

One day a lady came to the forest where I was collecting wood and gave me the opportunity to learn weaving on a traditional wood loom so I wouldn’t have to carry the wood anymore.  I learned to wave and began working with 13 other former wood carriers.

For years I have been weaving scarves. I am grateful to be a part of this group because I feel safe and I have friends. Because of our new partnerships, we are selling many more scarves and my income is growing.

Today I live with two of my children. I am happy and praise God for his provision. I work hard and try always to do my best. My dream is to continue weaving scarves and to have a sustainable income.”

Our scarves were featured in several blogs this week. We’re thrilled to get so much great press.  I’ve included links below in case you’d like to check out what these great blogs had to say about our new scarf collection!

fidoo:

mommy loves coffee: 

lady lux: 

groomed LA:

fashion mixed tape:

As I type this blog, I’m wearing the Gete black and white scarf, and one of my other favorites is the grey/white infinity Mulu scarf.  I love them and hope you will too.  Support these amazing women and be one of the first to purchase our newest collection.  

We have a special for FREE shipping thru March 30.  Use code: RLscarf

Blessings,

Kirsten

Lilac

Raven + Lily at Style X for South by Southwest

It was so fun to be apart of the 2nd Style X event during the 2012 SXSW festival. The vendors present were an eclectic range from high quality gentleman’s wear such as HELM and Dandy’s to street wear brands like deeFind and HoodieBuddie to socially conscious brands like Oliberte, Krochet Kids, and yours truly, Raven + Lily.

Sarah Keilers (left), rep from The Forge Showroom, and lead designer Lori Fox (right).

The Raven + Lily booth ready for visitors.

There was something for everyone. Friday and Saturday had evening runway shows with musicians as models showcasing all the brands represented at the event. R+L could be spotted on the runway on musicians from Candy Claws, Bright Light Social Hour, Mahogany, Schmillion, and Grace Wooderoofe. The wonderful thing about this was being able to see something on the runway and immediately have access to buy the product you saw. 

Coming soon: R+L scarves! One of our new spring scarves was featured in the fashion show.

The event also generously offered a complimentary 90 minute personal shopper/stylist session to those looking for style advice. There were many fashion panels and limitless opportunities to network with other business owners, locals, visitors, musicians, and artists. While this was no grand scale production, it did not disappoint. I am confident Style X will only grow in years to come and as it does, I hope it’s able to keep its current friendly charm.

We had an amazing turnout! Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by to shop and to talk about our story and products.

-Lori Fox

The Shot Seen Round the World: Cambodia

Lead designer Lori Fox had an amazing time visiting Cambodia, where she traveled to shoot the Raven + Lily Fall/Winter 2012 look book. Here is her behind-the-senes look at the photo shoot: 

This was my first time to Cambodia and it was a magical experience that I can’t wait to visually share with you this fall. After gathering our small team including model, photographer, producer, and myself for wardrobe, we headed to the jungles to shoot the Fall/Winter 2012 look book. One of Cambodia’s top couture designers, Eric Raisina, provided a stunning visual addition that blended seamlessly with the textures of the jungle, waterfalls, and elephants. All of these elements were a solid stage to showcase our upcoming collection. Everyone was such a delight to work with and we were impressed that our city-girl Cambodian model threw all caution to the wind on our last day of shooting and hopped up on the elephants neck for some amazing shots! It was a dream to be able to be apart of a shoot like this but also to be working with such fun people. Here are a few behind-the-scenes pics from our days of shooting including our producer/make-up hair artists and model getting ready for the next shot by the waterfall, our photographer catching some moments alone with the elephant, elephants getting a bath, and me styling the model. 

-Lori Fox

In Loving Memory of Ruksanna

Lori Fox, our wonderful lead designer, just returned from her design trip around the world. She worked on upcoming collections and got first hand accounts of how our partnerships are impacting the women involved. Her time in India was particularly difficult, and I wanted her to share the story of Ruksanna, one of our artisans that passed away during her visit. We hope this post honors her life. She was beautiful and will not be forgotten.

I’m now on a plane to Bangkok from India. My time in India was much more intense than I could have imagined. Before I had arrived one of our precious young women, Ruksanna, had been taken to the hospital for severe burns over 80% of her body. As soon as we received the message in our offices in Austin my heart grew heavy. Knowing the issues that face these women, and in particular Ruksanna being handicapped and unmarried, we weren’t sure if it was put upon her, an accident, or self-inflicted. With not much information all we could do was pray for her health and stability from afar.

Upon my arrival to India I received news of her from my hosts. It was still unclear if her wounds were self inflicted and over the past week she had been in and out of hospitals and back home again. Her condition was worsening. The next night we went to her family’s home where she was. A couple of the staff that leads the program and whom have nurtured and encouraged her in countless ways came to be with her. We were lead through narrow cobbled streets through a neighborhood that more closely resembled a colorful bricked shanty town. We tucked behind an anonymous curtained entrance to Ruksanna’s family’s home. The weight in the air was as heavy as death. We sat with Ruksanna, stroked her arms and hair, and cared for her in any way possible. I can’t talk much about this yet. It is still too fresh in my mind and already tears that I am trying to keep at bay are flowing on the airplane. Not long after we left that night, Ruksanna passed away. In Muslim culture the dead must be buried within 24 hours. All of the staff and many who had worked along side Ruksanna joined the family the next morning to offer support and grieve for the loss of this dear one. Again, I am not ready to recount the events of this day. It was raw and the closest I have ever seen death without the “polish” that is often put upon our dead in the west with embalming and caskets and flowers. Ruksanna’s face was so peaceful, and this was a relief to see. Her struggle was finally over.

Many thoughts come flooding in from all directions. It is easy to fall into despair but we must focus on hope. I am so thankful for our staff who were able to show her such kindness, tenderness, encouragement, and new opportunities where there otherwise were none. I sat and listened to many stories of her coming to work filled with great joy and many smiles. We may never fully know the pain of all that was going on in her life outside of work and internally, but we do know she was able to find a shelter from the storm in the midst of it. And for that we have hope. Not all is lost. 

Ruksanna helped craft one of our past collections of Kantha scarves, helped with stationary, and tagging our goods. We celebrate the beauty that she was and thank you for helping bring her the opportunity to be creative and have a respite of hope during her life.

Rest in peace, dear Ruksanna. You will be missed.

Lori Fox

Our Spring/Summer 2012 Collection and Look Book!

Oh so happy to announce the launch of our new Spring/Summer 2012 Raven + Lily Collection, featuring beautiful designs made with love by the women in our Ethiopia and India partnerships.  I am so proud of their hard work, and I am so thrilled to finally get to share it with you!  

Our new lookbook features photography by the talented Christina M. Feliz and artisan photos by the amazing Esther Havens.  Photographed in Southern California on a lovely ranch, our spring collection is inspired by nature, hope, transformation, and redemption. Many thanks to Gypsy 05 for loaning us their lovely spring line.  The photography is fresh and airy like an early spring morning.  I hope you enjoy our new collection and tell all your friends about it!   

Happy Spring!

Kirsten

Around the World: Hello from Ethiopia

Our lead designer, Lori Fox, left last week on a month-long journey visiting our partnerships around the world. Lori will literally be flying around the world— Africa, India, Cambodia, and back! Her first stop is Ethiopia, where she is working on designs with the artisans. Enjoy her first update from her travels:

The women have been so enthusiastic about the new designs. Today I did some experimenting with new jewelry construction. Even when I don’t know how to produce a design I’ve sketched, the women will usually figure it out. They are so smart and crafty, and we are a good team. Today was filled with laughs as they were modeling each design they were making, wanting me to take their photo. They are getting very good at model poses, especially after two photo shoots with Esther Havens. As I snapped their photo on my phone and then showed them the resulting picture, a roar of laughter would erupt.

They are quite gregarious and the language barrier frustrates me. All I can do is say the few Amharic words I know or put my hand on their shoulder while someone translates. Ethiopians love touch. They are very loving and caring in that way. At least there is no translating needed there. A smile goes a long way too.

As the day was coming to a close I gave them some new pieces to start on tomorrow. I’m so glad they have work. I’m so glad they have hope.

Going back to the city this evening I was riding in a public bus (and hoping I got on the right one!). The side door slid open (think 1980’s Astro Mini-van). A woman who was walking with shoes on her hands and dragging her shriveled legs behind her came over to our bus to ask for money. Subconsciously I found myself thinking, “she has hands and fingers, she can make jewelry if someone would help carry her there.” Just as soon as the thought crossed my mind the door slid closed and I tried to not feel overwhelmed. It is sad that there are so many people with no hope in this world. So many who will never see their potential.

All is not lost though. The program here is growing and other women who were also once begging on the streets and waiting to die are now working and making a new future for their families. I have to focus on that. Each new design that I bring on behalf of R+L is one more plate of food, another months rent, another years school fees for their children, another chance at a better life. In that regard I can’t help but feel their excitement about the new collection too.

New and beautiful things are coming this year, in more ways than just jewelry designs. I hope you are able to feel this direct affect that you are having on their lives through your purchases.

From Ethiopia,

 Lori Fox 

Lori teaching news designs to our artisans, Tizeta and Asnakech.