In case you are wondering why you haven’t heard from us in awhile, we wanted to give you an update. We are in a very exciting transitional time, hiring a wonderful small staff and raising needed funds to take our efforts to the next level! We’re currently restructuring Raven + Lily and preparing to relaunch with our new fabulous collections this coming summer. We’ll be launching as a much bigger wholesale and trunk show model to further support the women in our partnerships. After much research and evaluation, we believe this is the best way to proceed to bring lasting, substantial change in the lives of the women who make the Raven + Lily products. Behind the scenes, these ladies are also working hard to meet local requirements to increase their orders and officially export.

So please stay tuned for updates this spring as we send our designers to visit our groups and capture the stories behind the products and women who make them. Thanks for all your support….the story is still unfolding for Raven + Lily, and we’re looking forward to this next step of our journey to empower women through design!

Visit our website for more details: www.ravenandlily.com

I’ve found it so fascinating following the cycle of how the Edun collection (founded by Ali Hewson and Bono) has transformed and grown. There is a great article in the Wall Street Journal on Edun’s struggle to empower the marginalized in Africa, while making sure their collection was fashion forward and the quality was up to par. Unfortunately they had to switch manufacturing to China but they still have hopes of supporting manufacturing in Africa as the quality improves.

Here’s a video below of the launch of their new collection, inspired by african prints on silk, linen and cotton. It’s pretty gorgeous, what do you think?

As I’m in Montana for a work trip and am surrounded by such amazing, natural beauty, I am reminded of how blessed I am to live in a country where my hard work and efforts have tangible, real results. Our designer Lori is in India as I type this message, and I am reminded that not all individuals are rewarded in direct relation to how hard they work. In fact, most impoverished workers who earn less than $1 a day work much harder than you and I do on a daily basis. I am encouraged that the work we’re doing in India and Africa is helping the women in our partnerships realize that their hard work does have tangible results – not only in the beautiful products that they create, but also with the wages that they earn, they are able to care for their families in ways previously not possible. Click here if you’d like to join our efforts to empower these women.

“For most of the poorest people in the world, their hard work doesn’t matter. They are trapped within social, cultural, political, and economic systems that do not reward their labor. The result of this entrenched futility is devastating to the human spirit. A person, no matter how gifted or determined, cannot escape the trap in which he finds himself. He has lost the one thing that every person needs to thrive: hope – hope that he will somehow overcome his circumstances, that tomorrow can be better than today and that his children might someday have a better life than his. Such people discover that they are in an economic and social prison from which there is no escape – unless something happens to change their circumstances and to restore the link between their effort and their reward.” ~Richard Stearns

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Colorado for a one-on-one meeting with Peace, the director of our partnership in Burundi.  Peace was in Colorado for a gathering of Women of Global Action (WOGA), so I jumped at the opportunity to see her.  It was an honor to be in the presence of so many amazing women who are directly involved in transforming nations by empowering impoverished women.  They are my heroes.  When I saw Peace, I got one of those giant lumps in my throat and we both teared up.  As we embraced, my mind raced through all that has happened in my life since I last saw her a little over a year ago.  I made the trek to CO to see Peace because I needed to know if and how Raven + Lily was making a difference in the lives of the women in the Burundi sewing program.  With her sweet accent, she tenderly shared how the women cried with joy when they were paid from our orders.  They had never felt the value and dignity that comes from earning enough to provide for their needs.  They could now afford to send their child to school, buy enough food, purchase things they never thoughts attainable…  It was a turning point for me to be able to know that this partnership really is making a tangible difference.  I needed that encouragement because it has not been easy to work in such a poor country.  We’ve recently received some fabulous goods from Burundi, including baby bibs/bloomers, aprons, make-up bags, and more.  Lori Fox will be visiting Burundi in November to collaborate on new designs with the women.  Click here to take advantage of the opportunity to directly impact the lives of these women when you purchase one of their creations.

In the photo below, Peace was wearing a beautiful dress designed and sewn by the women in the program.  She was a reflection of the beauty of God.

We’re hoping that some of our groups will have booths at this event in the coming years to connect with other designers who might be interested in hiring them, thus providing even more job opportunities for the women in our co-ops. Lori and Corban will be checking out the expo from this perspective as well.

The Ethical Fashion Form is a group of UK designers and activists that have been raising awareness about ethical fashion since 2005 and they’ve made some huge progress. Our hope is to learn from these designers to see how Raven + Lily can connect with this movement and help to spread more awareness about ethical fashion in Los Angeles.  After all, Los Angeles is the #1 manufacturing city for fashion in the USA. How cool would it be to spread awareness on this issue and have an impact in LA?

You can find out more about the Ethical Fashion Source Expo here.

There will be swing dance lessons by Aaron Ballard. Special musical guests “The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers”. Enjoy 2 types of home-made beer by Bob Kunz.

Please bring chili or stew or corn bread to share! Dress your country best!

RSVP at lorifox@yahoo.com or text 818.486.0445! See you there!

Our space went from fluorescent green walls, dirty carpet and dropped ceilings to an open, airy, modern, organic retail space. Aaron’s hard work on the wood floors definitely paid off as its “awesomeness” was commented on by so many people!

These are just a few of the beautiful creations that such beautiful women across the world have made. The earrings, however, are not samples, so get excited to see them up on the website and in the NEW store soon!!

We have just started working with the women to help put together a portfolio of all of their work. This past week I was able to work with one of the ladies. We looked at all of the beautiful jewelry she created, photographed each piece, and began printing the photographs to layout in a portfolio. It is such a joy to see the pride that each of the women have in their work. They are going to be working on creating a portfolio to show in job interviews and to future employers. Each time I am with the women, I am amazed at their sincerity and inner joy. I have loved getting to spend so much time with them.

Below are a few photographs of the cards that they have been working on. Each one is so beautiful and unique, just like the women that made them!