Indagare Travel Souk: Spring 2014

Yesterday was the last day of the biannual Indagare Travel Souk at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. The pop up market features artisans and designers from around the world, most of which represent a specific cause. I wound up spending quite a bit of time talking to three of my favorite vendors about where, how, and why, their products (jewelry, clothing, accessories) are created. 

If you've read my blog, you know that I have a strong love for Africa. There's something about that place that gets into your head and heart, and I find myself unable to escape my desire to go back and somehow be involved. I thought I would visit Africa and it would be a once in a lifetime experience, but now I can't imagine living the rest of my life never going back to the pristine plains and exploring both the beautiful and tumultuous aspects of the continent and culture. Coming to Indagare Travel Souk was really the perfect opportunity to rekindle those memories and learn more about what these designers and founders are doing to help the people (especially women) and animals of Africa.  

I'll start with Raven + Lily, "a socially responsible brand dedicated to empowering woman through design partnerships and sustainable economic opportunities."Raven and Lily currently employ woman from India, Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Kenya, and give them fair trade jobs, healthcare and education in order to stop the cycle created by poverty for these women and their families. Representing Raven + Lily at Souk was Ashley Yarborough, who I had the pleasure of chatting with about the brand and it's mission. I was immediately attracted to the gorgeous necklaces from Ethiopia, as Ashley explained to me that the beads on all of necklaces are made from melted down artillery shells. After several different processes the beads are brought to Entoto Mountain, an area where many woman suffering from HIV/AIDS go to find refuge as it is known to have "holy water" that may cure them of the disease. Not only do they employ women from this region, but they also provide HIV care and education. Check out their Lookbook.

Ashley is wearing leather earrings, beaded necklace and bangle by Raven + Lily. Her colorful patterned pants are by Clover Canyon :-)

 Then I spoke with Elizabeth Gilbert who designs the most beautiful and meaningful jewelry. She has spent 20 years documenting the culture and tribes of Africa through photojournalism, and I immediately felt her deep passion on the topic after speaking to her for just a few moments. She told me all about the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. An orphanage for baby elephants and rhinos whose parents have been poached. I've never even though about what these infant animals do without parents and how they survive. The DSWT organization provides rehabilitation and protection to orphaned elephants all over Africa. Once rescued these infant elephants are brought to their headquarters in Nairobi, matched with a foster parent, usually a African male, who will stay with the infant until he/she is ready to go back into the wild. These men sleep with the baby elephants in the hay, under the same blanket. The foster parent feeds the infant a formula that is as close to the milk of a mother elephant as possible, through a large bottle. Naturally there's a parent/child bond that is created between the foster parent and these majestic and fascinating baby elephants and slowly they acclimate them back into the wild. At first they return wild but they come back to the foster parent in a back and forth cycle, until one day the orphan elephant is invited into a family, most likely comprised of other orphan elephants. 

While I was in Africa I had the privilege of being  in close proximity to large herds of elephants, and that experience was by far my favorite part of the trip, they are amazing creatures and they are in need of help. If you're interested in donating and becoming a foster parent to one of these infants visit: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp

Here are a few photos from our trip to Tanzania by S+P

The bracelets below tell the story of the orphan elephant meeting his/her new family in the wild. 

 More information about this gorgeous jewelry that is made in Africa by Africans can be found at http://shompolecollections.com/flash/

 Next I met Lenora, founder and creative director of Filip + Inna, a brand known for it's intricate and beautiful stitch work. Her inspiration stems from her childhood, being raised in the Philippines. Lenora is trying to preserve the ancient traditions of weaving, embroidery, and bead work while employing and empowering women of the Philippines.  My favorite stitched item was this white skirt. All of these items are stitched completely by hand, and the artists are paid per stitch, as the stitches are carefully counted on each garment.

 And last but certainly not least, Maasai Collections, founded by Elizabeth Warner in 2001 on the boarder of Kenya and Tanzania. The company employs Maasai women to create accessories, jewelry, apparel, and hand beaded accents. The leather bags with beaded accents are absolutely stunning and perfectly on trend with the fringe detail!

I'm already looking forward to the next Souk, which will be taking place sometime in November 2014. Until then you can find many of these vendors at L-ATITUDE.