Over the next few weeks, I am going to be featuring some of my favorite local (Southern California) companies. I hope you enjoy!
Today I’m giving away one of the prettiest necklaces. The Camellia in Mint by 31 Bits.
I’m sitting here looking at it while typing this post, and ladies, it’s pretty much the greatest pale green-blue color ever.
I hope you will enter the giveaway, but most importantly, I hope you will read about this incredible company and check out the 31 Bits website.
Here are the girls behind 31 Bits.
Gorgeous, right? Well, these ladies are far more than a gaggle of pretty faces.
When Kallie Dovel traveled to Uganda in the summer of 2007, she met a few women that made paper bead jewelry. After spending time in their homes and hearing their stories, Kallie knew there had to be a way to give opportunities these women. She brought a box of jewelry back to the U.S., and spent the next year finishing her degree and dreaming up the concept of a development organization. She brought a few friends on board and her ideas quickly evolved into 31 Bits. The girls traveled back to Uganda in August 2008, and selected six women to begin buying jewelry from on a monthly basis.
Fast forward 4 years, and 31 Bits now works with 108 women in Gulu, Uganda. How it works is that 31 Bits purchases jewelry from each woman on a monthly basis, providing them with an immediate, consistent, and fair income. Each piece of jewelry is handmade using 100% recycled paper and other local materials. By selling these products in the international market, they are able to generate a profit that is used to continue purchasing jewelry, as well as provide the women with numerous development programs (English lessons, finance training, health education, vocational training), equipping them to develop a career and attain social equity on a local level. 31 Bits is committed to working with each woman until she has graduated from their program and can attain a sustainable mean of income within her own community.
Here are some of the women that are part of the program.
Pretty incredible, and let’s not neglect to mention how beautiful the necklaces (ranging between 26 and 54 dollars) are themselves. The beads are made from recycled paper that comes from old posters, magazines, fliers and textbooks, and then are sealed with a non-toxic, water-based varnish. Depending on the size of the necklace, one woman can make between 5 and 15 necklaces in a week.
I want them all, and I’m telling you, it’s much easier to buy a new necklace (or a few) when I know that my purchase is helping these women achieve their dreams. The lovely ladies at 31 Bits sent me the Aurora, and it’s quickly become one of my most worn necklaces.
If you would like to be entered into the giveaway for the Camellia necklace, please visit the 31 Bits website and then leave a comment on this post before Saturday, March 31st at 6pm PST. I will announce the winner on Facebook on Sunday the 1st, so be sure to like my page!
Also, the ladies at 31 Bits are offering 20% off your online order with the code WHOORL20 from now until April 4th. FABULOUS. (The Rockhopper is going to be my next purchase. Wait, no, maybe the Meadowsweet…the Windflower? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PICK?)
Happy necklace browsing!
Kate
March 28, 2012 at 5:25 pmWhat a wonderful business!
Suzanna
March 28, 2012 at 6:36 pmAmazing and simple, just my kind of style. Great business!
Heather Luk
March 28, 2012 at 6:41 pmSuch beautiful jewelry!
Jaclyn
March 28, 2012 at 6:57 pmWhat beautiful necklaces, and a great company! I love the Glory Fringe, I think I will be taking advantage of the discount for sure!!
Jessie D
March 28, 2012 at 7:07 pmLove those necklaces! Yay for discounts.
Sheri Fetner
March 28, 2012 at 7:32 pmI am obsessed with Bits. I wear my Bits EVERYDAY!!!
I love it and the Bits girls!
Debbie Atteberry
March 28, 2012 at 7:59 pmThe designers at 31 Bits have really taken paper bead jewelry to the next level! The wedding line is genius!! Well done ladies!
karin
March 28, 2012 at 8:27 pmBeautiful jewelry + sustainable work = my kind of business!
So many pretty pieces to select! Thank you for sharing with us.
Stephanie
March 28, 2012 at 8:49 pmVery cool! Love your blog!
Angella
March 28, 2012 at 9:31 pmI love this so much, because there is a local lady here who travels to Nepal, brings back their necklaces and bracelets, sells them, and send the profits back to them. It’s where most of my necklaces are from. (You may remember that from your Working Closet days.)
:)
Marae
March 28, 2012 at 9:36 pmI like meadowsweet. And what a great cause/story!
gia
March 28, 2012 at 10:22 pmGorgeous. I love necklaces…
Lani Merlina
March 28, 2012 at 11:09 pmI noticed the jewelry in your photos of the girls and then was pleased to read the post was about the jewelry they were wearing and to boot an awesome cause. LOVE this! Thanks for making me aware.
ariel
March 29, 2012 at 5:20 amAwesome company, beautiful necklaces! Yay for doing good while looking great!
Caroline
March 29, 2012 at 5:23 amGorgeous + Inspiring!