Best Day of the Sseko sale is here!

The best sale day has arrived

But only for 24 hours!!

And it’s here! I’ve having a difficult time not clicking that “Purchase” button on the beautiful Carryall Travel bag. You see, Sseko travel collection doesn’t go on sale, even for us Sseko Sisters! This is a rare opportunity to own a gorgeous piece of luggage.

Should I bite the bullet and bring this baby with me to Mexico??

Seattle Snowmaggedon

Snowmaggedon Shopping

Something to chase away the snow storm blues

A foot of snow dumped at our house within 18 hours yesterday. My day includes laundry, catching up on new movies On Demand and keeping the snow off our dog Homer’s hair (I’m not sure why our Shiz Tzu’s hair doesn’t collect snowballs like our Maltipoo.)

Are you looking for something amazing to do while you’re sitting around catching up on your Netflix series? How about a little online shopping?

Both of my beautiful businesses just launched their Spring collections! I received my Sseko Designs spring collection and everything I received is so gorgeous. The Sseko story is completely inspirational and making a purchase benefits women in Uganda, Ethiopia and India. Chloe + Isabel’s spring collection was inspired by Lisbon and although small, has tropical hints that make me think of summer even when stuck in a foot of snow.

Taking the road less followed ...

The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world ... are the ones that do.

Ya'll have heard a bit about my new obsession with Sseko, a company supporting women in Uganda, free trade, improved working environment and safety for the 50+ women who work for Sseko and the 19 young women who it has sent to a Ugandan university just last year! Over the past few weeks, I have come to appreciate this little Northwest company and feel very inspired by it's story. I feel compelled to join this small group of entrepreneurs to give back to the wonderful world that we share. 

Not only has Sseko inspired me, but has also set a flame under my youngest daughter and a friend of mine. We have decided to take on this new adventure together! My daughter will take a collection with her to the University and share the story with her new friends. My friend and I will be creating a buzz on this side of the mountains with public markets and trunk shows. This handmade products will create quite a stir in our little "do-good" area of the country.

I have decided to take a step back from Chloe + Isabel and turn my attention to this new adventure. I will continue to sell C+I, but will begin hosting Trunk Shows for Sseko as a "Sseko Fellow." For those of you loyal C+I customers, I will still be available for pop ups in your home, and will be happy to take you through the latest and greatest collections. I will keep you appraised of sales and promotions - and of course I will happily give personal styling advice!

Sseko designers have created the most beautiful fine leather bags, purses, small leather goods and big, beautiful travel cases. In addition, they create many of the most comfortable sandals I have ever worn with leather and ribbon that are fully customizable. They've partnered with a swimsuit designer to create one-size-fits-all clothing and scarves. Finally, they have trendy, simple jewelry with interchangeable charms and bold designs. 

Everything I have seen and felt is so finely made with care by each of the Sseko tradeswomen. Each and every piece is signed with love from an inspirational woman on the other side of the world - and you can find she and her story on the webpage and see who your purchase has helped.

If you would like to see how a trunk show works and buy your first pair of ribbon sandals, I will be hosting a trunk show of my own with the help of my Sseko Fellow Monique on May 18th at 7pm. She is in Texas but we will be hosting a Facebook Group event so you can see just how much these beloved pieces need to be part of your everyday.

I've attached some of my favorites and invite you to request your invite to the Trunk Show, support women of the world and kick your summer off with a bang! I'm feeling mad-inspired by this little company and I can't wait to share the products with my friends!

Making a difference ... one sandal at a time

Sseko founder, Liz Forkin Bohannon, first traveled to Uganda in 2008 with a fresh Journalism Master's degree from the University of Missouri in her pocket. Her goal was the assist in the communications efforts for a youth development organization based in Kampala. While there, Liz encountered an incredible group of talented young women struggling to finance their post-secondary education.

After traveling the country by motorcycle to find raw materials and learn how to produce footwear by hand, Liz hired three women making sandals together under a mango tree, to an International fashion brand that provides employment opportunities and entrepreneurial training for over 50 women in East Africa. She believes that business is a powerful platform for social change and that girls are the future. Liz and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and I couldn't think of a more appropriate city to build this compassionate company.

My friend Katie hosted a Sseko Trunk Show last week and I was captivated by this small company and their story. I began hearing about these fantastic ribbon sandals she was wearing in California during her spring break as well as a beautiful genuine leather belt purse (trendy fanny pack turn clutch). With my interest fully peaked, I joined her online trunk show hosted by her Sseko Fellow Monique Boehme, and purchased my first pair of sandals and created quite an extensive wish list.

I am inspired by this company, not only their mission, but I believe this mission is pure. Sseko works hard to source as many of the materials (from beads to rubber) in the East African region with the aim of supporting the local economy and community. She employs women who would otherwise be forced to work in much more difficult conditions such as in clothing factories where they are paid very little and beaten by their male employers.

I heard the story of one Sseko employee, Matilda. Following her husband's death, the only job she could find was brutal, back-breaking work in a rock quarry. Now this incredibly strong, resilient woman works alongside 50+ Ssiters in a dignified, supportive, environment, earns a fair living wage and looks forward to the day when she will employ her grandchildren in a family business that she will start herself.

Liz personally selects the tannery partner who is intentionally working towards and investing in environmentally friendly processing techniques. In the world of vegan alternatives, Sseko is supporting tanneries by providing jobs and creates a market for the hides left over after animals are sold for meat. This means more income for farmers and more support for the region.

The combination of fashion and making an impact worldwide has given me wings. As I grow older, my focus becomes less on consuming and more about progress in a world where women, like my daughters, have an equal and compassionate voice. We share this planet with billions of other humans, and we have been sorted and categorized by men. I can't think of a more appropriate place to start then to support a company that supports women of multiple countries, works to provide a financially self-sustaining model, that makes choices not based solely on financial opportunities, but on how to make a sustainable life for women globally. Empowering women to have voices in professions that will someday lead countries.

I am excited to receive my first pair of ribbon sandals (and Brave earrings with lava stone charm for my Young Living Essential Oils) this week and I am hosting a Trunk Show mid-May to do what I can to support this beautiful company. Please join me and then ask yourself "Who are the clothes I'm wearing made by? Were they treated fairly? Are they earning a living wage?" and consider that each and every Sseko piece comes with the name of the women who made it and how you are supporting her dreams.