fashionABLE – DC Reception with Actress & Activist Minka Kelly – 01.22.2016
Hibret Pouch designed by actress and activist Minka Kelly for FASHIONABLE
FASHIONABLE was founded in 2010 by Barrett Ward to empower women who have overcome challenges ranging from addiction to prostitution. The mission of FASHIONABLE is to create sustainable business opportunities both locally and globally while investing in women.
While living in Ethiopia, Barrett and his wife Rachel saw firsthand how extreme poverty forced too many young girls and women to make awful choices for money. When speaking to these women, they told him they wanted an opportunity to earn a living, not to be given charity, so he created a business that would give them a job.
When a woman is empowered with work to do, whether in the home or in an office, she not only experiences the joy and satisfaction of developing a skill, she also creates change in those around her. FASHIONABLE works with women, both locally and globally.
Last week I had the pleasure and privilege of co-hosting an intimate reception for FASHIONABLE in Washington, DC. The purpose of this event was to bring awareness to the life changing opportunities FASHIONABLE is making for women globally. In attendance was actress and activist Minka Kelly and FASHIONABLE CEO Barrett Ward.
For DC people who reference Friday Night Lights more frequently than the prose of great politicians and philosophers, this post is for you!
At this event Minka Kelly, the guest of honor, shared an emotional and moving story about how she became involved with FASHIONABLE and went on to create the Hibret Pouch seen in photos above.
Minka's mother passed in 2008 at the young age of 51 from colon cancer. In order to "fill this hole left in her heart" Minka wanted to do something to give back and make a difference. When she learned about FASHIONABLE from her friend and DC professional Judee Ann Williams, she knew engaging with this organization was exactly what she needed to do. What resonated most with Minka is that this organization was helping women who were in the sex trade to have other options for making money. Her mother had also been in a position where she had to choose a similar line of work to support her family. "I wish my mom had this choice, an option for a different type of work, but she did this to support our family," Minka shared. The women in Africa who Minka met were also doing the only work they had available to them to support their families. One woman that Minka met sold her body to pay for her sister's breast cancer treatments. "These women are heroic, to sell the most sacred part of themselves to help their families," Minka said. Now thanks to the vision of Barrett Ward there are other options. These women are empowered and have jobs that make them feel safe and protected.
As you can imagine this was a touching evening. It's beautiful and admirable of Minka to open herself up and be vulnerable with the world about her personal situation in order to help many other women, children and families.
On a lighter note, when Minka was in Africa on a visit for FASHIONABLE she went to the factory where the goods for FASHIONABLE are designed. She asked Barrett if she could design a bag. He was thrilled by her idea to contribute and bring awareness in an even greater way. So she picked the gorgeous pink and navy suede fabric for the exterior, and then wanting to give the women who make the scarves an opportunity, she lined the bags with their scarves. Minka's intentions are pure and virtuous. This is the story of the birth of the pouch called Hibret, meaning collaboration in Amharic.
These pouches are beautiful and an everyday basic. I am so proud to be carrying one and will certainly be purchasing others for gifts. I told the group that night that we were lucky to have received this gift from fashionABLE and that in gratitude we should share the mission of FASHIONABLE with as many people as possible and to let them know that they can go to the FASHIONABLE website and purchase these pouches or many other goods to help make a difference too!
Minka Kelly designed this clutch as a transition piece from day to night. Just like most women, she needs a way to keep track of essentials in a larger bag during the day, but at night it's only about the stuff in her little clutch. Thank you Minka for this simple, yet game changing, tip for staying stylish and organized while on the go.
I know that most working women in DC are using huge totes to carry around policy talking points, legal briefs, and a change of shoes for walking from meetings to the office. Having this little gem in your bag will help you find your cell phone, lipstick, business cards and other needs on the go instead of spending minutes getting frazzled, looking foolish and burrowing in your bag – I speak from all too frequent experience.
After your busy day you can pull out your pouch and look very chic at whatever social event is on your schedule that night.
This bag is absolutely the perfect clutch!
Thank you to Barrett Ward, Minka Kelly, Judee Ann Williams, Kimball Stroud, Laurie Knight and all who attended this event for creating an inspirational evening. Thank you to everyone who reads this post and is inspired to pay it forward by purchasing a chic and "FASHIONABLE" pouch.
Photo Information: Thank you to Dan Swartz of Revamp for sharing these beautiful images taken at the reception last week. Look for more images from this event soon in his Washingtonian column "Dan About Town."
January 22, 2016	by Politiquette
Happy 25th Birthday to Rock the Vote – Very close to the FCC/L'Enfant Plaza – 10.23.2015
by Rock the Vote
Did you know that Rock the Vote has a prominent place in fashion history?! In 1990 artist Josh Gosfield designed this shirt for Rock the Vote in response to the music censorship mayhem taking place at that time in history. Think Rock of Ages (Broadway or film) if you are too young to remember this IRL.
This t-shirt helped mainstream a campaign to notify elected officials and parents that the First Amendment was written to protect free speech, including music lyrics. The t-shirt also encouraged civic engagement, voting and reminded Americans about the power of democracy. Not every artist chooses to have clean lyrics like Prince and musicians should be allowed to freely express themselves through their art. That sentiment was the general consensus of many voters and part of the genesis of Rock the Vote.
If you ever think your vote doesn't count, think again. As the Washington Post's Hunter Scwartz says very eloquently in his story from June 2015 on the history of music censorship and the anniversary of the 2 Live Crew arrest for their lyrics, "We were on a crash course with a future in which CeeLo's "F— You" was outlawed (the clean "Forget You" version only, please), Eminem could never have even been a thing, and Nicki Minaj and Miley could be jailed for twerking." Voting prevented these outcomes, that is powerful. Voting can protect your music options, human rights, personal wealth, health and well-being. These are all key reasons to register to vote and get out on election day and vote.
Last night to celebrate their 25th Birthday, Rock the Vote hosted a free party, open to the public at a venue in DC that is almost as old as Rock the Vote, Black Cat. 2 Live Crew reunited to perform some of their greatest hits. Darryl DMC McDaniels of Run DMC and local DMV rapper, Lightshow, also performed.
Rock the Vote has come a long way in 25 years and the organization and its mission is just as relevant and important now in 2015.