UNLEASHING INDIA
Location: High Line, NYC | Photographer: Corey Rousse
WHAT I'M WEARING:
SHIRT: UNLEASHED WORLD | SKIRT: New York & Co | SCARF: Mila Such NY | JEWELRY: Kara Ross NY | MAKEUP: Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge
Over the past 10 months I have been working on an amazing project with our Founder, Kara Ross, and awesome UNLEASHED WORLD team. We have been lining up the pieces to a beautiful complicated puzzle empowering female artisans in impoverished communities, designing products that will resonate and commissioning those women to shine a spotlight on their talents. Our vision is finally coming to life in Bareilly, India and it’s all unfolding this Summer ’17.
This has literally been the most challenging + rewarding work I have ever done in my life. I believe that working hard for something we don’t care about is called STRESS, but working hard for something we love is called PASSION. My motivation comes from an innate sense within to help + inspire + empower women on a global level. I feel so lucky to have found my second family, a team that works extremely hard and a calling for something much larger then I could have ever expected. This has been a beautiful journey, and it’s not always perfect. We have ups and downs as a start up, we don’t know everything and some days we are still “figuring it out”. I know one thing for sure, we LOVE what we do and are going to make a positive impact on this world.
I wanted to share our story and more info on the movement because it’s something I get to live and breathe everyday.
OUR STORY & MISSION
Our story started in 2015, when CEO & Founder Kara Ross decided to take the biggest risk of her professional career by pivoting into her passion. Kara Ross is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and an award winning fine jewelry designer whose work is recognized by the White House and art museums across the country. Kara is a certified gemologist and sits on the board of the CFDA and Georgetown University. Kara is a member of both Women Moving Millions, and the Harvard Kennedy School Women & Public Policy. Kara Ross has sold to top international retailers over the years including Harrods, Selfridges, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue to name a few.
Our mission is to UNLEASH women’s potential globally by creating opportunities to break the poverty cycle through education and job creation. We are designing product for the Western Market, commissioning talented female artisans and bringing it to market with top retailers. We consider UNLEASHED a profits with a “purpose” company, as we are taking the net profits and giving them back to our non profit partners and Microfinance funds. Our 2017 non profit partners are Dress for Success and Girl Up. All Microfinance funds for 2017 will be dispersed to Indian Female Artisans + Entrepreneurs through KIVA.
We have identified a collective of women in India within a town called Bareilly, which is South of Delhi. The product (organic cotton + beaded/embroidered ready- to-wear) will be created by a collective of artisan women. The women are empowered through beading because they get to stay home, take care of their family and become completely self-reliant. We even opened up bank accounts for each woman. Each artisan is paid over minimum wage. The design inspiration is the BINDI, an important part of the Indian culture. The Bindi is an everlasting circle, representing endurance and strength. We like to say it represents the universal connectivity of women.
Why job creation platforms?
Over a year ago our CEO Kara Ross made a visit to Cape Town, South Africa. She spent time meeting with women in extremely impoverished townships and discovered a collective of women working on children’s clothing. We commissioned over 18 women within two townships to customize a line of children’s clothing which we sold here in the US online and through the Kara Ross boutique. We saw the direct impact of employing women, giving them opportunity and strengthening their self-worth. This initiative inspired the UNLEASHED team to focus all of our energy and resources on helping female artisans globally.
Why are we UNLEASHING INDIA in 2017?
The culture. The political landscape. The poverty. The women.
What is KIVA?
KIVA is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. We celebrate and support people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy or realize their potential. For some, it’s a matter of survival, for others it’s the fuel for a life-long ambition.
Is UNLEASHED a non-profit organization?
UNLEASHED is not a non-profit organization or 501(c)(3), we are a social impact brand committed to donating net profits to support our non profit partners and job creation initiatives. We like to call this “profits with a purpose”.
How is UNLEASHED funded?
UNLEASHED is primarily a self-funded business, with annual support from best-in-class corporate partners who believe in our mission. In addition, through the sales of UNLEASHED product we are able to raise extra funds to support our organization, non profit partners and various global initiatives.
How much do you expect to give your two non-profit partners for 2017?
UNLEASHED is committed to giving at least $20k to each of our two non profit partners for 2017, GIRL UP and Dress for Success.
How do I support?
We just launched PRE-ORDERS today!! YAY!! Please visit our website and shop at https://unleashed-world.com/collections the product will be shipping August 2017 and we would love your support.
LOOK GOOD + FEEL GOOD + DO GOOD
Thank you guys so much for your fab support, so excited to hare more details soon xo
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