Indego Africa

My friend recently started working for Indego Africa, a non-profit organization worth knowing.

In attempt to fight poverty and empower independent businesswomen, Indego provides training programs in Rwanda for women artisans. They sell their accessories and other products at high-end retailers and on Indego's online store. Indego pays the women a fair wage, including 50% in advance for production costs; the profits are returned to the training programs that instruct more than 200 women in financial management, entrepreneurship, literacy & computer skills.

Here are some of the products sold on Indego's online store:

Banana Steel Bracelets $20

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Woven Coaster Set $25

Laptop Sleeve $30

Wine Coasters $15

Yoga Bag $45

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Also, I know from my little inside connection that they are in the process of designing an iPad cover using banana leaves. How neat! What do you all think?

In addition to the online store, they sell the co-op's products at over 40 retailers including Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, Anthropologie and Bikram Yoga.

Click here to read the NY Times article about their scarves now sold at Anthropologie.

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Shop away!

Want another way to be a part of this great cause? Nicole Miller is hosting an upcoming event for Indego Africa on October 28th at her Soho boutique, located at 77 Greene Street.

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She co-designed textile bangles and woven bracelets - all crafted by the Indego artisans. 

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In addition, 15% of the evening's proceeds will go to Indego's training programs in Rwanda.

(And yes, she will be there.) Click here for more information.

Finally, click here to read the uplifting account of Emelienne Nyiramana, now the Treasurer and Master Seamstress at Indego Africa's partner, Cocoki, in Rwanda. She was admitted to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiave program at the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali earlier this year.

What's not to love?

until next time,

g