fashionABLE: Life-saving scarves

Mesulu Infinity, $42

Lacking financial resources, many women in Ethiopia resort to prostitution as a means of supporting themselves and their families. These women are often desperate to leave the sex industry but are trapped by a lack of opportunity.

fashionABLE empowers women in Addis Ababa, the capital city, by giving them jobs – making pretty scarves to go around your neck! Each scarf is named after a woman whose life has been changed because of your purchase, and includes a handwritten note from the weaver. 

Mulu, $28

Etanesh, $32

Spotlight: British textile designer Donna Wilson

London-based artist Donna Wilson just released her 2011/2012 catalogue, and WOW – is she talented!

Wilson set up her company in 2003 after graduating from the Royal College of Art. Since then her textile shop has thrived – Donna Wilson products are sold in 25 countries and last year she won the British Designer of the Year award.

Here are some things I wish I could buy, for me, for my little daughter, and for the sheer joy of it (currently cursing the weak dollar and the horrible exchange rate):

Lambswool Fox Cushion, £70

Boat Mini-Blanket, £60.00

Meg Doll, £29

Graph Mittens, £38.50

Fox Scarf, £47

Terrain: New site design, online sale, and 15% off code

Anthropologie's sister site for home and garden, Terrain, has received a make-over. The new site design is elegant, and their collection is drool-worthy. Get an extra 15% all purchases (including items from their sale section) when you enter  “DESIGNSPONGE” at checkout.

Autumn Gifting Kit, $34

Bark Roof Birdhouse, $38

Vintage Pear Crate, $28

Heirloom Seed Collection, $25

Rustic Oval Mirror, $68

Thought of the Day

Last Days of Summer

It is still hot here in Southern California, but you can feel fall just around the corner and smell it on the breeze. In honor of the last fleeting moments of the summer months, here are some warm photographs - just ripe for the pickin':

I Heart the Beach, $28

Daydreaming, $30

Sunny California, $17

Ever and a Day, $150

Last Days of Summer, $30

Hermosa Beach, $90

Surfer Girl, $6

Fashion. love, Africa

Grace Bag, $49.99

Fashion. love, Africa features hand woven totes constructed from plastic bags gathered by female residents living in the garbage slum of Nakuru, Kenya. Most women who live in the slum are either mothers or grandmothers and are the victims of rape, HIV, and abuse. Each bag is purchased directly from the woman who constructed it, allowing her a consistent source of income.

Around the World: Maps and Globes

Customized "Where We're From" Couple, $58

Children's Animal Globe, $27.99

Vintage Map Cutouts, $2

Chalkboard World Map, $55

Map Cuff Bracelet, $29

Heart Strings Map Pillow, $49

Spotlight: Polish Jeweler Sylwai Calus

Autumn necklace, $90

Clear resin ring with amber, gold and black, $40

Pendant with white rose, $39

Pine bracelet, $70

Moss ring, $40

Pine cone pendant, $30

Sylwia Calus is a young, emerging Polish designer. A graduate of jewelry and fashion design school, she has been creating accessories for the past four years.

Her line uses polyester resin to encapsulate natural materials such as Baltic amber, roses, pinecones, and moss. I will take one of each, please!

Marimekko Online at Crate & Barrel

Marimekko is a Finnish company noted for brightly-colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.

They were made famous in America by my idol, Jackie Kennedy, who wore Marimekko dresses during the 1960 US Presidential campaign.

Around that time, Crate and Barrel began using Marimekko designs on textiles sold in their stores. The brand also uses Marimekko patterns as display backdrops in their stores to add color and seasonality.

This month C&B unveiled a new online destination for their Marimekko creations. Loving it!

1. Unikko Black and White Raincoat, $295

2. Lumimarja Pink Pillow, $41

3. Siirtolapuutarha Tray, $75

4. Ruuturouva Apron, $43

5. Räsymatto Red Shower Curtain, $59.95

Baggu Bags: 20% Off Site-wide

Zipper Bag XL, $7

Set of 3 Small Zipper Bags, $8

Baby Bagu, $6

Big Baggu, $12

Daypack, $24

Plastic bags are the bane of my existence. They are horrible for the environment, aesthetically disappointing, and rip easily. To avoid taking them when I make a purchase, I carry a Baggu bag in my purse. It folds up teeny-tiny so that I never even notice it is there, except when I need it.

Why Baggu? The line is durable, colorful, inexpensive, and comes in a variety of shapes depending on the carrying-need.

They just added a bunch of new designs for fall. Check out their collection here. Get 20% off site-wide through tomorrow (August 4^th) at noon by entering “baggugoop” at checkout.

Spotlight: St. Victor Diaries

Isis Rising

Love

The Tragic Myth of Luxe Ferre

Lady Gaia

Order

I first became acquainted with the St. Victor Diaries collection at San Diego's annual ArtWalk festival. What initially struck me the most about the paintings was the way the artist depicted women who are simultaneously strong and vulnerable (much like many of the ladies I know). 

All of St. Victor's paintings are rich with symbolism - each figure, color, and object down to the last freckle on a woman's face have carefully considered meaning. 

You can get the scoop on the layered symbolism of each of St. Victor's creations on his website. He also regularly shows at art festivals across the country. If you are lucky enough to meet him in person - you can generally nab a signed print of his original paintings for around $100.