Purpose-Driven Brand for Style

Happy Monday, everyone!  I am so excited to share with you the story of a Purpose-Driven Brand for Style.

When I learned of Straworth, a purpose-driven brand, and met the woman behind it, I just had to share her story.

Meet my new friend…the fabulous Ivy!

Ivy is one of the most stylish, kind, talented…and impressive women I know.  She has truly inspired me.

She is a hard working mother, wife, and visionary in the purpose-driven brand realm.

Join me as I introduce Ivy to you and the love in her heart for a particular group of women and their families.

I hope you will be moved to join in as I have been.

PURPOSE-DRIVEN BRAND FOR STYLE: A FOUNDER WITH STYLE

 

Today, I am going to let Ivy’s personal style and her own words tell her story. 

Every time I see her, she looks amazing.  As you hear about Straworth…keep in mind…that the fashion accessories are on trend more than ever before…and how great it is for us to add beautiful accessories to our wardrobe and help others.

Ivy is mom to three precious children and married to her college sweetheart. She is a native of Ghana, and currently lives in Abilene, TX…where I just moved.

She says with a smile that she loves all things vintage and classic style.  Her style preferences in warmer weather are in dresses…and preppy style for colder months.

Her very favorite past times are in nature and with her family.

Last week at coffee, Ivy shared with me the story behind Straworth, and how this purpose-driven brand began.

As she told her story, you could see on her face light-up and hear in her heart her love for the people of her homeland, Ghana.

Ivy began, 

“The conversation that started Straworth began in my last semester of graduate school when one of my former classmates from Ghana shared with me about a group of women weavers in Vea, Ghana.

This happened during the COVID pandemic which had devastated them socioeconomically, with no livelihood for their families.”

When she heard about their need for help, she began to consider what that might look like from her side as she worked to complete school first.

The gloomy days of the pandemic wore on,  and Ivy and her husband could not wait any longer to act on behalf of the people who could not feed their families.

They were truly becoming purpose-driven on behalf of the community of weavers in Ghana.

Ivy said, ” As news spread about help, the next time my friend visited the community, the number of women weavers had doubled.  They asked my friend to see if I would consider telling their story through handwoven pieces and sustainably support them.”

Ivy and her husband even today see their purpose as a ministry to be the “hands and feet” who will help feed these families and pray over them.

Each prayer has been answered and began with how to get the baskets to Abilene.

They could simply donate money to this community, but sometimes providing purpose through work is an even greater donation.

Ivy continued, “After seeing the craftsmanship of these women, I was confident others would love their work and distinct pieces.”

She explains, “The straw these weavers use is elephant grass, which is abundant all around their community.  I could see the worthiness of these women beyond the straw, so in 2021,  we launched Straworth.

We were now a team with them to celebrate, support, bring hope, and bring a future to the Noyine-Maltaab community of weavers in Vea and Nyariga, Ghana, West Africa.

PURPOSE-DRIVEN BRAND FOR STYLE: STYLE INSIDE OUT

Each basket is crafted and woven from scratch with the elephant swamp grass.

The Northern region of Ghana, where the weavers live, is an agricultural region that supplies Ghana with food.

 

Ivy explains that typically the farmers throw the grass away, however, due to the nature of the grass, it has been easy for parents to weave toys, art and home articles.

For centuries this has been a generational and occupational skill for families while advancing their craftsmanship to suit the contemporary world.

A group effort creates each bag with a 3-7 day creation time.

The straw is soaked in water for a day and then each strand is rolled on stone to make it bendable.

Natural dyes are sourced from local farmers to create the desired tone of colors, then added to some of the designs.

Ivy said, “Once that is complete, our talented women weave and cut excess straw to make the service smooth and seamless with the final step being the leather design of the handle.”

The process is very involved, but this is part of the weavers’ dedication to preserve traditional crafting techniques as an ode to their culture.

PURPOSE-DRIVEN BRAND FOR STYLE: AT HOME

Ivy shares her purpose-driven brand on her Instagram page at STRAWORTH, and her page always inspires me.

She shares ideas for how to use the baskets at home or as gift baskets….Easter baskets…bread baskets…and on and on.  

Her purpose-driven brand stands for this mission:

“Straworth creates the opportunity for women weavers in Vea and Nyariga, Ghana, West Africa, to have a stable life where they can provide for themselves and their families. Providing this opportunity to these women means everything to us, as we have become the Samaritans on their paths, sharing their stories and supplying gorgeous, high quality, handmade bags.”

I hope you will visit the STRAWORTH site, and join me carrying a few of these lovely straw bags this spring and summer.  You will see me pictured with them.

Once I met her and followed her awhile, I was compelled to tell this story of a true purpose-driven brand, and help Ivy spread the word…she is a woman who exudes class, compassion and creativity all rolled into one.

I hope to see you tomorrow, until then…..

KEEP SMILING AND YOUR BASKETS FULL!

By Pamela Lutrell

Whether shopping new arrivals or clearance sales,  please shop with the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way.