StreetWise Vendor: Roark Moody

Watch and learn more about StreetWise on their YouTube Channel.

Gifts that Give Back to Charity

The holiday shopping season has begun. Corporate parties, family gatherings and visiting friends are just around the corner. These holiday gatherings usually require exchanging or bringing a small gift or hostess gift, so why not give something unique, yet eco-friendly and useful to everyone: a recycled picture frame. 

This Christmas you can give back by giving this recycled picture frame handmade by five ACCESSORIES StreetWise vendors. Formerly homeless individuals are being employed by this fair trade company to produce their Off the Street product line, all of which are made of recycled material found in the streets of Chicago. From ticket stubs to pop top tabs these vendors are finding purpose, encouragement, as well as an income.

five ACCESSORIES and StreetWise vendors have already collected and recycled 12,000 ticket stubs. The picture frame reduces waste while helping people. The frames come in several styles: ticket stub, comics, and sports page and may even be customized with a company logo and given as corporate gifts.

Picture frames also make great baby shower gifts, birthday, anniversary and graduation gifts as well.

Founder, Christine Hutchison, says, “The purpose of our program is to instill pride and purpose through the making of products. We have built a lasting community atmosphere by bringing together college volunteers and interns to work closely with the vendors. One such example is Leticia Quinonez, a StreeWise Vendor who makes pop top bracelets. Her personalized hangtag quotes, ‘Don’t criticize the less fortunate, or you’ll walk the same path yourself.’”

On the back of Gearldine Williams' (who is pictured below with intern Rachel) hangtag she states,"Never Quit...Never."

Give back this holiday season by giving a this recycled picture frame, thus supporting StreetWise vendors and a fair trade company whose mission is to create income generating programs for people, donate a large portion of sales to charitable causes and to foster the use of sustainable material in fashion.  

Guest Post submitted by Samantha MacLeod

Glitter: Holiday Shopping Events at Chicago Airports

This week Glitter we were proud to be a part of two first time events at Chicago Airports. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs joined together to bring 15 Chicago fashion designers to sell  their fashion and jewelry accessories to the many travelers who pass through the Airports during the holiday season.

As you can see from the photos (first photo is of our founder at Midway and second one is of her at O'Hare), the five team was kept busy throughout the events.

We also attended the Glitter event last week, which was held at the Chicago Cultural Center.

At each event we have the opportunity to not only feature our eco friendly handbags and accessories, but also spread the word about how our designer fashion handbags give back: to our StreetWise vendors and other charities that we support around the world.

For more information about Glitter: A Holiday Shopping Event, please visit www.chicagofashionresource.com

Unique Holiday Gift Sale Benefits Homeless

Columbia College student, Chandler Rollins, spent some time speaking with our founder, Christine Hutchison this week about the third annual fundraiser this Sunday, December 12th for StreetWise. Read his article:

Unique holiday gift sale on Sunday will benefit homeless

on ChicagoTalks.org

We'd like to thank Chandler and Columbia College for their mention and support. It means a lot to us to be able to spread the word about this event that will benefit the StreetWise vendors behind our Off the Street product line.

 

Holiday Charitable Giving

On Friday and Saturday of the November 12th-13th weekend, we attended the Holiday Shopping Bazaar at the Chicago Yacht Club located on Belmont Avenue and the water. Each day we were there from 11 to 6 and 10 to 4. We had fun working, shopping, talking with friends and Yacht Club members. As a result of that successful event, we were able to give back 10% of our sales, donating them to the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation.

We appreciate everyone who turned out to support the Yacht Club Foundation, thus allowing us to participate in holiday charitable giving.

We had fun and we made a difference!