THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
FROM DESERT TO OASIS
U s i n g fa s h i o n a n d d e s i g n t o e m p o w e r w o m e n t o
JEWELRY HA IN UGANDA F RECYCLED PA
o rise above poverty.
ND-MADE FROM 100% APER.
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
THE STORY Know the story behind the products you carry.
31 Bits Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. Â By giving our beneficiaries access to the international market, they are able to earn an instant income, providing homes, food, and education for their families. Our program equips women by providing literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems, empowering individuals to further their careers and attain social equity.
THE STORY | page FOUR
Since August 2008, 31 Bits has grown from working with 6 designers in Uganda, to 115. When women enter our program, they are coming directly from a background of hardships and poverty, what often feels like a desert of hopelessness. Their pasts are masked by their astounding strength and sweet smiles. Some come with their chin held high, others are timid and unconfident. Either way, when our women step into our 31 Bits Uganda Headquarters, they’re entering An Oasis. They have entered a place where they can dream for their future, be educated, find community, and make an income. They have entered a place they can be nourished, refreshed, and free. Women across the world find themselves in times of hardships, times of growth, and times of joy; so this season, we want to meet you in whatever season you’re in. We want to take you From Desert, To Oasis. Using fresh, airy colors and radiant, crisp design, we’ve created a line of jewelry that will bring color and merriment to your Desert, and reflect the energy and delight of your Oasis.
DESIGN INSPIRATION
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
THE OASIS
A LOOK INTO OUR UGANDA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING An Oasis is a place in a desert where water is found; a place to be hydrated and rejuvenated. In the middle of a country often characterized by poverty and corruption, 31 Bits has become an Oasis for 115 Ugandan women. In our model of development, we believe in a holistic approach, caring for every part of a person’s life. Education, health, faith, financial independence, and the capacity to dream, all play a part in an individual’s journey to rise above poverty. Each woman at 31 Bits makes a sustainable monthly income, enabling her to provide for her family; but our program goes far beyond a paycheck. We provide finance training that teaches our women how to set financial goals, save money, use a bank account, and take out and pay back a loan. We give them a bike loan, so they can put their lessons into practice, and have an efficient means of transportation. We provide English lessons for every woman in our program, giving each of them the opportunity to further her education. Each woman is part of a community group, has access to an on-site counselor, and attends monthly fellowship, ensuring
she is cared for on a personal and spiritual level. We offer health education courses so each woman can learn how to take care of herself and her children, with a specific emphasis on care for those who are HIV positive. Our business training program equips each woman with the necessary tools for starting a business, like identifying skills and assets, writing a business plan, saving money for a future business endeavor, and meeting with a business mentor. Each woman’s journey to rise above poverty is characterized by the holistic care found at our 31 Bits’ Oasis. After being part of our program for four years, a woman will graduate with confidence, a voice, a career, and a future.
THE PROGRAM | page six
NECKLACES THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
HERITAG
H E R I TA G E M I D $ 2 8 ava i l a b l e i n m o c h a , d u s t y r o s e & p e a c h h e r i ta g e lo n g $ 3 2 ava i l a b l e i n s e a g r e e n , l i l a c & n av y
GE
JUBILEE & PB JUBILEE | $26
PB | $30
NECKLACES | page TEN
$ 4 4 | ava i l a b l e i n m u lt i a n d b lu e h u e s
LEATHER SHILOH THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
$44
|
AVAILABLE
IN
ROSE
AND
YELLOW/TEAL
BERMUDA BRAID
MABEL | $30
bracelets | page fourteen
SUNKISSED | $32
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
CLOUDCLOUDBURST BURST CLOUDBURST | $32 CLOUDBURST | $44
MIX & MATCH
O U R FAV O R I T E L O O K S P A I R E D T O G E T H E R F R O M T H I S S E A S O N
1.
2.
GET THE LOOK bracelets | page twenty
3.
1.
8 7 C U F F, $ 4 2 ( P. 2 2 ) W I T H C Y P R E S S , $ 2 8 ( P. 2 7 )
2 . S U N K I S S E D , $ 3 2 ( P . 1 5 ) H E R I TA G E , $ 2 8 ( P. 8 ) 3.
WITH
B E R M U D A B R A I D , $ 4 4 ( P. 1 2 ) W I T H S E AW E AV E , $ 2 8 ( P. 2 3 )
4 . L E A T H E R S H I L O H , $ 4 4 ( P . 1 1 ) WITH PETAL BRACELETS, $ 1 0 ( P. 2 4 ) 5 . C L O U D B U R S T N E C K L A C E , $ 4 4 ( P. 1 6 ) W I T H S H A D O W K N O T B R A C E L E T , $ 2 8 ( P. 2 6 )
4. 5.
6 . P O P P Y , $ 1 4 W I T H P E T A L B R A C E L E T S , $ 1 0 ( P. 2 4 )
6.
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
87 CUFF | $42
bracelets | page twenty two
BRACELETS
POPPY | $14
S E AW E AV E | $ 2 8
bansie | $18
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
PETAL
$ 1 0 | AVA I L A B L E I N P E A C H , N AV Y, D U S T Y R O S E , L I M E A N D S E A G R E E N
b r ab cr ea lceetlse t| sp a fn our | gp ea gt ew es n i xt tye e
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
Shadow KNOT | $28
SHADOW KNOT bracelets | page twenty six
CYPRESS | $28
THE MAGICIAN | $12
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
ARUBA | $16
LIBBY | $12
bracelets | page twenty eight
31 BITS
PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVER HOEHNE STYLING: SUMMER WATKINS U G A N D A P H O T O G R A P H Y : A L LY G A R V I N CATALOG DESIGN: K AY L A A DA M S
THIRTY ONE BITS | SUMMER 2011
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