Spring 2015 Look Book Joy Edition
Coral Striped Ballet Flat
Sea Blue Striped Ballet Flat
Lemonade International “School for Parents� brings students from the academies in La Limonada together with their families. Activities are shared between students and parents – finger painting words of gratitude, composing poems of integrity, and coming together to rebuild. Recently, what were once only monthly meetings have become biweekly as a way to heighten the interest and attendance of parents. A canasta basica (basic basket) is given to the families that attend each meeting, filled with basic necessities like rice, beans, corn meal, and other treats. Your purchases help support Lemonade International programs like these when selected as your nonprofit choice from The Root Collective.
Magenta Diamond Peep Toe “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.” Marilyn Monroe
Neema Project 2014 was a strong year for The Neema Project. Graduates received contracts with local schools in Kenya to make uniforms, many finding work and dignified jobs within their communities. As their new school year starts, many new faces are arriving to Neema with graduates returning to help teach skills training. One of our partner artisans, Moureen, – who was almost sold as a child bride – graduated with her classmates. You help support jobs training and counseling for these women and girls through your purchases and the selection of The Neema Project as your nonprofit of choice.
The Story Behind the Shoes Each shoe is crafted from handwoven fabric, created in the traditional backstrap looms in the highlands of Guatemala. This is an art that has been practiced by the Mayan culture for hundreds of years. The fabric is then turned into gorgeous shoes by former gang members in the slum of La Limonada, where men and women are given a chance to rewrite the stories of their lives.
Sea Blue Diamond Peep Toe “A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with excellency of heart.” Henry Fielding
Tan Diamond Peep Toe “Make an excuse to dance.”
Lime Peep Toe “Dance like no one is watching.”
Tan Peep Toe
Neon Yellow Peep Toe “Being happy never goes out of style.” Lilly Pullitzer
Coral Diamond Peep Toe
Tan Peep Toe
Otto Otto’s business has been growing steadily through his partnership with The Root Collective. Last year, Otto was able to rebuild his house, which is where his shoe workshop is located, in order to make it more stable. Concrete floors and stairs replaced barely nailed down planks of wood, and a third floor was added for his workshop. It is now very open and fully ventilated. Otto is training former gang members in the art of shoemaking, while hiring women to cook breakfast and lunch for the shoemakers (at no cost to his workers). He is confident that he will have to relocate his workshop soon due to needing to hire additional workers, and transform his community through jobs.
#OttoMadeMyShoes
The Weavers In the rural villages in the highlands of Guatemala, women, many of whom are solely responsible for caring for their families, are having consistent work due to the partnership with The Root Collective. They are able to feed their children three meals a day and pay for school supplies. Many of the women are noticeably more at ease, confident that they can care for their families, and full of pride at the work of their hands.
For wholesale information, please contact bethany@therootcollective.com