I have so many posts on this blog, it’s fun to pull old ones up and see how relevant they still are. For today’s Philanthropy Friday, I thought I’d share one from four years ago and add a few updates. Because you know things have changed since 2012.
The following article was originally published on August 17, 2012
I learned about Shabby Apple at my son’s soccer game last fall. One of the moms on the sideline told me to check the website out when I noted that I was heading to Las Vegas for a wedding and needed a dress.
After the game, I browsed the website and was overwhelmed by all the beautiful dresses and skirts. I ended up wearing a dress I already had and purchasing some new accessories instead.
But, I noticed that Shabby Apple kept making its way back into my life. I noticed bloggers talking about the online store, saw a few buttons on blogs and heard others talking about the website.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I came upon a contest where the prize was a $50 gift certificate to Shabby Apple. I entered my name and forgot about it. Well, I won the darn thing (that never happens) and ended up buying a funky skirt (that is no longer sold on the site, but I still have the skirt and love it!).
Now, I live in Maine and fashion isn’t exactly high priority in these parts. While I like to look nice, I don’t necessarily buy a lot of clothes and shoes. It’s just not my thing. So, the Shabby Apple purchase was a bit of a treat.
My skirt came with an interesting tag that told me my purchase also helped a 35 year old widowed woman in India with a son and daughter. She has a bamboo weaving business that was made possible with help from an $89 loan. She’s been a microfinance client since 2003. Her life’s ambition is to take good care of her children and provide them with a quality education. I thought this was very cool.
I investigated on the website and found a charity page that explained more. According to the page, Shabby Apple is committed to helping women live, along with helping women dress. They “support the fight against global poverty by partnering with Accion, a non-profit organization with the mission of giving people the financial tools they need to work their way out of poverty.” The website has some of the stories of the women whose lives have been changed for the better through microfinance programs around the world.
Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net sales to support work with 62 microfinance institutions in 31 countries throughout the world.
Update: Shabby Apple no longer works with Accion. Their current partner is the Maya Relief Foundation, whose mission is to empower people with solutions to become self-sufficient and “work their way out of poverty, improve their health, and to insure a better future for their children and their communities.”
The company doesn’t seem to tout this fact too much in its marketing efforts, but it makes a difference to me. I will certainly think about them the next time I need a dress or skirt.
Do the philanthropic efforts of a company make a difference to you when you make a purchase?
Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer.
