Harkiss Designs Accessories Benefit Women in Rwanda

Everything She Wants has a thing for jewelry and accessories, especially when they benefit a worthy cause. So allow me to introduce Harkiss Designs, created by Harriet Zaffoni. The 38-year-old native of Uganda started her company as a way to assist Rwandan women, many of whom have HIV/AIDS or are victims of gender-based violence and single-handedly provide for their families.

Everything She Wants: How did you become an accessories designer?

Harriet Zaffoni of Harkiss Designs.

Harriet Zaffoni: I fell in love with East African accessories and started by improving on the original ones to make sure they met the North American market standards. And boom, I started designing my own.

ESW: Why did you start your company, Harkiss Designs?

HZ: Because of my love of fashion, African colors and fabric, I saw that there was potential for me to empower East African women through fashion. That's how Harkiss Designs was created.

ESW: Where does the jewelry you sell come from?

HZ: The jewelry I sell is mostly designed by me in collaboration with a Kenyan artisan named Stephen Mwangi. He brings my designs and ideas to life.

ESW: What is the jewelry made from?

HZ: The jewelry is made from various African materials such as banana fiber, Masai beads, semi-precious stones, metal, coffee beans, sisal, coconut seeds, white art stone and others indigenous to the East African region.

Harkiss Designs' jewelry and sandals./Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins

ESW: Tell me more about the charitable benefit to your business?

HZ: At this time, I employ more than 200 women part time in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda. Each particular project is allocated to a county and most of the people working on my designs are women. I sell sandals, bags and wallets [in addition to] the jewelry, and each category has a its own group and country that brings the designs to life. After the sales, 20% goes to two foundations: Support HIV/AIDS Rwanda (SHIVR) and Lend A Hand Uganda, which helps to get displaced and orphaned children off the street.

Comments

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore. I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued. I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store. And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and...

DanceAfrica 2024 Returns to Brooklyn Academy of Music

The DanceAfrica Bazaar is one of my favorite annual street fairs. I love to watch folks show up and show out in their flyest Afrocentric garb and to shop for handmade beaded bracelets and earrings from the African vendors. And when I'm fortunate enough to snag a ticket as I did this year courtesy of BAM, I enjoy watching the kinetic African dancers (this time the country featured is Cameroon) during the spirited and spirit-filled DanceAfrica performance at the Howard Gilman Opera House. (Photos courtesy of BAM/Tony Turner) If you want to join in the fun, here's the weekend lineup that's truly for the culture. DanceAfrica 2024: The Origin of Communities / A Calabash of Cultures Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers, Women Of The Calabash, The Billie's Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, and Siren – Protectors of The Rainforest Fri, May 24 at 7:30pm; Sat, May 25 at 2pm & 7pm; Sun, May 26 at 3pm BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (Pe...

Giveaway: Thank Your Friends with Merci Chocolates!

National Friendship Day was August 4, 2013, but Everything She Wants has decided to continue the celebration with a giveaway from merci fine European chocolates . While some friendships are for a season or a reason, other friendships are built to last a lifetime. I’m fortunate to have two best friends: Cindy, whom I’ve known since junior high school and Deanna, who started out as my amusing intern. Besides my mother and my husband, these girlfriends are my greatest confidants. They’re like the sisters I never had and we’ve supported each other through personal trials and triumphs. So what better way to say ‘thank you’ to your friends than with merci chocolates? One lucky reader will win a ‘Friendship Kit’ that you can either keep to reward yourself for being such a great friend or share with a deserving comrade. The kit includes: $25 Target gift card (yay!) 7 ounce box of merci chocolates A picture frame to display a photo of you a...

Everything She Wants

Search This Blog