AsiaStore Presents Socially Conscious Designers
June 1 - July 1, 2011
New York City
"If every person inspires the person next to them to take action, things will change."
— Dalai Lama
AsiaStore is proud to feature individuals who are making a difference — socially conscious designers who are not only making beautiful products, but also giving back.
Nina Nyguen designs her jewelry collection in her Florida studio, with each piece carefully hand-made by skilled artisans in her Women's Cooperative supporting the rural village of Kontum, Vietnam.
Pamela Hiran's jewelry consists of her own designs made by Thai women, to whom she has taught beading and sewing techniques. The women now live off a consistent income while providing for their families.
Carol Cassidy's silk textiles are produced by village-based farmers and Cambodian veterans. They are hand-woven on traditional looms in Laos and Cambodia, providing a sustainable income to rural artisans and those trying to reintegrate themselves into their home communities.
Poetic Threads of Pakistan is dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional hand-made arts of Pakistan's remote provinces, seeking to empower traditional craftspeople by introducing sustainable solutions through product development, skill enhancement and the revival of centuries-old designs and craft techniques.
Polly & Me is dedicated to empowering over 500 women in the isolated valley of Chitral, in Pakistan. Their latest collection of "Gup Shup" handbags consist of hand-embroidered textiles, with the images on each bag telling the women's stories — everyday comings and goings, the ventures of child-rearing and home-making, and the special events that color their lives.
Dita Ong has worked as an ethical fashion designer in the field of arts and fashion. Her advocacies include the use of indigenous fibers as a means to interpret her craft. Through her indigenous style she has involved local communities in promoting sustainable livelihood projects and has greatly improved the socio-economic conditions of a fishing village in Baras, Catanduances, in the Philippines.