Guest Post: Immigration Nation

Immigration, Immigration, it’s people movin’ to another Nation!

Well here we are a few days out of the “Immigrant/Refugee Ban.” I desperately hope that by the time you are reading this post, this horrible order doesn’t even exist anymore. If you’re like me, you’re racking your brain for things that you can do, buy, post, etc. to help the situation. It’s not much but it’s something. My mom always told me, if you can’t be the solution, be a link in the chain….

What follows is a collection of goods that support refugees as they resettle and begin again—products that help rebuild, heal, and restore. This guide is a celebration of courage and resilience and an invitation to become a part of a refugee's story.

{Thanks to Bittersweet Foundation for the inspiration}

For the Ladies:

Safari Stripe Small Pouch, $38

GAIA creations are handmade by resettled refugee women in Dallas using vintage, artisan-made, & sustainable materials. Its mission is to empower marginalized women through employment, encouragement, and dedication to their long-term success in their local communities.  

Suede Braid Bracelet, $24

WORN is a socially-conscious business whose mission is to provide refugee women living in Fort Worth, Texas, a supplemental source of income. All products are hand-knit in the USA by women who have survived the afflictions of their war-torn and poverty-stricken homelands.

Faraxsan Floral Pillow, $29

Mend Creative provides employment opportunities for newly resettled refugees in Denver, Colorado. This home decor brand provides jobs, builds community, and offers an outlet for creative expression. Mend creates high quality, custom sewn home decor, and 100% of net profits are re-invested back into its non-profit partner, Hope In Our City, which is working to foster community in refugee neighborhoods.

For the Men:

Bikes Blue and White Tie, $45

Knotty Ties creates dignified employment opportunities for skilled resettled refugees in Denver, Colorado. By partnering with local refugee and asylee resettlement agencies, the company is able to offer jobs to refugees based on skills they already possess or want to learn. In addition to crafting unique ties, bowties and scarfs, the company offers custom designing for weddings, companies or individuals who just want to express their own personal style.

Camel Dopp Kit, $65

Anne b strives to provide you simple and practical designs made from quality materials sourced in the U.S.A. The company partners with local leaders of refugee employment organizations to identify, train, and employ local refugees as seamstresses for anne b designs.

Kinsman Soap, $35

Every bar helps Iraqi refugees provide for their loved ones and reclaim their lives from the ashes of war. Give the gift of empowerment to men in Iraq. With you by their side, they will defy hate, care for their families, and remake the world.  

For the Kids:

Matching Fruits Memory Game, $29.50

Child's Cup Full is a non-profit social enterprise with a mission to create lasting economic opportunities for refugee and low-income communities in the West Bank. At its artisan center, talented women artisans are given employment and trained to make beautifully handcrafted educational children's toys and other handmade products for the global marketplace.