Interview with Vavavida

If there's one universal truth, it's that accessories make an outfit. That's where Vavavida comes in. This small, Fair Trade company partners with women local to developing countries to create gorgeous handmade products. Vavavida's accessories are eco–friendly, and they aid the women who make them in developing countries. Vavavida is truly committed to doing good in the world. Read the following interview to hear about Vavavida's philosophy, their fashion, and the new project that they are unrolling.

Can you tell me about how this company began? 

I am a social entrepreneur who started the Fair Trade, eco–friendly accessories company Vavavida in March of 2012. Me and my two co–founders wanted to practice a new kind of social enterprise called "full circle economics" —giving back to the communities that create the accessories. It's a not–only–for–profit company that was founded to make a difference...and a profit. Originally focused on beauty products, after the Rana Plaza tragedy of 2013 I knew they needed to be a part of the revolution in the fashion industry to support safe working conditions and fair practices. 

What good cause does each purchase donate to? 

The Fair Trade jewelry and accessories are made by co–ops of artisans in developing countries and a portion of the proceeds go back to non–profit organizations like Project Concern International to empower the communities that make them. At different times of the year, Vavavida highlights specific causes or charities, donating a portion of proceeds to them to raise awareness in addition to funds. Their latest project is a subscription program where for $25 or $50 a month you can support one woman in a developing country while receiving a fair trade gift from them. 

Tell me about this new subscription program.

The Committing to Women Club is a monthly lifestyle membership we are launching here at Vavavida. It’s very simple: Once you open your membership, every month you will get on your doorstep a beautiful lifestyle gift chosen specifically for you by the Vavavida staff. Every month you will receive a new and different mystery gift according to the seasons or the holidays of the calendar: a Christmas tree ornament in December or a photo frame in May for Mother’s Day, for example. Of course, all of the gifts you receive will be fair trade and will go to empower thousands of women and the artisans who make your gift. We are striving to offer a service that represents the level of commitment our customers are already making to helping women. Now, their incredible contributions will be thanked every month when they receive their gift, from the artisans who made those products for them.

How are your products eco–friendly? 

The materials used are all sustainable and eco–friendly, meaning that they don't harm the environment in either the growing or making of the materials or the producing of the jewelry. You can see on their website that some of the eco–friendly materials they use are: bone (from animals who have died of natural causes), alternative materials like Tagua palm seed instead of ivory, recycled copper and brass, recycled paper beads,and recycled saris.

What countries do you import your products from?

We only import products that are ethically made and follow the production standard outlined by the fair trade system because we care very much about the jewelry we retail. That restricts a great deal where we source our products, but we have been very fortunate in finding amazing products that fit our style from strikingly different parts of the world. Right now, we are in love with the products we have found coming out of co–ops of artisans in India and Peru. 

Do the local artisans design these products?

It’s a combination of both the artisans creating their own designs and American designers working with them directly making specific requests for designs that trend in the US. We love having jewelry with variations of designs and styles and that yet all fit in this boho–chic attitude we have at Vavavida. All of our bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings have the same spirit of mixing ancient designs, materials, and techniques with really fresh, high–quality, unique materials that you will be able to keep for a long time. 

Can you tell me about some of the products you offer?

Absolutely. An amazing commonality about the large majority of the jewelry we carry is the inventiveness of the incredible craftsmen and women we work with. For example, all of our Boomika products are a gorgeous collection of jewelry coming out of India and made out of bone. It’s earthy, chic, different, really well designed and made, and yet the material is completely inconspicuous. Also, all of our Boomika jewelry mixes several materials, such as rosewood and brass, and plays with patterns, materials, and shapes that make these items really impressive to look at. Most of our products are made with recycled materials as well. A lot of them use materials such as horn, reclaimed wood, bone, recycled fabrics, recycled telephone wires, etc. In my mind, knowing those products have a really low carbon footprint makes them, even more, beautiful, more human, and more accessible. These beautiful items are not made in factories and I’d like to think that there is a connection between the maker of our Boomika Rosecomb ring in India and the person that wears it, right here in America. 

Where does the name Vavavida come from?

It comes from the idea of celebrating life. Vavavida in Spanish literally means "Go Go Life" and we try very actively to empower underprivileged women so that they can fulfill their incredible potential. The name Vavavida also plays around with the expression "vavavoom," which ultimately means feeling and looking beautiful and sexy. For us, it made sense that a jewelry company created to celebrate women’s lives would have a name that celebrated both women’s strength and potential and their outer beauty, which is the same in the end.