Proud Mary is the latest company empowering women in need around the globe through the creation of eco-friendly accessories and homewares.
From its base in Charlestown, South Carolina, Proud Mary employs artisans in Guatemala and South Africa. The women working at local weaving cooperatives and sewing workshops come together to create handbags, shoes, neckties, and pillows. They’re paid fair wages and given the opportunity to provide for their families.
The women of Guatemala favor cotton for their creations. Their items pay tribute to the workers’ Mayan heritage, with playful pom-pom and tassel accents, and bold, traditional colors. The South African artisans also use cotton, but they embellish it with potatoes. The humble spud becomes a clever printing tool under the artistic hands of the women of Capetown.
The Proud Mary items are available at selected markets, the shopping website Supermarket HQ, and the Proud Mary website. The items are a bit expensive, even if they are handmade, but knowing that 10% of each sale benefits education programs in South Africa and Guatemala makes those prices a bit easier to swallow.
If you’re keen to indulge in the current tribal trends, a purse from Proud Mary is an authentic, socially responsible, and eco-friendly way to do it!
