Merida Home: Thrive Collection
Flourish is a repeating kaleidoscope of petals that evokes a lush, vibrant garden. Our cyclical environment and the repetitious imagery of flames and leaves inspired designer Kelsey Arbona to think about the infinite nature of patterns, leading her to this design. Availalbe in Plum and Sapphire.
Artists for Humanity
GoodWeave is working to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia. The handmade carpet industry exploits nearly 250,000 children. GoodWeave is helping to combat this problem and transform the handmade rug industry by certifying child-labor-free rugs and by providing education and opportunities to rescued and at-risk children. The GoodWeave program is implemented by RugMark International.
ARZU STUDIO HOPE believes in a holistic approach to sustainable poverty alleviation achieved through artisan-based employment that empowers women. Women, earning fair labor wages, weave exquisite hand-knotted rugs at home. Innovative social benefit practices drive transformational change by providing grassroots access to vital education, healthcare, clean water and sustainable community development programs. ARZU, which means “hope” in Dari, is an innovative model of social entrepreneurship that helps Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them steady income and access to education and healthcare by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave. While structured as a 501(c)(3) in the United States and an international NGO in Afghanistan, ARZU operates as a “for-benefit” corporation, using private sector practices to create jobs in desperately poor rural villages where little opportunity exists.
And check out how other ways Design is helping others...
Platt Collections introduced the Alyce Collection, which incorporates the breast cancer awareness ribbon into its design. This market, the company will expand the program into a collection with additional pieces that incorporate the ribbon motif. They include a dining table and arm chair, vanity/desk and mirror, credenza, chest, barstools, coffee and end tables, lamps and mirrors.
Elements of wood, stone and metal will be a hallmark of the collection, chosen for their beauty as well as their symbolism, according to the company.
Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of Alyce collection pieces will benefit cancer research.
The Alyce collection was conceived by furniture designer Glenn Midnet, whose mother, Alyce, died from breast cancer in 1974 when Midnet was a boy. Inspired by his mother's courage, Midnet became a successful interior designer and furniture designer.
Stray Giving @ Stray Dog With every Stray Dog Designs purchase, someone's life gets a little bit better.
Every time you buy a Stray Dog Designs product, a portion of the purchase price is donated to organizations that do things like feed hungry children, shelter homeless families, or create loving homes for stray dogs and cats.
Think of it...
You get a beautiful new lamp or home accessory -- and you get to feel great about making a real difference in someone's life!
It's that simple.
There are also numerous Design/Architecturally based organizations who's mission is to get out into the community and provide design services focused on "the concept of humanitarian design and “shelter for the soul” has spawned a generation of designers tapping into a new set of social and economic values." - Samuel “Sambo” Mockbee, Co-founder of Auburn University’s School of Architecture Rural Studio program
Check out the following Links:
Design Corps
Rural Studio
