There is
something infinitely special about maintaining a relationship that was sparked
purely by travel. Meeting someone significant in a way that absolutely never
would have happened if you hadn’t booked that flight or made that move. I still
send and receive the loveliest of emails with my best Italian girlfriend. I am
currently helping another best plan her travels down under, someone I only met
as a result of living and working in England. Heck, I even met a great love for
the first time doing tequila shots at a resort in Dominican 7 years ago! I want
to take a bit of time (on this wonderfully sunny day off!) to write about
another fine lady who has further proven how magical the universe can be, introducing
me to these incredible, worldly, inspiring people.
It was a
picture-perfect day for a catamaran around Santa Maria, Cuba. It was early
beers, a lobster lunch, and being naturally drawn to the only other younger
group of 20-somethings on the boat. Their names were Anna & Vicky, and we
turned that little family-laden boat into a first-class party cruise. It
couldn’t have been even mid-afternoon, but we had the captain cranking the
music, the other passengers laughing and bobbing along, while the bar tender
poured an unfair amount of tequila. We danced and laughed and fell in love with
these wild Toronto-native girls. We swapped all possible contact information
(right down to drunken scribbled phone numbers and email addresses), to ensure
we could keep in touch to share pictures / future travel plans! We did just
that, and Anna & I have since continued inspired contact via all things
social media.
I am so grateful
for that tropical afternoon and for crossing paths with Anna Gala, because this
girl is going to majorly shift the way that fashion and philanthropy entwine to
change the lives of women everywhere.
As being kind is
always in style, Anna has used her years of charitable experience with TOMS
Shoes and learning about giving
models and the retail industry as further inspiration for her own start up
company: Project Village Bracelets. I wanted to help Anna get her word out and
unpack this incredible movement as I am a likewise believer that sustainable
change is not achieved through mere empathy and donations, but through
education and empowerment.
Project Village aims to
support underprivileged women in Toronto by using the funds generated from
their line of (mens and womens) bracelets. Anna writes, “Through self
development, coaching, positive influences and environments we truly feel that
we can break the cycle of dependence and help these women reach their personal
and socioeconomic goals.” It is about breaking the assumption that only
individuals in third world counties require our attention and support, as Anna
calls Toronto her ‘village in need.’
Not to mention,
these bracelets are gorgeous. My only
reservation toward Anna and her company? … They don’t ship to Australia (yet!)
– That being said! To all my friends and family back home… My birthday is
coming up you know! Grab yourself a few of these beautiful things, and snag one
of the Pure Karma bracelets for me (!!) :) Spread the positive vibes, help make
a difference. So proud of you, Anna! And thank you for letting me be a part of
this wonderful project. Xo!
beautifully written
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