Our designs. Her livelihood. Your support.
Deborah Lloyd from kate spade new york stands with a program participant from Bosnia & Herzegovina
Economic Empowerment for Women In Bosnia & Herzegovina
Since 2005, kate spade new york and Women for Women International have been working together to promote micro-enterprises for women in the still recovering communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. The enterprise is the next step in an ongoing product development partnership over the past four years. Women for Women International will provide the training in knitting for the women, with creative direction from kate spade new york.
Knitting, a traditional skill in the region that has passed through generations of women, is now a source of income for these enterprising women. This partnership has helped Bosnian graduates transform their traditional handcrafts into high-fashion winter accessories. Rabija Mujalo, a participant of the training program and current employee of kate spade new york, says "I earned nearly as much money knitting at home in my spare time as my son who works full time in a factory."
Read more stories about the women employed by kate spade new york.
This model of public-private partnership has proven a valuable tool for countries that are struggling to develop--roughly a third of Bosnia and Herzegovina's workforce is unemployed. The slow recovering economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has left women especially vulnerable, as they struggle to earn a living in the face of an unemployment rate reaching over 50 percent.
Starting in November 2009, the winter collection of kate spade new york will feature merchandise hand-crafted by WfWI graduates in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The women, who have received a year of rights and vocational skills training at the hands of Women for Women International, will be prepared to embrace valuable employment opportunities by knitting hats, gloves and other items for kate spade new york.
The Women Behind the Product
Aisa's Story
During the war Aisa was forced to flee her home in the hillsides, as they were being bombed at the time. She lived with her family in an abandoned factory in the town center of Konjic for one year until they were able to return to their home. Aisa is the sole bread winner for her family as her husband has diabetes and cannot work. She supports her family with the money she earns working in the kate spade new york project, along with other small income generating projects.
Fata's Story
During the war, Fata lived in a one bedroom home with her family as her home was destroyed. She was given a donation to rebuild and now lives with her son, daughter and law and grandson. The income she earns working on the kate spade new york project, along with milk she produces from her cow and sells, is how she provides for her family.
Click here to read other women's stories who work on the kate spade new york project.
How you can get involved with kate spade new yorkand Women for Women
There are several ways to get involved with Women for Women International and kate spade new york.
This Fall, kate spade new york's Creative Director, Deborah Lloyd, visited our country office in Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the newest members of the kate spade team.
View images of the kate spade new york's team visit to our office in Bosnia & Herzegovina. There they met the women making products and learned exactly how they do it.
Shop products made by women in the Bosnia & Herzegovina program. Be fashionable and help change a woman's life this winter.
