Uganda has been plagued by an internal war between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army for over twenty years. The war has inflicted immense tragedy and brutality against the Acholi people, displacing nearly 1 million of them into refugee camps. And yet, despite fear of ongoing war and the struggle to provide basic necessities, a number of entrepreneurial woman have figured out a fair-trade & fashionable way to earn money for food, shelter and schooling: using recycled magazines and newspapers, they handcraft colorful beads to sell. Reef recently partnered with 31 Bits - an organization that aids the entrepreneurial spirit of displaced women in Ugandan refugee camps - to pre-purchase the beads for decorative trim on a classic t-strap summer sandal, itself made from a sustainably green mix of chrome-free leather, recycled hardware and water-based adhesives.
"31 Bits is centered around using the creative art and entrepreneurship
already present in the women to help get them out of poverty. Partnering with Reef is another opportunity to give the women an international voice and to share their story," explains Alli, a founder of 31 Bits. “It is such an honor for Reef to be affiliated with the designers as well as the young women that founded 31bits," adds the Reef Girls' sandal designer, Brianna Marks. “We truly hope each person that wears it will feel a connection to the cause knowing each bead has been made to help spread a message of hope."
An additional 1% of the proceeds from the sale of the $58 sandal will benefit the Reef Redemption fund – Reef’s own humanitarian and environmental organization that donates money to Surf Aid, Surfrider Foundation, and Haiti relief.
Available at Reef.com.
- Lesley Scott
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