ART, DESIGN, & HEART SETS PEOPLE FREE NOW

DONNA KARAN’S URBAN ZEN

There is nothing more beautiful than having the freedom to make our own choices. For artisans in developing countries, oppressive poverty restricts them from having that freedom.

Urban Zen, founded by Donna Karan, is empowering these artisans by giving them the opportunity to sell their goods to a larger, international audience, giving them both creative and economic freedom.

The artisans work together with Karan to design clothing, jewelry, accessories and home décor pieces, using native materials and ancient handicraft. Urban Zen sells these pieces in their boutiques and, now, in their new online store. A significant percentage of the profits are donated to the artisans’ communities.

Donna Karan’s drapey, free-flowing clothing style, with its neutral colors and rich textures, pairs beautifully with the contrasting bold shapes of the handcrafted jewelry pieces, designed and created by artisans in developing countries such as Haiti, Bali, and Nepal. 

Karan was first inspired to create this initiative when she learned about the crises and dire conditions in Haiti after its catastrophic 2010 earthquake. But unlike others who went there and saw only tragedy, Karan saw potential in the creativity and resilience of the Haitian people.

Pulling members of the design and fashion community in to help in the cause, they began to work with some of the best artisans in Haiti in the Haiti Artisan Project. Together, they designed and created the Naturally Haiti Collection. This became an important story in the Soulful Economy movement, where business and philanthropy are in symbiosis.

Jean-Paul Sylvaince is but one success story. This artisan uses tobacco leaves to create beautiful vessels, using a heritage paper maché technique. When he lost his home and workshop in the 2010 earthquake, he was devastated. But thanks to a grant from Urban Zen, he was able to re-open his workshop. His business expanded, creating more jobs for his fellow artisans.

We love the relaxed free and easy feel, the sultry simplicity, and the sophisticated shapes of these Urban Zen pieces. Beyond tobacco leaves and papier maché, local materials, such as horn, indigenous Obeche wood, stone, metal and beading look surprisingly modern, given their traditional origin.

This Caribbean Craft Papier Mâché collection is designed in natural colors, using locally sourced, recycled materials.

These Paula Coles bags are one of a kind items made sustainably, with recycled cotton t-shirts, woven by Haitian artisans. 

Some more of the pieces we love the most in the Urban Zen collection are the delicately hand-woven hand vegetable dyed featherweight cashmere scarves from Nepal, the curved rose and teak wood bracelets made in collaboration with Balinese artisan Christian Graciel, the leather collar necklaces, and those tobacco leaf vases.

Karan’s efforts have raised awareness, created jobs, provided vocational education, and inspired others to join in her quest to preserve the cultures of people in need, while them to live in freedom with dignity. And that is nothing short of beautiful.

The Urban Zen Foundation specializes in educational, health, and employment issues in developing countries and the U.S. Karan just soft-launched an e-commerce component, where you can now purchase the brand's full range of apparel, accessories, jewelry, home decor and beauty items.

To donate, volunteer, or join the Urban Zen Foundation, click here. Shop their collection here.

Read more about Beautiful Freedom, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact including 10 New Books that Celebrate the Beauty of Freedom Now, 10 New Books that Celebrate the Beauty of Freedom Now, The Beauty of Running Free Now, Growing Freedom Now, Beautiful Places To Roam Free Now, and Freedom -- The Most Beautiful Thing Now!

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. The Journey.
2. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Harmony Collection.
3. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Donna Karan.
4. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. The Harmony Collection.
5. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Harmony Look 20.
6. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Angle Layer Dress.
7. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Tobacco Leaf Tall Vessel With Narrow Top.
8. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Harmony Look 14.
9. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Papier-Mâché Brown Woven Bag.
10. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Hand Woven Black Yoga Mat Bag.
11. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Feather Weight White Sand Cashmere Scarf.
12. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Preserving Cultures.
13. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Donna Karan.
14. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Harmony Look 21.
15. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Angle Layer Dress.
16. BN App - Download now!
17. Image: Courtesy of Urban Zen and Donna Karan. Tobacco Leaf Tall Vessel With Narrow Top.