Become an everyday advocate | With so much harm being done to the planet and its people, it can be hard to see how any of us can truly make a difference - but we can. Let's explore fair trade fashion with Noonday Collection, as well as other topics around shopping with purpose and developing social and environmental consciousness in our daily lives.
Here’s the story of one group in East Asia that provides employment and holistic care for sexually trafficked women. Watch the video below for the story of healing - and a look at the beautiful pieces they create. They can carry such a special meaning for you as you wear them, reminding you of hope, and of your power to create a better world every day.
Read MoreA couple of years ago, I wrote a post on Noonday's blog, Flourish, featuring ten of my favorite books for kids that are set in Noonday's partner countries (and many written by authors from those countries). Now that we are all sheltering in place, I decided to update this post with some links to read-aloud videos on YouTube. Enjoy treasuring these books with your children!
Read MoreFor any given problem that keeps us up at night, we want to find THE solution, don’t we? The one silver bullet to break down unjust systems, or solve global poverty, or end the orphan crisis. The older I get, the more I appreciate that problems can be - and should be - tackled from multiple angles. And that’s a good thing.
Read MoreTrunk shows are the heartbeat of Noonday’s business model. I love that instead of a storefront or online-only sales, we do relationship and conversation. We connect to style and impact while we connect with each other. I love that hosting offers women a simple way to expand their impact and their wardrobe while having fun with friends. I provide lots of tips and guidance to make your job as hostess easier! You gather friends and get them excited; I do the rest.
And as you’ll see, trunk shows can look very different for different hostesses - which is what makes this so fun! Just as every hostess is unique, every show is unique. If you’ve ever wondered about what it could look like to host a show, or wanted a peek into my life as an Ambassador, look no further than three of my October shows.
Read MoreIt started with that time I felt inspired to host a Noonday trunk show.
I had a growing interest in ethical fashion, and wanted chances to engage my friends in great conversations around it. I loved the little bit I'd heard about Noonday here and there, so went to the website, typed in my ZIP code, and waited for my screen to show me a list of area ambassadors.
"We can't find this ambassador," it said. Really? Zero ambassadors near Madison, WI?
Read MoreI met my dear, dear friend Jess in September 2017, and I’m honored she’s sharing on the blog about how important community is when you are going through a hard situation, and how her experience as a Noonday Ambassador has brought joy and community beyond what she’d imagined. Read on for a peek into our sisterhood - and 3 practical ways to move beyond “how can I help?” and into action.
Read MoreIt's that time of year that many of us are thinking of Mother's Day gifts. If you're ready for a change from flowers or just browsing a store for something that catches your eye, take a look at some gift ideas that connect the moms in your life to impact around the globe. Check out ideas for single moms, traveling moms, moms with grabby kids, engravable gifts, and gift cards!
Read MoreI’ve launched my brand-new YouTube channel with a review of Noonday’s summer travel capsule collection! Take a look for an up-close look and some background on Ana, the powerhouse entrepreneur behind the artisan group who created these pieces. The work she’s doing to empower women in Guatemala is truly inspiring - and this video shares how fun it is for you to be a part of that!
Read MoreEven if you’re already sold on wearing big earrings, maybe you’re stumped on how to style them with other pieces. While you can absolutely let your earrings speak for themselves with no necklace, I have a few tips for how to pair them with a necklace or other pieces that will add beauty without making you feel overloaded.
Read MoreIf your purses become a mess within days of cleaning them out, there is hope for you - I promise. Here are my 7 easy steps to an organized purse that’s ready to be swapped out at a moment’s notice.
Read MoreTo me, statement means that your style is reflecting you in a unique way. And our new line has all kinds of ways to customize so that you can express yourself. Our new line of Inspire Necklaces and interchangeable pendants makes it easy to find your perfect combination.
Read MoreToday is the launch of Noonday Collection's spring line, as well as the week-long Ambassador Style Challenge! One of my favorite pieces reminds me of my own journey: the Filigree Hoops from Vietnam.
Read MoreNoonday's fair trade Wildflower Clutch not only provides a pop of color and pattern with embroidery and poms - it also provides employment for women throughout the Ayacucho region of Peru because it is handmade, reducing the need to move to find factory jobs. Click to shop and to see how the design was inspired by the unique needs of women there. There are amazing people working to provide opportunity in vulnerable communities, as well as practical ways that you can support them. That includes supporting businesses such as Hilos y Colores in Peru through Noonday Collection. And my goal is to connect you to them. Read the beautiful story behind the opportunity this piece makes possible through sustainable, fair trade fashion.
Read MoreOur Llama Tray is a perfect example of collaborative design. It follows the ancient tradition of ceramic crafts in Vietnam, while bringing in expertise from Noonday’s design team.
Read MoreAuthentic Hmong fabric is handcrafted into a fair trade stocking that tells a story of culture and craft. Through my time in Vietnam and time spent with a Hmong American friend, I learned the beautiful story behind this piece.
Read MoreThis holiday season, give gifts with story and impact. Create a global mantel, wrap up in a cozy alpaca scarf, and more!
Read MoreI rounded up ten of my favorite books for kids that are set in Noonday's partner countries (and many written by authors from those countries). Take a look at this tiny glimpse of the vast world of global literature, and how it can help our kids (and us) see that the beauty, curiosity, sadness and joy all over the world all make up the rich tapestry of being human. Features books set in Uganda, Ecuador, Guatemala, Vietnam, Peru, Haiti, Kenya, Ethiopia, and more.
Read MoreHere's what I need you to know: this book is very Jessica and very Noonday, but it is not about Jessica and Noonday. It is about you. Through her story of adoption, scrappy beginnings of what would become the biggest fair trade jewelry company in the world, body image struggles, and more...as well as stories of Jalia and other world-changers and changed lives she's met along the way... she takes specifics and makes them general and accessible to anyone interested in living a life of impact.
And that's why I want you to get your hands on this book.
Read MoreAdd on-trend style that carries social and environmental impact. See my favorites from this season - a perfect leather doctor bag, a chevron necklace made of ethically sourced horn, and more.
Read MoreIn addition to two groups that work directly with exploited women, all of Noonday's partners are in the fight to prevent exploitation simply by ensuring women are empowered and safe, and providing jobs that are helping sustain healthy families where all children are in school and have support for a bright future. So, it was natural for me to collaborate with a local group engaged in the same fight for dignity right here at home in Madison, WI.
Read MoreI'm learning to love well from Madison, WI. Join me on this journey toward compassion, advocacy, and action. I'm all about fair trade and ethical fashion with Noonday Collection, and finding all the ways we can make better use of our untapped potential to be powerful advocates for world change. Check out my 2018 Kind Consumer Challenge to join the conversation.
Want an inspiring read? Pick up Imperfect Courage by Noonday’s founder, Jessica Honegger.
Gaby Flats from The Root Collective, my favorite ethical shoe company. Use code JULIE15 for 15% off!
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Julie Godshall LLC
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