My Pop is the son of a tailor and passed on to me his knowledge about how to put an outfit together. I remember him taking me shopping as a teenager and looking for the “perfect pixie boots,” which I’d imagined to be chocolate brown, completely flat and with a round point. During trips like this, my Dad would share interesting titbits related to what we were doing like, “you can completely change an outfit with a good pair of shoes.” I know this isn’t a ground-breaking statement, but the idea has stuck with me and I feel the same about accessories. A pretty scarf, some statement earrings or a bold bag can take an outfit from boring to fun or slouchy to chic.
Introducing Anchal Project
The word Anchal (pronounced on-chal) comes from India and refers to two things, shelter and the decorative edge of a sari used to provide love and comfort to a loved one. This perfectly suits the Anchal Project, which is a non-profit organization that combats the exploitation of women around the world. It does this through a program that equips women with the tools for future employment. Each Anchal product helps provide an artisan with a full-time job, health care benefits and educational workshops. Anchal made an interesting video called The Anchal Narrative which shows the community of women working together. I recommend checking it out here.
The Anchal Project was created by two sisters, Colleen and Maggie Clines. Colleen was inspired by a trip to India where she learnt of the issues surrounding women trying to escape the sex trade. Anchal’s goal is to “create sustainable, income-generating textile initiatives run with local leadership that create long-term change for exploited and marginalized women.” On their website, you can find eco-friendly textiles such as kimono jackets, quilts, and bags.
My Outfit
When I saw Anchal’s scarves and bandanas, I knew I’d found a solid accessory addition for my wardrobe. You can wear a bandana in your hair, around your neck or on your bag. The bandana I’m wearing is a patchwork of rust, bone, and sand colours. Angelinos don’t need jackets at the moment so it’s fun to feel autumnal with a scarf in the appropriate colours. Each bandana is made from organic cotton and the edges are finished by hand (you can see this hand stitching process in the video). I love that each artisan signs every item that she makes and that Anchal features these women on their website, so you can “put a face to the name.”
Discount code & Thanks
If something catches your eye on the Anchal website, feel free to use my code ENGLISHLASS20 for 20% off any order.
Special thanks to Anchal for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
Other outfit details
Bag: Angela Roi
Shoes: Timberland (Old)
Dress: Reformation
Makeup: Emme Diane, Bite and 100% Pure
3 Comments
“you can completely change an outfit with a good pair of shoes.” Yes! love it. Accessories are everything!
You look amazing…………Love you pop
You Look amazing……..Love you pop.