Inspirational Neighbors:

The Kindred Street is a apparel and accessory company promoting kindness one item at a time. "We believe that at the core of all positive change lyes the common thread of kindness. How we treat ourselves and others may at times seem insignificant, but a simple act of kindness can set powerful movements into action."

CHRISSY POWERS

:Owner:

Hello, I'm Chrissy. I'm a wife to a hardworking man who builds amazing stuff, mom to a spirited and awesome little boy and last but not least a marriage and family therapist. I'm a small town girl from the Bay Area now San Diego transplant and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love where I'm from, where I've been and where I'm going.

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Shop "Be Kind" here

Inspirational Neighbors:

Part One:

 Founders Lauren and Erica are a passionate pair that mix fashion with philanthropy. With more than 7 years spent in Guatemala working with non-profit organizations, we want to do more than just sell products; we want to create a change. We have traveled back to bring fashion-forward items to market. These unique items mix ancient techniques with modern style that will set you apart from the rest. More importantly, we want you to take part in our philanthropic mission by selecting from one of our three amazing projects: Infant and Child Nutrition, Education,and Microfinance for Women. A portion of your purchase will go to support one of these projects and will not only change you, but change the future of someone in need.

Giving Back

Humble Hilo works in behalf of the humanitarian organization World Link Partners to provide support by creating job opportunities and giving back a portion of all its profits to three programs that will make a sustainable difference in the lives of Guatemalans in great need.

1) Infant and Child Nutrition

Humble Hilo, in partnership with World Link Partners, works with local organizations and communities to bring nutritional support to infants and children living in extreme poverty. Extreme poverty (living on less than $1 a day), coupled with lack of education and inaccessible healthcare, means that deaths caused by malnutrition are commonplace. Living on a diet of almost exclusively corn tortillas can produce potentially fatal protein malnutrition, blindness, stunting and a myriad of illnesses.

We help to provide result-oriented, nutritional support to children with moderate and severe malnutrition, bringing their weights up to normal levels while providing health education to the family. Nutrient-rich food supplements are provided to severely malnourished children; formula is provided for malnourished infants with cleft pallets, for those whose mothers have died in childbirth, or those whose mothers are too malnourished to produce milk.

2) Literacy and Education

Education is one of the most powerful catalysts for lifting someone out of poverty! It empowers individuals, improves quality of life and provides opportunity. More specifically, when a female receives an education, the effects are endless and can transform impoverished societies on a large scale. We focus on providing education and opportunities for girls and women.

Humble Hilo, in partnership with World Link Partners, supports projects that empower young women through education and mentoring. We help them to become leaders in their communities. The projects we support combine academic scholarships, personalized mentor-ship and positive peer networks to ensure sustained access and success at the secondary school level.

3) Microfinance Loans for Women

Poverty in Guatemala is widespread and deeply rooted, particularly among the poor, rural people who currently account for 71 percent of the country's poverty-stricken population. Of the impoverished population, women are the most vulnerable and less aware of their rights (International Fund for Agriculture 2008). A typical indigenous Mayan woman has to provide for her family on 44 cents per day. She has a family of seven, is rurally based and has only been to school through the first grade. She has never been formally employed and is usually illiterate. This is unacceptable to Humble Hilo.

Humble Hilo, in partnership with World Link Partners helps to provide microcredit loans to women in need. Investing in a woman can make all the difference and is the key not only her future, but the future of her children, extended family, and community as a whole. These small business loans provide opportunity! They provide financial opportunity for women to improve the quality of life for themselves and for their families. We work to provide small business loans to qualified applicants. 

To read more and  purchase these beautiful items please visit their website 

Humblehilo

Inspirational Neighbors:

Marloe is the dream come true of creator & designer Analisa. Born and raise in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, she was pre exposed to the arts, design and many creatives. She studied & graduated from FIDM Los Angeles (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising)Earning her degree in Visual Communications at a very young age, she aspired to become a visual merchandiser in leading companies known worldwide.

 Many great opportunities arose and she had a very brief success in the start of her merchandising career. With most successes at an early age, many underestimated her and denied her the chance to prove what she had to offer. She quit her stable job to find her creative outlet. She began interviewing for creative jobs and never landed anything serious. She even volunteered at a leading event & design company. She was turned down time, and time again when she finally decided "if no one is going to give me the opportunity to show my creativity, then I am going to give that opportunity to myself".  

With that determination and creative passion, Analisa started Marloe with the help & support of friends and family. She works hard everyday to uphold the high standards of Marloe and works tirelessly to imrpove her products. Working closely with new up and coming bloggers, she hopes to give that chance & opportunity she was repeatedly denied. When you purchase Marloe products, remember you are part of the Marloe dream & we thank you for helping turn a dream into reality.

Marloe is classic, clean, sophisticated designs. Located in the outskirts of Los Angeles California, each bag is hand made using quality fine fabrics and genuine leather hides. 

Dreamt up & created by owner Analisa Jimenez and inspired by her style, travels and adventures. She aims to create a lifestyle handbag line that evokes minimal chic, classic designs that carryout though evolving fashion styles and trends. Marloe aims to provide minimal chic & easy travel inspired designs for the fashionista, dreamer, traveler & the wanderer who is always looking to play up their style with something new. 

Let's get to know the girl behind the Brand

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Describe yourself in three words.

I would say that I am optimistic, determined, and naturally a free spirit. 

Who inspires you?

I don't necessarily have a single person who inspires me. I find inspiration almost anywhere. I find inspiration on IG on many bloggers' photos, Pinterest, & locations that I visit. There are so many instances that I gather inspiration from what seems to be completely random things. 

What was your biggest fear starting your own company?

I think like any creative or designer, I never really feel that my designs are ever complete, or good enough. At least that is what I believed before starting Marloe. My biggest fear was that no one would be interested in my designs + that no one would buy them. I feared that Marloe would be a complete failure. My biggest fear was, that Marloe might fail and my dreams would become just that, dreams. I think all these fears are common in any one starting a business. My boyfriend is actually the one who pushed me, despite my fears, to start Marloe. I had quit my job about a year prior to starting Marloe, so money was a little tight despite my savings. It was all a gamble. It was slow at first and there were a lot of tears! ha! There's a lot of emotions that goes into starting your own business, but what makes it worth it, to me, is that I can finally express my own creativity through my own creative outlet. I no longer have to go to work for people that limit my creativity to what they feel is right. I'm free in a sense!

Is there a quote that you love and live by?

I don't have an inspirational quote that I live by necessarily. I do however, have a saying that I have always told myself which is, "You have the power to make your dreams come true. If you want it bad enough you will find a way to make it happen." 

Can you share some advice to those that might be thinking about starting their own company?

There's no way to be prepared for everything, but I would advice to be as prepared as you ca be. I know from personal experience that I could have planned better before starting Marloe. Luckily, I was able to adapt rather quickly to the challenges that came my way.  Have a support system. You will experience moments when you want to quit, you'll question your decision in starting a business. I did many times. Make sure it's want to do, though there are times that I think I am in over my head, there is nothing else I would rather do. I love what I do and I am thankful everyday that I get to do what I love and work for myself. I hope that through my story of how and why I started Marloe, I can empower more women to let go of their fears and start the businesses that they have always wanted to start. To me there is nothing more beautiful or more inspiring than a woman entrepreneur going after her dreams and making them happen despite the negative opinions of those who tell her she can't. I guess, I'm somewhat of a feminist in that way. ha!

Can you share with us a few of your favorite Instagram ladies or businesses? 

Kelli Murray is definitely a blogger that I am always following as a source of style inspiration. Dani of @seedanistyle, Jenna of @peubird, Richelle of Band tees + Lullabies (I'm not just saving that), Sincerely Jules, Frassyaudrey and many more that will make my list way too long. I love following AG Jeans and One Tea Spoon. I gather a lot of lifestyle inspirational designs from their photos. 

To read more and purchase their products visit their website

Marloe