Our Story
Bel Esprit markets and promotes international fashion designers whose collections respect the world and its inhabitants and adhere to ethical principles. Bel Esprit designers also support environmental and social causes, many returning a portion of their proceeds to the communities they employ to raise the standard of living and improve living conditions.
Bel Esprits mission is to promote ethical principles in the fashion industry and to create and develop sustainable businesses, particularly in the fashion sector, in disadvantaged regions around the world. Bel Esprit's Donate Design program engages the public and the fashion industry to contribute expertise, product design, and fund raising to give marginalized communities a dignified and sustainable living. This ground up approach allows citizens of a developing nation to participate in the global economy and secure the future their people and culture seek.
To launch the fund-raising efforts of Donate Design, Bel Esprit held a t-shirt contest in Philadelphia, asking school children to draw their dream of a beautiful world. In Cambridge, United Kingdom, another contest was held by the Young Lives organization. Winning designs were selected and will be produced as t-shirts for sale. Proceeds from the sale of the t-shirt will be donated to HEAL Africa to fund their training, grant and microloan programs. A percentage of the proceeds will be reinvested in additional Donate Design projects to expand fund-raising efforts for HEAL Africa and other organizations working on the ground to create and develop sustainable business ventures. The t-shirt contest has been successful in raising awareness and promoting the mission of helping others help themselves. Help us produce the t-shirts and invest in the future of communities around the world!
The Impact
Bel Esprits first partnership in the Donate Design project is with the organization HEAL Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been torn apart for years by military conflict. One weapon of war has been the rape and mutilation of Congolese women. The Congolese led hospital HEAL Africa in the Goma region, treats the women victims of gender based violence and women suffering injuries from childbirth. The hospital heals bodies, but it also works to heal lives by providing the women treated at the hospital with basic education, business training and grants and microloans to launch their own enterprises. The women live in safe houses and receive support from a network of women all working together to improve the lives of their families and communities. Bel Esprit is raising funds through the sale of t-shirts to help HEAL Africa give more women opportunities to create grassroots change in their country. Bel Esprit will offer additional support to fashion based businesses and help bring products to an international market.
Bel Esprit's donate design program will continue to reach out to organizations around the world working to develop sustainable businesses to give communities a dignified livelihood.
What We Need & What You Get
We want your help in launching the t-shirt project! The funds raised from this campaign will be used to produce the t-shirts from the winning designs. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts will be returned to the project to fund further production and sent to HEAL Africa to fund their grant and microloan program. All contributors to this campaign will be recognized as sponsors of the t-shirt contest, and will be listed on the Donate Design website. Those making a more significant contribution will receive a t-shirt of their choice.
Other Ways You Can Help
We invite others to organize a contest and help build awareness for the cause and have your community recognized for its involvement. We can help you organize your contest which will be posted on the Donate Design website, with the winning design posted and t-shirt produced. We invite you to contact us and organize a fun event and help create a beautiful world!
