shop give back | HeartStories

A move and a master’s degree couldn’t hold this designer’s heart back, Meet Elizabeth Lepine, Founder of Arrowroot

Would you share with us about your life before Arrowroot and now?

My (now) husband and I grew up a few blocks away from each other in Little Rock, Arkansas. We started dating in high school, went to separate colleges and got married about a year after we’d both graduated 🙂 He’s a huge part of Arrowroot too! I’m a very creative person but not super business savvy or organized. He keeps the business on track and is head of our marketing and strategy in addition to having his own full time job. We’re also expecting our first little one in March and are SO excited!

He and I moved to Denver so that I could get a master’s in counseling at Denver Seminary. I worked in mental health for about a year, but just couldn’t shake the urge to start an ethical fashion line.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I love …

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Using fashion as a medium for making positive change might seem like a glamorous way to give back, and live your heartstories. But running a social enterprise is hard. The margins are smaller, the days are longer and giving up affects so much more than you.

This is a beautiful story of a woman and her band of believers who won’t quit. She’s in it to change the lives of women, starting with the first 10.

Meet Katie Martinez, founder of Elgantees.

Hi Katie! Tell us about the moment you knew for sure you had to do something.

Back in 2010, I was top of my game as a Production Manager for a fashion company in New York City. Yet the fashion line dream was itching me, and moved back to Iowa to pursue it. I set up a “warehouse” in my parent’s basement with $10,000 saved up. That doesn’t seem like a lot to start a clothing line, …

by Crystal Gornto Female Social Entrepreneurs Inspiration Inspirational Women Love In Action Purpose Leave a comment chat

Shannon was one of the first women who was kind enough to chat with me when I first had the idea to find ways to support and connect female social entrepreneurs. Not only did she chat with me, I remember my words to her afterwards, “You watered my soul today.” And she still does. While I was dreaming a very infant, fragile and naive dream, that not many people understood, Shannon held space for me and encouraged me. She believed in me. That’s one of the things that makes her so special. She is a passionate believer in people.

Her love runs deep and her heart is a force to be reckoned with.

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Shannon Keith, Founder and CEO of Sudara.

Hi Shannon! Would you tell us a little bit about your life, your family? Where were you before Sudara?

I grew up in southern California, went …

by Crystal Gornto Female Social Entrepreneurs Inspiration Inspirational Women Love In Action Purpose Leave a comment chat

Image courtesy of Hailey Bell, event stylist, Fashioned for Freedom 2015. HBell Photography

When I was a little girl, I sang a song in church that I’ve never forgotten. It’s not a song many grown-ups sing, but I think of it often. It’s called, This Little Light of Mine.

It goes like this:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel – NO!
I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel – NO!
I’m gonna let it shine,
Hide it under a bushel – NO!
I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine.

When we got to the “hide it under a bushel” part, we’d shout “NO!” with so much enthusiasm, like it wasn’t …

by Crystal Gornto Fashion Friday Female Social Entrepreneurs Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Others The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

Have you ever thought about who made your clothes?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably heard about factory collapses in Bangladesh and felt sad for the loss of those people and their families. You probably saw photos of the terrible conditions in some factories and the faces of the men, women and children who work there. It was gut wrenching.

You might have rushed out the door, knowing it’s a terrible tragedy, but feeling like there wasn’t anything you could do. You have so much on your plate already, it’s hard to think about all the problems of the rest of the world. Sometimes it just feels like too much.

Especially when you feel so far away.

It hurts to know that over 1,000 people died in the 2012 collapse of the Rana Building, where there was a known crack in the factory wall the day before and other business evacuated their workers. But …

by Crystal Gornto Fashion Friday Love In Action Leave a comment chat

Kristen Seidle, Colette Sol USA Handmade Women’s Shoes to Fight Human Trafficking

Today is a day we’ve been working toward for quite some time. It’s the first day we’re flinging open the the virtual doors to the Shop by HeartStories, online marketplace. I’m thrilled and relieved.

And also, a little nervous about what you’ll think.

I want to tell the stories of each entrepreneur, one at a time and host their products as we tell their stories. So today, the structure of the store feels a little lonely, but that is by design. We have more products and more women to support coming very soon!

So let’s get started by meeting Kristen with Colette Sol USA! Today we have their James Biker Boot in two colors, until their Spring line arrives!

Ladies, I. Love. These. Boots.

Hi Kristen, would you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA and moved to NYC after …

by Crystal Gornto Female Social Entrepreneurs Inspirational Women Love In Action Purpose 4 comments chat