Spread love this Valentines

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power of love

The mothers employed through Njabini Apparel and all of YOU who support us exemplify the power of love.  We are together in empowering each other, in proving that we all can create social change.

The mothers we employ fill us with love and inspiration daily and now we want to send it right back to them. Be together with us, buy a pamoja band, wrap up in our beloved loop scarf, and spread the love.

With every purchase made before February 14^th you will receive a personal valentine’s card from our team or the mothers who handcrafted your product.

Pamoja. We are together.

Njabini family

Holiday Collection

Happy Sunday mighty people!

Who would have thought that in just a few months we’d be established enough to produce a limited edition Holiday Collection!

So fend off that winter chill with this season’s limited edition must-haves: the snow white Jane slipper, and the poinsettia red Loop scarf!

It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished together so far and we couldn’t be more excited for the new year!

Pamoja

Social Business

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General, Ladies, mission, Social Business, vision

Happy Sunday Mighty People!

If you’ve been keeping up with our social media, then we’re sure you’ve seen the term social business a lot! But, do you really know what that means? Do allow us to explain.

A business is social when it’s aim is specifically social impact over maximizing profit for investors. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winning economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, says “[the] business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems, such as education, health, technology access, and environment, which threaten people and society.” The majority of profits are reinvested into the business to further the mission to maximize its impact. Pretty simple right? It’s just using business for a global good!

Because most investors don’t want to invest in something where they get no returns whatsoever, some of you are certainly wondering about where social businesses get capital–the business term for money– to start, operate, and grow?  Well, most social businesses do offer modest returns on investments– usually 2-3% annually with long-term payback periods. Investors who invest in social businesses are called impact investors– and they’re growing in numbers!

Njabini is a perfect example of a social business. Our profits are reinvested and as we grow we hire more ladies; and as we hire more ladies we increase our impact! It’s a magical cycle.

So there’s your crash course in social business and impact investing! We hope you’ve learned a little something this weekend!

Pamoja

Pamoja

Tags

humble, humility, ideals, Ladies, Pamoja, philosophy

Happy Sunday mighty people!

What is this funny word, Pamoja, we sign all of our posts with? Where does it come from? What does it mean? And, what does it have to do with Njabini?! Well, continue reading and you’ll find out.

Pamoja is the Kiswahili word meaning we are together; and, it really encompasses the beauty of this modern age. It says that no matter the distance separating our worlds, in the end, we are all humans and we are all together striving for the same thing– a life of choice, dignity, and hope.

The way you, reader, have received Njabini Apparel– brought us into your homes and shared us with your families and friends– truly shows that indeed we are together.    The women who carefully craft your products inspire us with their deep rooted sense of humanism and empathy. They represent the best of humanity, together we are greater, together we are stronger.

Pamoja

Flying Kites: A Haiku

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brand, Flying kites, ideals, loyal, philosophy, products

We fly together
Empowering the future
Inspiring hope

There are over 2 million orphaned children in Kenya; of these, 60,000 are homeless. Many children beg and rummage through garbage to find food; sometimes having to sniff glue to relive hunger pains. Young girls are often trafficked into lives of prostitution and abuse.

Flying Kites, our partner organization, provides abandoned, orphaned, and homeless children near Njabini a safe place to live with food, education, health care, and love.

Fifteen percent of the profits from every purchase is donated to Flying Kites. So, by buying a beanie for example, not only are you helping alleviate poverty for our artisans, but you are also helping provide a promising future for the next generation of Kenyans; because ultimately, these kids are Kenya’s future.

Visit njabiniapparel.org to learn more about our relationship with Flying Kites Global and how you can participate!

Pamoja

2011 Fall/Winter Launch Party!

Tags

Chunky, F/W 2011, Launch, Launch Party, products, Scarf, website

Good evening and Happy Sunday Mighty People!

Yesterday, Njabini Apparel celebrated a successful launch with…a party! We hosted a launch party at Boston’s Symphony 8 where many of our customers, old and new, came out to support NA! Thank you to everyone who made a purchase– and a lot of you did– it means our artisans make more money and the dollar amount contributed to Flying Kites goes up!

Just think, every time a purchase is made, a life is changed for the better.

If you couldn’t make it to the party, no worries! Check out some pictures below; and head over to the website, http://www.njabiniapparel.org, to purchase some stylish accessories for your winter wardrobe– all of which, of course, is handmade by the ladies in Kenya!

Pretty cool? We think so too!

Pamoja

Emily selling products from the 2011 F/W Collection!

"The Lucy Scarf" - A Chunky Knit Pocket Scarf

Members of the NA Team at the Launch Party!

Mashujaa Day

Hello mighty people!

We hope you’re all enjoying your newest purchases from the new collection! If you haven’t checked it out yet, head over to the brand new website !!

In equally thrilling news, yesterday, Kenyans celebrated the second annual Mashujaa Day to recognize the heroines and heroes that contributed to Kenya’s independence. Formerly known as Kenyatta Day, the event was renamed last year to honor Kenya’s new constitution.

The day before the event, Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, gave a speech in which he cited Kenya’s need to appreciate the struggles of their ancestors, but to look within themselves, and each other, to lead Kenya to social and economic prosperity.

Njabini Apparel is honored to meaningfully contribute to the effort to laying Kenya’s foundation for a fortuitous future through female economic empowerment.

Pamoja

Today is the Day !!

Tags

campaign, F/W 2011, General, Launch, website, Welcome

Hello mighty people !

Today is the day we’ve all been working hard for… the official launch of the 2011 Fall/Winter Njabini Apparel Collection AND of the new website!

Check everything out right now at www.njabiniapparel.org !

Pamjoa

Loyal

Tags

7 words, brand, F/W 2011, ideals, Launch, loyal, philosophy

The final word in the “7 Words We Live By” series is Loyal.

Foundations for any relationship cannot be laid without loyalty and trust. We search for loyalty in our friends, in our values, and in our institutions. Mohammad Yunus, the pioneer of microfinance, was loyal to the quest for poverty elimination through female empowerment and financial institutions. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was loyal to his belief in the founding ideals of the United States– that all are created equal, regardless of race, creed, or gender. Our artisans are loyal to their children’s futures. They firmly believe that with diligence, persistence, and resilience they can provide for their children the opportunities they never had.

Njabini is most motivated by this possibility. We know that the impact of Njabini’s success could be incredible. Help us make this dream a reality. Help us help those whose only crime was being born in the wrong zip code. Help us provide the opportunity for prosperity that all of this planet’s children deserve.

Pamoja

Dynamic

Tags

7 words, Beanie, brand, Dynamic, Dynamism, F/W 2011, ideals, Launch, philosophy, products, Scarf

The ladies who hand-make your unique product are much more than artisans; they’re mothers, caretakers, teachers, and a host of other things! They are as multifaceted and dynamic as the scarves, beanies, and slippers they knit.

For Njabini Apparel, being dynamic means being versatile, adaptable, and open to fresh perspectives on old ideas. Take the Njabini Team for example. This motley crew of 20-somethings has been thrusted into the real world. Before, we were International Affairs Majors; now we have become web-designers, bloggers, and supply-chain managers! Sometimes, it seems like were running full speed through the blackest abyss– undoubtedly in some random direction–just waiting to hit that brick wall. But, according to writer Peter Bregman, this is how we learn best– “by falling head-first into the unknown, and exploring it.”

The dynamism we all share enables us to maintain a positive attitude in the most dire circumstances, laugh-off the inconveniences of life, and continue driving forward toward the horizon.

Pamoja