We are hiring as soon as possible:

+ a Holstee Superwoman / Superman that keeps us organized, helps us with administrative work and becomes our head culinary chef. Read more.

+ a multi-talented Product Designer to help us prototype, design and produce many more kick-ass products. Read more.

+ a UX / UI Front-End Developer who will make the Holstee online experience uniquely smooth and engaging. Read more.

+ our next Agent99. Ilya has been rocking the role and now we're looking for the next Agent genius. Read more.

Woohoo! We'd love for your unique energy, skills, and passion to join our team- apply now! Know someone that you think would be the perfect fit for Holstee? We are personally cooking lunch for you here in our NYC office if you connect us to the person we end up hiring ;)

See the whole range of jobs we're offering right now. 

Helloooo beautiful people of the Holstee World!

It is an honor to be able to introduce myself to you as the newest member of this amazing Holstee team. I remember when I first read their powerful manifesto a year ago and could not stop thinking about it. Every line echoed what I had been trying to articulate for so long, and I have been excitedly following the Holstee journey every since.

A little about me--I was bit by the travel bug early on and have been able to volunteer in almost every continent including time spent at an orphanage in the North of Thailand, teaching at schools in the desert of Botswana, and at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute & Dying in Calcutta, India. These experiences rocked me to the core and birthed a passion for different cultures, international development, sustainability, and philanthropy.  What started out as a love for travel, people, and a desire for new experiences transformed my whole perspective on life and how I want to consciously live that life.

After graduating from Fordham University with a degree in International Affairs and concentration in Peace & Justice Studies, I packed my car and drove across the country to start a new adventure with an Americorps position in Oregon. I have since been working for an organization that seeks to inspire youth to be forces for positive change in their communities through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Prize Winners. On the side I have been trying to explore, hike, camp, bike, and soak as much as I can out of the experience of living in a different part of the country before I pack my car to return East!

I am so energized and inspired by the authentic and passionate spirit behind Holstee and am thrilled to jump on board.  I cannot think of a company whose values resonate more completely with my own and I am so encouraged by that. I am truly privileged to be among this amazing community and am so excited to get to know you more as we embark on this journey together.

Cheers!

-Mary

(download)

Click here to download:

just-launched-the-upcycled-wallet-delhi-rang-EGtcdnqHjpCauEFtlnxv.zip (1.3 MB)

Today we are launching our upcyled minimalist wallet in a new multicolor style: Delhi Rang. The name pays homage to the city (Delhi) where the colored (Rang, meaning ‘color’ in Hindi) plastic bags are collected off the streets, cleaned and sorted before being hand stitched into this slim wallet design. 

As with the other wallets we have partnered with Conserve India, a socially focused NGO in India determined to help those often referred to as 'rag pickers' by providing fair wage employment, education and health care for employees and their families. As each wallet is handmade and without using any dyes, each is one-of-a-kind in its pattern and style based on the specific colored bags used to make each wallet.

Upcycling is the process of taking items out of the waste stream and creating higher value items from them without the need to break them down (recycling), a process that not only reduces waste in new production but also prolongs the life of the otherwise discarded plastic bag - providing a high quality, minimally designed, vegan wallet. The equally mindful and convenient packaging is made from 90% recycled material and is fully biodegradable.

As with all Holstee products, 10% of sales are lent to entrepreneurs in the developing world through their partnership with Kiva.org.

Check out the Delhi Rang wallet here: http://shop.holstee.com/products/the-upcycled-wallet-delhi-rang

Can you believe it’s been a year?! The past year of working on Holstee has been exhilarating, challenging, and mind-opening. We have learned a lot about ourselves, our vision for Holstee and, as a result, we have continued to define who we are, and who we want to become. During the first year of designing our own sustainable apparel and accessories - we came to learn about a number of other designers who created with a similar passion for the planet and people in it - as a result, two months ago we launched a new section of our site, Curated x Holstee, dedicated to showcasing these designers. The response to our Curated shop and CuratedWeekly newsletter has been phenomenal considering this we have decided to better integrate these efforts. Starting next week, our entire community will begin receiving our Curated Weekly email (here is what they have looked like in past weeks). In these weekly emails, we highlight one beautifully designed product made with respect for the planet and people in it. Each week we create a quick and fun video review of the product, and include a coupon (10-30% off) valid for 24hrs. Also starting next week, the first person who decides to order the product will get it free! Yes, you read that right - the first order we receive will get a 100% refund for the product. This is our way of showing our appreciation for Holstee’s biggest supporters. Oh, and if you ever decide you don’t want to receive the Curated newsletter you can update your newsletter preferences. Do this by responding to next weeks email, or via the Update Preferences link in the mail. Thanks to each of you for your continued support, its been a wonderful experience launching and growing Holstee and we are proud to have friends like you to share it with.

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We have a special place in our hearts for designers who are able to use existing materials and efficiently turn them into beautiful, high quality products.  Our latest curation, the Feuerwear belt, exemplifies this. The founding brothers, Martin and Robert Klüsener, experimented with with jute bags and canvas sails until they produced products like this belt from the plentiful, durable unique fire hose they found no longer being used.

Most importantly, not only does Feuerwear make exceptional products, but we can confirm that  the brothers, behind this great company are super cool and among the most collaborative designers we've curated so far.  Yes, we are hoping to be like them when we grow up. You can learn more about their approach to sustainability and the brothers on their site. The belts are available in 3 colors and are designed for individuals to customize the length. Watch our curatedx video review below or check here to pick one one.  If you choose to pick it up in the next 24 hours use coupon code 'firehose.'

Big thanks to one of our favorite designers, Sascha Mombartz, for guest curating in the video below: