It was Friday afternoon and my To Do List was excruciatingly long, filled with boring administrative tasks: produce monthly journal entries, reconcile credit cards, calculate sales tax, order supplies, etc. When I reached “Kiva loan transfers” on my list, I was prepared to tackle it with my signature speed and efficiency. After all, the quicker these things were accomplished, the sooner my weekend would begin! 

And in fact, I had already identified thousands of dollars of eligible loans before I grasped the enormity of what I had been assigned to do. Here I was prepared to distribute nearly $14,000 worth of micro-loans as if I were simply paying a bill or moving money between bank accounts. So used to breezing through administrative transactions, I had forgotten what each of these loans signified.

Holstee has made a public commitment to “paying it forward” by loaning 10% of sales revenue to entrepreneurs throughout the world. When customers purchase a Manifesto Poster, Black Wallet, or Alpaca Hat, they trust Holstee to act in good faith to fulfill this promise and help contribute to sustainable social change. For Holstee, these loans are one of the concrete ways that we live our values, put our money where our mouths are, walk the walk, etc. Making these loans isn’t something we have to do to stay in business; it is reason why we want to stay in business.

For the recipients, these loans often mean the creation or expansion of a business, creating an opportunity for self-sufficiency and better lives for their families and communities. Even for those receiving their first loan of only a few hundred dollars, the impact can be significant. Micro-lending is certainly not a panacea, but it can provide tangible improvements in real people’s lives without a lot of red tape and middle men.

Ashamed that I had been so flippant and rushed with this responsibility, I took a deep breath, put away my To Do List, and started over. Once I had given myself the time, the stories I found were truly inspiring:

Seamstresses from Togo, Benin, Senegal, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Lebanon, Colombia, Ecuador, and Honduras:

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Click here to download:

walking-the-walk-fqigzInzEiuabygiJxis.zip (172 KB)

Emiliana from Bolivia and Sughran from Pakistan, both mothers and shoemakers:

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Click here to download:

walking-the-walk-ucuxmvdbnadCjJBBggoD.zip (148 KB)

Fayzamad, a cotton processor in Tajikistan:

Women selling textiles and sewing supplies in Costa Rica and Togo:

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Click here to download:

walking-the-walk-lHvsdffJgwyabcAggCbd.zip (68 KB)

Used clothing and shoe sellers in Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Paraguay:

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Click here to download:

walking-the-walk-vjhkJktGumAkGFlvuHAF.zip (158 KB)

And many, many more... Check out Holstee’s Kiva page to see all of our loans http://www.kiva.org/lender/holstee

**Note to Holstee Friends & Family: Although we made loans to entrepreneurs in many different industries, I did try to focus on those working in the apparel, footwear, and accessories supply chain. Next time we disburse loans, are there particular activities or industries in which you would like us to invest? Are there regions or countries you feel passionate about supporting? I would love to hear your feedback!

Check out this video of Fabian speaking at Zurich/Creative Mornings (making us all in NYC so proud)! Many thanks to Daniel Frei for sharing it with us and to Tina Roth Eisenberg for the opportunity! 

Now we get to enjoy the Swiss chocolates he brought back! :)

We are excited to announce that Thomas Reggi has jumped on board as the Holstee technology lead! He has already been busy bringing the online presence of Holstee to life with his pixel perfect programming (all of the love in the newly designed website is from this guy right here :). A yin to his own yang, Thomas studied design and illustration in university to become a developer with some of the most impeccable design skills we have ever met. Without further ado, a few words from the newest family member:

Hey All!

First of all, we could not be more thrilled, honored, and proud about the launch of the LifeCycle Film. We had an amazing group join us for the launch party in New York City that was a blast. As of today we are at 20,569 views and counting on YouTube (!) and we are blown away by the love pouring in via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! 

Secondly, there are many new products in the works that will be launching in the weeks to come! We will soon be offering a new limited edition color of the Holstee wallet in celebration of a new non-profit partnership that we are psyched to announce. We also have been collaborating with emiLime to design a beautiful winter hat, handmade in Peru from 100% Alpaca wool that will be perfect for the cold months ahead! 

Hello! I am very pleased to introduce myself as Holstee's newest family member!

Today is my third day at Holstee and I am still dizzy with excitement. I even fist pumped someone at lunch!  I am trying to tone down the overly enthusiastic hand shaking, emails with excessive exclamation points, and general wide-eyed ebullience, but so far it's been tough. I can't help it- I'm just so glad to be here! 

My journey to Holstee has been several years in the making. I first fell in love with ethical fashion while working at an employee-owned garment factory in Nicaragua, called the Nueva Vida Sewing Cooperative. It was very hard, hot work that made my feet hurt and my back ache. But after hours of what felt like pure chaos, we had produced a tidy pile of beautiful t-shirts made from organic cotton and produced with fair labor. I was absolutely hooked.  

After Nicaragua, I returned to the states to get a Masters from NYU in business and labor studies. Since graduating, I have continued to work in apparel production as well as employee-owned business development and non-profit management. Most recently, I was working in social compliance for a large children's wear company in Manhattan. I am thrilled to be taking my talents to Brooklyn and suiting up as the new Holstee point guard/assistant coach/cheerleader!   

Thanks in advance for welcoming me into the Holstee family. Please feel free to drop me a line to say hello anytime! 

Much love to you all, Tylea

Many people have been writing in to see if it is possible to buy Holstee goods at stores near them, and we are so excited to say that this is quickly becoming a reality. Our wholesale extraordinaire, Mikey, has been rocking the road and connecting with amazing stores across the country. We are looking for stores that share our passion for sustainable design and value the mindful lifestyle and positive impact we seek to spread through design.

If you are one such shopowner who shares in our ideals, check out our wholesale page for more info on how to connect with Mikey. Know a store that would dig our values and products? We'd love to hear your recommendations! Right now we have our sights set on Seattle, WA, San Francisco, Berkeley & Los Angeles, CA, Austin, TX, Boulder & Denver, CO, Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH. Any and all tips on stores in these cities are appreciated! :D

PS. Many thanks to Agent 99 Ilya Spektor for this great video on the beautiful Manifesto Cubby Frame! For more information on how you can get one of these beautiful pieces for your store or coffeeshop, contact mikey@holstee.com.

Check out this video of Dave and Mike speaking at the TEDx East Hampton event from this past July. Speaking on "The Economy of Values," they were able to share the passion and inspiration behind the founding of Holstee and the words of the Manifesto. The guys had a great time and were glad to be able to share what we are all about! Woohoo!

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. -Howard Thurman

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