Saying “I Love You” to Women Around the World

I’ve been fascinated by beauty my entire life. The beauty of art. The beauty of words. The beauty of nature. The beauty of God. The beauty of people. The beauty of story. Perhaps it’s due to my love of writing or love of God, but I’m drawn to the beautiful lives of its many inhabitants.

Now as an intern at Elevat, I’ve been inspired by the beauty of Elevat and its artisans. Each of the artisan products at Elevat are not only beautiful in appearance (which of course they are), but they’re intricately crafted by the story of beautiful women all over the globe. Artisans from Spain, Kenya, Nepal, Thailand, India, Turkey, Guatemala, Morocco, Haiti, Belize, and more, all coming together to make beautiful art.

And that’s what these artisan products are. They’re not only ways for women to make a living, but a way for them to express themselves, their story, their joys, their hardships, their wounds, their successes, and their value. They pour themselves into their work as businesswomen to support themselves, their families, and communities, but as they do the craft, they do it as artists.

There’s a beautiful harmony in this empowerment that ties the farthest reaches of the world together through a shared love of creation and sharing that creation with others. This is not to deny the hardships, the poverty, the threat of sex-trafficking, the hunger, the financial struggle these women fight against, but through it all, through their strength and resilience, they still find ways to create beauty. They find ways to create a sustainable living for themselves, learn the skills to create their own business, find safe places to call home. To me, seeing these women strive for hope, keep living in a way that fills their hearts and their coffers makes their stories even more beautiful.

There’s such value in the work of these women because the women themselves are so incredibly valuable. It’s just as the Psalmist says: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth” (Psalm 139:13-15 ESV).

There’s an intrinsic beauty, intrinsic value in these women and the work they do. Made in the image of God as all of us are (Genesis 1:27), they create as He creates. Whether these women are believers or not, they’re living out a sacred calling on their lives to be artists, and Elevat is partnering with them in this calling and helping make it a reality for so many women in world.

When you buy a product from Elevat, you’re partnering with the ultimate story, God’s story. A story told in beauty from Genesis to Revelation, a story of creation, of hope in suffering, of pain and healing, of fallenness and redemption, of who God is and His love for His people. These artisans are a part of that story. And so are you.

By partnering with the fair-trade industry, you’re not simply wearing a piece of clothing or jewelry for practical purposes. You’re wearing art. You’re wearing the beautiful creation from the hands of someone else with a specific intent and design behind it. A design and an eye for beauty. You’re partnering with a woman across the globe and saying, “Yes, I see you. I know you. I love you, and I share your love for this art.” Isn’t that a beautiful thing? In a world that’s so divided and facing so many problems, I think it’s time we celebrate a little bit of beauty in the world. A little bit of beauty that means so much to so many people out there.

A way of living doesn’t have to be in the traditional American way of sitting in an office from 9am to 5pm and working on a computer all day long. Don’t get me wrong, there’s value in this work as well. But let’s not say that one has meaning, and one does not simply because they’re different. One person is not more valuable than another. What I’m trying to say is that these women have created a living for themselves outside of the normal box (at least what’s normal here in America). There’s beauty in that as well, that they make such beautiful products in their own way, in their own time as true artists. There are so many ways to make a sustainable living, to provide for your household these days, and I love that fact that our artisans have discovered their own path.

What I want to leave you with is this: beauty in the world comes in all shapes and sizes, from huge, monumental forms such as Jesus’ actions on the cross to the smallest earring made by a caring hand across the world. Both are beautiful in their own ways and have their own special meaning, their own special story. I’m honored to be a part of Elevat’s story, to partner with these women whom I’ve never met, and help bring their artistry into the world. I hope all those reading this will take that step in their own lives. To support fair trade. To empower women. To share in the beauty of art, creation, and love.