Jacmel & Co. | Ethical Fashion | Haiti

Jacmel & Co. is a sassy line of ethically-produced calabash handbags made by local artisans in Haiti that are sold worldwide to conscious consumers who believe in job creation, women's empowerment and using their purchasing power to contribute to sustainable living around the globe.

Lucie Cincinatis, the Jacmel & Co. founder, ditched her Wall Street job to teach English and set up arts programs in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She fell in love with the craftsmanship of the local community and started Jacmel & Co. as a way to help generate sustainable income for those artisans.

Lucie took that leap in May 2014, which is jaw-dropping considering that she is regularly shipping out orders to women all over the world AND she has already been featured by Vogue, Elle, The Huffington Post, and several other big publications. Cheers to that!

 

 

Born in Belgium, Lucie says her greatest accomplishment thus far has been the relationships she has built within the Haitian community. "It's so nice to have the kids waiting for me when I travel. People in the neighborhood come say hi to me when they know I'm back. I see the difference I make in the community. Most of my artisans are single mothers, and when I first came none of their children were going to school. Now all of them are going to school."

In Haiti the calabash is considered a deeply spiritual fruit. Drawing from its sacred background, Lucie has created an organic fashion piece that spawns good vibes for its wearers who are aiding in the livelihood of women and families they may never encounter.

 

 

Jacmel & Co. will soon be expanding its offering to include sandals, home décor and jewelry.

Please support Jacmel & Co. and other ethical brands. Visit Jacmel & Co. at www.jacmelandco.com and email lucie@jacmelandco.com for more information.

Photos courtesy of Jacmel & Co.