u.s.a.

In many counties around the world, entire people groups are being hunted and stripped of their rights. Those who flee often end up in nearby refugee camps where they also have very little local rights.

Many Refugees survive on the hope of resettlement in America. They hear of America, Wal-Marts lined with food, clean water, and free schools and believe that a life of freedom awaits them. However, due to language barriers, few job opportunities, and discrimination, they are faced with just as many challenges.

Austin Refugees
Noonday Collection works with a group of refugees and helps restore dignity to them by empowering them in the creative process, valuing their home culture, and providing supplemental income for their often low paying jobs.

Wendy Minks
We discovered this company because we loved their funky, 18K gold vermeil and semiprecious stone designs. Then we discovered that the designer has been working with the original group of Tibetan refugees to move to the United States for 17 years. She refuses to outsource and has created a community of women in her Manhattan workshop. Each style is handmade by one of their nine Tibetan jewelry artisans, your piece may have been made by Lobsang, Sang-Mo, Tomo, Tenzin, Renzin, Yeshi, Tsering, Tsering or Tsering, (that's right there are 3!).

Fara and her family fled the Taliban and resetelled in Russia for many years before being granted a visa to the United States. She learned English in 3 months and is currently working towards her GED. She learned how to sew and craft from her mother as a little girl. She loves creating new designs and earning some extra income that she sends back to her grandparents in Afghanistan.