Helping Haitian Artisans & Families

Living in California for the past 24 years I live with the threat of earthquakes and have eXperienced a few but nothing like what recently occurred in Haiti. Unfortunately sometimes it takes catastrophes like this to call us to action to help those in need. However we arrive at that point is different for all of us but we should celebrate getting there.

Organizations that we believe in are helping the Haitian people now and they all need additional support. Even a simple text that donates $10 can help towards recovery. We invite you to make a world of difference with one small action.

With our social mission being to help support and sustain local and global artisans we would like to ask for special help in assisting Haitian artisans rebuild their workshops so that they can continue to practice their crafts and trades. Artisans in Haiti are key to economic recovery so please help us help Aid to Artisans with their work in Haiti.

Please visit Save the Children's website to see how this amazing non-profit organization is helping the children dramatically effected by this earthquake.

These are just 2 simple ways we collectively can help make a difference in the lives of Haitian artisans and families.

aesthetyX eXperience No. 1: 2010 - An African Evening

We are looking forward to inviting everyone to join us this Spring (date TBD) for our first amazing aesthetyx eXperience of the New Year and New decade called 'An African Evening'. Our friend and fellow lover of artisans, Sean Coetzee, is from South Africa and we fortunately crossed paths last summer in Los Angeles and he invited us to 'An African Evening' eVent in San Diego. It was so well executed and attended we thought it would be a great concept for an eVent at our Huntington Beach store.

Sean is a very inspired, motivated, and passionate young man with a killer South African accent and a great outlook on socially responsible business. It's fun for us to work with someone as talented as Sean who shares so many of our core business and social values.

Sean founded African Woodsmoke in 2007. Here is his Mission Statement:

BUY AFRICA. SUPPORT AFRICA.

This statement with the name of our business sums up our mission statement. Our goal is to bring the Woodsmoke of Africa to the West through our products, people, and culture all while showcasing the unique stories of our artists and their daily struggles. We incorporate giving into everything we do at Woodsmoke. By purchasing a Woodsmoke product you are directly helping an African artist and his/her family.

In the US education is a given, but in Africa it is seen as a privilege and opportunity because the government does not pay for education. Five percent of every Woodsmoke purchase goes to educating children in Africa.

“That’s what brings meaning to my life and this business.” Sean Coetzee, Founder Woodsmoke

AESTHETYX will be carrying beautiful gauzy scarves by one of Sean's talented artisans, Miriam Kamanthe, this Spring at our Huntington Beach store. Visit our store in early February to see her creations.

Looking forward to 2010

I would like to take this opportunity to eXpress my thanX to everyone who has ever visited our store, website, and/or blog. We appreciate your interest in AESTHETYX and our social mission to showcase and sustain local and global artisans.

We are eXcited to work with more global artisans directly this year as well as socially proactive artisan businesses, non-profit organizations that help to sustain artisans and develop global economies, and local artisans who contribute to the world of handmade.

We strive to spread our artisan soul stories to all of you so that you can appreciate and understand them but can spread them to your friends & family and together we can help sustain artisans through word of mouth and commerce.

We will be relaunching our website early in 2010 to allow our customers to easily connect with us and if they have shopped in our brick & mortar store continue shopping with us. We will also use our website as a central place to keep you posted on all of our news, upcoming eVents, and new artisan stories.

ThanX again to all of you out there following us, we wish you a new decade of peace & prosperity!

Judy