Reason #1: because you can cancel anytime, and there is no fee or penalty or nonsense.

We know that recurring bills are no fun — but we decided to make CAUSEBOX a membership because it was the only way to predict how much product to order from our amazing artisan partners and brands. This creates more fair trade jobs, reduces waste, and since almost every box sells out, it allows you to receive exclusive products that are never available again! Oh and of course you can cancel anytime, it is 100% hassle free, and there are no cancellation fees.

Reason #2: because your membership helps people.

Every product inside of every CAUSEBOX helps people or our environment in some way. Some products provide meals for the hungry, some create fair trade jobs for women all throughout the world, some donate books to children without access to literature. And that barely scratches the surface. Whether it’s education, health, or the protection of vulnerable women — every product supports something positive, and has a story. You will be proud of all of the products you discover in CAUSEBOX.

Reason #3: because it is an incredible deal

Let’s face it: everyone likes a great deal. CAUSEBOX is one of the best deals around. You’ll get $150 worth of thoughtfully designed products that you’ll love for only $50 each season (or, basically $16.67/month). Plus, we keep hearing that the boxes are only getting better and better every season!

Reason #4: because your time is valuable

CAUSEBOX is the best way to discover brands that really make a difference, without having to spend your whole entire day online searching for them. You know that when you walk into Whole Foods you’re going to find food that you can feel good about eating — but when you walk into a mall, it’s difficult to know if you can be proud to support the brands you’ll find there. CAUSEBOX takes the guesswork out of shopping for your accessories, jewelry, homewares, and lifestyle products. It’s such a fun surprise, but you’ll also be so happy to learn about, know about, and brag about CAUSEBOX-featured brands.

Reason #5: because you’re joining a community

One of the most pleasant surprises since starting CAUSEBOX was when we started to feel a community form. There is so much hurtful nonsense on the internet these days, and we are so proud that you don’t find any of that kind of stuff on CAUSEBOX social media or in our customer support emails. What we find every day, on every post, are strong, loving, supportive women — sharing their excitement over brands that are doing positive things in the world. It’s difficult to find that kind of community these days — and when you join CAUSEBOX you know you’re joining a group of women with heart, who share the same values as you.

Okay maybe 6 reasons... :)

Reason #6: because we care

There are some things that you can’t fake. When you’re building a company like CAUSEBOX... your heart better be in the right place. Ours is — if we’re allowed to say that :) We care so much about the artisans, companies, and nonprofits that we are able to work with, anddd we care just as much about you. We’re only an email away, if you ever have any issue at all with your membership, ideas for our boxes, special requests, or questions about who we are and what we’re all about — we adore our members and will do anything to help them. We even have a whole wall in our office filled with CAUSEBOX member photos!

Reserve your membership at causebox.com and join the community!

The Winter box is gone, the Welcome box was a success, and now it’s time to make room for Spring! We’ve got big plans with this box and let’s just say, we think you’re going to love it. :) 

The Winter CAUSEBOX was a good one – it was so good, that we sold out 50 days ahead of schedule! To hold us over until the Spring box, we launched our very first Welcome Box! Each Welcome Box is filled with $150+ of products from some of our favorite socially conscious companies from past boxes – you definitely don’t want to miss this one either!  Plus, when you sign up and purchase a Welcome Box, you’re also reserving a Spring Box – and we promise, that one is going to be amazing!! Keep scrolling to see what products we’ve curated for our very first Welcome Box :) 

BRANDED Collective – Mini Cuff

Each one of these beautiful brass cuffs is hand hammered and numbered by a women rescued from Human Trafficking in Tennessee. Perfectly chic, minimalistic, and meaningful. You’ll be amazed at how many compliments you’ll get with this on!

LSTN Sound Co. – Zebrawood Earbuds

Each pair of LSTN Bowery Headphones is handcrafted from REAL wood, and with their rich and unique wood grains, no two pairs of headphones are the same! And to top it off, for every pair of headphones that LSTN sells, they help to restore hearing to a person in need!

Noonday Collection – Gold Leaf Earrings 

These beautiful earrings are handmade with love in India out of gold-foiled leather. Noonday Collection collaborates on designs with talented artisans in vulnerable communities around the world — and the results are inspiring, fashionable, and original.

Love for Humanity – Face Cream

Love for Humanity told us that when we tried their face cream we would HAVE to put it in the box — and they were right! This stuff is amazing. It is organic, vegan, cruelty free, Made in the USA — AND for every product that LFH sells they provide a meal for the malnourished!

Hobbs Tea – Tea Traveler Pack

Assorted single-origin, premium, organic tea pack handpacked in Haleiwa, Hawaii.

CAUSEBOX Foiled Print + Reclaimed Wood Frame

"Be the Good One" - Gold foiled print designed exclusively for CAUSEBOX members — and frames handmade out of reclaimed wood in Venice Beach, California, perfect for interchanging your quarterly CAUSEBOX prints!

The Winter CAUSEBOX is here and we’re serious when we say this is our BEST.BOX.EVER! This box is full of empowerment, hope, and love. It’s going fast, so run over to causebox.com and get your box before it’s gone. 

Tribe Alive x Erin Loechner – Exclusive Scarf

A scarf handmade in India, designed exclusively for CAUSEBOX, in collaboration with Erin Loechner, of Design for Mankind. 

Parker Clay – Leather Clutch 

Exclusive leather clutch, handmade in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

L’Occitane  – Hand Cream

Bestselling Shea Butter Hand Cream – made up of hand-harvested shea butter from Burkina Faso in West Africa.

Lauren B. Beauty – Nail Polish

Non-toxic, eco- and vegan-friendly nail polish in a hazy, pale gray.

Courtney Pilgrim – Exclusive Print 

Seasonal print that awakens the imagination – painted by Atlanta, GA based artist Courtney Pilgrim, and finished in silver foil.

CAUSEBOX – Calendar and Wood Frame

2017 Desk Calendar, with woodblock stand handmade in Los Angeles from reclaimed wood. For every calendar the CAUSEBOX creates, a tree is planted by way of our charity partner: Trees for the Future.

Krochet Kids Int’l. – $25 Gift Card

$25 online gift card for Krochet Kids International. Discover beautiful, meaningful products, handmade in Peru and Uganda, and signed by the women who made them

We are so proud to introduce a CAUSEBOX exclusive in our Winter Box. We collaborated with Tribe Alive and Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind to bring CAUSEBOX members a chic and elegant Winter scarf, handmade by the artisans of India. Read the full story below and get the scarf in this Winter’s box before it sells out!

This love story begins in Fort Worth, Texas, at the headquarters of Tribe Alive. Founder Carly Burson sifts through several oversized scarf samples, just arrived from India — all of them beautiful and unique in their own way, but none of them perfect for the partnership at hand. She wants to create something exclusive, something chic and minimal, but accessible. She calls on her friend Erin Loechner — designer, writer, stylist, (and all around amazing human) of Design for Mankind — and asks her to weigh in.

“Replace the olive with sharkskin gray. Add some creamy whisper white; remove the poppy red. Leave the navy blue just as it is. Tassels in blue and white. Love the stripes. Fray the edges.”

Fast-forward four months: that call to Erin for some nuanced design cues snowballed into a trip to India with the Tribe Alive team. She is now overseeing the project that she helped bring to life, and she’s getting an intimate look at the thriving relationships that Tribe Alive has developed with its artisans.

The scarf, which so recently was just an idea, is now providing fair trade wages and working conditions for 42 individuals in Jaipur and Panipat, and Erin and Carly have traveled across the world to take it all in.

The colors were chosen, but now the thread needs to be sourced. For something as specific and unique as the thread used for these scarves it can take weeks to source all of the material. After the thread is aggregated, it’s taken to the weaver’s house in Panipat, Haryana—where it is spun into spools, and eventually secured onto the foot looms that will be used to turn the thread into textiles. The foot looming itself is beautifully synchronized, an art performance of sorts. Later, after the tassels are individually prepared in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the textiles are finished, cut, sewn, and frayed, and then each tassel is hand-sewn, one-by-one, onto the scarves.

Still, the work is not over—tags need to be added. And like the rest of these scarves, the tags are meticulously crafted with purpose. Each tag tells the story of a collaboration between Erin’s Design for Mankind and Tribe Alive — and the tags have a story of their own. They are created from recycled clothes that would have otherwise ended up as landfill. The fabric is shredded into small pieces and turned into pulp—the pulp is laid upon screens, stacked, and flattened into thin sheets. After they’re removed from screens one by one, the sheets are hung to dry. When the sheets have dried, they are screen printed, individually cut, and finally, they are affixed to the scarves.

All of this for a scarf and a tag.

But isn’t that how it should be? This is a love story, after all. It’s a story about a company that loves and believes in people. A company that is passionate about the details—about providing safe jobs, sustainable income, and a chance for its artisans to determine their own futures. It is a story about building beautiful things together— about traveling to India to stand side by side with the artisans, to attend to all of the details. And you can tell; you can feel all of this. You can see all of the idiosyncratic details and human touches—but more importantly, you can feel the love and pride that was poured into each scarf—from foot loom to tassel to tag pulp.

The Fall CAUSEBOX is here and we just cannot contain our excitement! If you haven’t ordered ordered your Fall CAUSEBOX head, run over to causebox.com and reserve your box before it’s gone. 

Dogeared Jewelry – Balance Necklace 

An elegant, minimalistic take on the bar necklace from Dogeared’s Balance Collection. Designed and handmade sustainably and ethically in Los Angeles by one of the pioneers of social enterprise.

Liz Alig – Handmade Apron

A classic, timeless apron, handmade out of upcycled dress shirts by women artisans in Haiti and Ghana. 

Urbana Sacs – Small Creative Sac

A beautiful, chic multi-use storage container handmade in Los Angeles out of recycled, washable paper. Perfect for fruit, desk accessories, bedside bouquets, and much more.

Hobbs Tea – Tea Traveler Pack 

An assortment of some of the highest quality, organic, single-origin teas in the world — handcrafted and hand-packed in Haleiwa, Hawaii.

Jenessa Wait – Fall CAUSEBOX Exclusive Print 

This seasonal print is hand-lettered by artist Jenessa Wait and finished in a rose gold foil. It is the perfect desk or bedside reminder to look for the good in your life and reflect gratefully upon it.

Gramr Gratitude Co. – 6-pack of Thank You Cards

A six pack of gold-foiled thank-you cards and chic light grey envelopes, that arrive just in time for gratitude season. Each set of cards is designed, foiled, and printed in Los Angeles, and advances Gramr's vision to encourage meaningful and intentional correspondence.

Lucky Iron Fish 

The cooking accessory that increases iron content in your meals — Lucky Iron Fish is a simple, creative solution aimed at the global iron deficiency epidemic that affects nearly 3.5 billion people. 

umano 

The Fall ‘16 box artwork was illustrated by nine-year old Jasmine, from Harlem, NY — in partnership with umano. umano is an apparel company that cultivates and supports artistic expression and creativity in the youth.

In case we haven’t expressed our excitement over the Esperos market tote we’ve curated for the Summer CAUSEBOX, we are really excited! For every product that they sell, Esperos provides a year of education to a child in need in a developing country. We talked with Esperos founder, Oliver Shuttlesworth, to learn a bit more about one of our Summer CAUSEBOX brands. 

1. How would you describe your brand aesthetic? 

I would describe our aesthetic as being minimalistic but smartly designed. I try to focus on pairing clean lines and simple silhouettes that will age well with plenty of function built into each product.

2. Apart from the obvious proof that quality education is a charity category that is among the most important for initiating the kind of change that has infinite positive outcomes and repercussions, why did the founding team at Esperos feel the call to support this type of charitable effort? 

In college I spent a good deal of time mentoring and tutoring students at a lower income school in Austin where the need for quality education and a level playing field with regard to available opportunity became all too apparent. But everything crystallized after a few trips to Central America where I saw more widespread levels of poverty than I'd ever witnessed before. And there the refrain was echoed: access to quality education was a must to lift children and families out of poverty. Coming out those trips, I knew for certain I wanted to make an impact within the realm of education, but only later would that vision turn into ESPEROS.

3. Why did you pick the particular charity partner that you work with (The Nobelity Project)?

We value the work The Nobelity Project is doing on the ground in Kenya and Honduras and think they're having an enormous impact within the communities they work. We like that they're so connected to the work they do and that they focus on growing their body of work within specific communities rather than taking a more "shotgun" approach. With continued investment in specific areas, it breeds trust and commitment all the way around, which in turn leads to more success in pulling families out of poverty.

4. Are you able to share any quantified information about the impact that Esperos has been able to have so far on education initiatives and charitable support?

We've most recently funded the construction of a school building in Alamach, Kenya which is expected to impact approximately 2,000 children. We've also been able to fund one year's tuition for more than 500 children in Haiti through our partnership with Fonkoze and helped fund the construction of another school building in partnership with Pencils of Promise, which will benefit more than 1,000 local school children. We've also funded the purchase of textbooks that will benefit more than 1,200 students at Ol Moran Secondary School in Laikipia Plateau in Kenya.

5. Are there any specific children that come directly to mind when you think about your mission?

The children who most come to mind are siblings I met on my very first giving trip to Haiti. A wonderful young family who was able to attend school as a result of our very first donation will forever remain special to me.

(pictured: Siblings that Oliver met on his first giving trip in Haiti) 

Follow Esperos: 

Instagram: @esperosbags​

Facebook:  @esperosbags

The Summer CAUSEBOX is full of all kinds of goodness and this box is different. We’ve stepped up our game and this Summer, we’re digging deep with each of the brands that we’ve curated, giving you even more of a reason to really love them. With this box, we’ve been able to empower women who are survivors of human trafficking, provide dental hygiene kits for homeless children, fund education for children in developing countries, and that’s not all! We can’t wait for you all to get your hands on this box – you’re going to love it. 

BRANDED COLLECTIVE – Tiny Brass BRANDED Cuff 

We love the chic simplicity of BRANDED Collective’s bands. They create jewelry that means so much more than meets the eye. BRANDED Collective has provided jobs to 14 survivors of human trafficking with the help of Nashville-based non-profit End Slavery Tennessee. These survivors are employed to handcraft the BRANDED jewelry collection, and 25% of the profits are reserved for the rescue and restoration of survivors. 

ESPEROS – Market Tote in Exclusive CAUSEBOX Colors

We partnered with Esperos because we love the classic, clean lines of their design and because we share the same views about the importance of education in disrupting the cycle of poverty. Every product sold helps fund one year of education for children in the developing world – to date. Esperos has funded the construction of school buildings, provided textbooks, paid tuitions, and funded mobile libraries across Guatemala, Honduras, and Kenya. 

THE SMILE LIFE – Beach Towel 

We love the simple message and reminder to smile more. We designed this beach towel with The Smile Life for the Summer CAUSEBOX and we love it! For every product that The Smile Life sells, they donate an oral hygiene kit to an at-risk youth organization. Additionally, The Smile Life provides mentorship, accountability, and guidance to at-risk youth in Los Angeles. 

JUICE BEAUTY – USDA Organic Lip Moisturizer 

Juice Beauty goes “beyond natural” by producing products with an organic botanical juice base and the majority of their ingredients are from West Coast USDA certified Organic farms – so they can monitor quality, and limit fuel waste when they manufacture. Through and through, Juice Beauty is rethinking and improving the way beauty and skincare products are made and we’re grateful they’re leading the charge in giving us natural, ethical, and sustainable options. 

DANIEL GURWIN – Original “Rise and Shine” Print 

Daniel Gurwin is a designer and typographer living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Drawing inspiration from vintage ephemera, local vernaculars, and everyday experience, Daniel strives to create work that is warm, personal, and timeless. 

“With this composition, I tried to evoke the magic of Palm Springs, a place that seems to feel stuck somewhere in a dream-like past. A place where you don’t simply wake up, a place where you Rise and Shine.” - Daniel Gurwin 

GOMACRO – Everlasting Joy (Ellie Goulding’s Signature) Bar 

Apart from making one of the most tasty bars we’ve ever had, the GoMacro Everlasting Joy bar is vegan, macrobiotic, 100% natural, and sustainably sourced. One of GoMacro’s five core company principles is to give back – and they give back through a number of different charities – this brand new bar donates a percentage of sales to feed the homeless. 

TRIBUTE – Video Voucher

Tribute makes it easy to create a collaborate video montage that you can give as a gift on any occassion. We believe in Tribute’s mission – to spread gratitude, appreciation, and love – by creating meaningful montages that can be held onto and cherished forever. We love the way that Tribute makes it easy for us to connect deeply with the people who matter to us, and we are proud to join them in bringing more meaningful moments to life. 

LOVE FOR HUMANITY – Hydrating Facial Scrub 

Love for Humanity products are USDA Certified Organic and completely free of chemicals, toxins, and fillers of any kind. Their products work (and smell) amazing, and they donate a meal for every product sold! By donating one meal for every product sold (through their charity partner Feed the Children), Love for Humanity Organics has been able to donate more than 25,000 meals so far – and their goal is to donate 5 million meals to children worldwide. We are proud to be able to contribute to their effort! 

The Summer CAUSEBOX is shipping very very soon and we cannot wait for you guys to see all the amazing products we’ve curated for this box! We are so excited to have an Esperos Market Tote with colors exclusive to the Summer CAUSEBOX! 

We have been fans of Esperos bags and their mission for a long time, so we cannot contain our excitement that every single one of our CAUSEBOX members will be receiving one of these totes. It’s the perfect summer accessory to take to the beach or use all the time! Esperos is passionate about ending the cycle of poverty and believes that education is one way of doing so. For every product that they sell, Esperos donates through their charity partner, Nobelity Project, a year of education to a child in the developing world. 

After finding aCanela and the Shashi: Indian Spice blend for the Spring CAUSEBOX, we had to have founder Kylie Chenn show us some of her skills. The CAUSEBOX team spent the afternoon with Kylie and got to experience the magic of her cooking and the spices.  She cooked three different dishes, all incorporating the Shashi: Indian Spice blend and we’ve got the recipes for you! 

Coconut Veggie Curry 

Ingredients

Northern India Basic Sauce

2 tomatoes, pureed in blender

2 Tablespoons Oil

1 heaping spoonful Shashi: India Spice Blend

4 cloves fresh garlic, finely diced

1-inch piece fresh ginger, finely diced

1 large yellow onion, finely diced

½ cup water

 ½ teaspoon salt

Coconut Veggie Curry

½ cup cashews

½ cup water

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup coconut milk

Instructions 

Northern India Basic Sauce 

1. Add 2 Tablespoons oil to pan and place over medium heat.  When the oil is hot add 1 heaping spoonful of the Shashi : India Spice Blend.

2. Let the spices simmer in the oil until the seeds begin to pop (2-3 minutes), then add the finely diced garlic & ginger.  After a few minutes, add the onion.  When the onion is soft and translucent (after about 5 minutes) add the ½ cup water and ½ teaspoon salt.

3. Place the two whole tomatoes in a blender and blend until pureed, then add to the sauce. Allow the mixture boil down over medium heat until the water has evaporated and the sauce has thickened.

Coconut Veggie Curry 

1. Prepare the Northern India Basic Sauce (recipe above) and set aside.  

2.  Place the ½ cup cashews & ½ cup water in a blender and puree.

3. Add the cashew puree and 1 cup coconut milk to the Northern India Sauce Base, place over medium heat, and mix thoroughly.

4. Add the 3 cups of mixed vegetables, 1 teaspoon salt, and mix well.  Cover and let simmer until all the vegetables are thoroughly cooked (15-20 minutes).

5. Garnish with raisins and cilantro leaves and serve with rice or delicious Indian bread.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients

Northern India Basic Sauce 

*same as above in Coconut Veggie Curry*

Chicken Tikka Masala 

2 tomatoes, roughly chopped

1 cup yogurt

1 lemon, juiced

2- 4 chicken breasts, cubed

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

Northern Indian Basic Sauce

*Repeat steps from Coconut Vegetable Curry for Basic sauce* 

Chicken Tikka Masala 

1. Prepare the Northern India Basic Sauce (recipe above) and set aside.

2. Add the 2 chopped tomatoes , 1 cup yogurt, and lemon juice to the Northern India Sauce Base, place over medium heat, and mix thoroughly.

3. Add the cubed chicken & 1 teaspoon salt to the sauce and let simmer until chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked (10-15 minutes).

4. Enjoy with rice or Indian bread.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Palak Paneer

Ingredients 

Northern India Basic Sauce 

*Same as above in Coconut Veggie Curry recipe* 

Palak Paneer 

2 whole tomatoes, pureed in blender

1 bunch spinach

200 grams paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese)

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

Northern India Basic Sauce 

*Repeat steps from Coconut Vegetable Curry for Basic Sauce*

Palak Paneer 

1. Prepare the Northern India Basic Sauce (recipe above) and set aside.  

2. Boil the spinach for 2 minutes, strain, and blend to a puree (can blend with tomato puree if desired).

3. Add the tomato puree, spinach puree, and salt to the Northern India Basic Sauce, and simmer over medium heat until thoroughly mixed.

4. Cut the paneer into 1-inch cubes and add to the mixture.  Cook for eight - ten minutes, or until paneer has softened.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy with rice or delicious Indian bread.

(pictured: Kylie Chenn, aCanela founder)

If your mouths aren’t watering already, we promise they will be once you try these recipes! We’re still dreaming of these amazing dishes and we can’t wait to hear all about your cooking with aCanela’s Shashi: India Spice blend. You can also visit acanela.com for a few more recipes you can make with the Shashi:India Spice Blend in the Spring CAUSEBOX. Good luck :)

When we discovered Bridgewater Candles, we immediately fell in love with their Sweet Grace scent. When we sampled it, we knew that we had to share not only the amazingly scented candle with our CAUSEBOX community, but we had to share with you the story of Bridgewater Candles. For every candle that they sell through their Light a Candle • Feed a Child program, they are able to donate a day’s worth of meals to a child in an international orphanage.  Read out interview with Bridgewater President Bob Caldwell Jr. below. :) 

1. Tell us about the background of Bridgewater Candles. Today, it’s a huge success in the world of beautiful, socially conscious products. How did the company begin, and how did it get to where it is today?

We are a family-owned business whose roots go back to 1974. My dad eventually stumbled into the home fragrance industry during the early 1980’s and several years later, my parents exited the greenhouse business to focus on the rapidly expanding home fragrance business.  

In 1998, we launched Bridgewater Candle Company. Around 2006, we began discussing the need to repackage and rebrand Bridgewater.  Ever since I can remember, my parents viewed the business as more than just a means for profit, but also as a vehicle for giving back and doing good.  As a family, we began discussing what it might look like to more directly connect the dots for our employees between the work they do each day and the impact it makes. We all agreed that it needed to be authentic and something we were passionate and committed to investing in for the long-term. We wanted it to be more than a short-term feel good initiative.  As we began exploring what this might looklike, we realized the perfect partnership was right under our nose.  

Since the founding of Rice Bowls in 1980, our business has donated much of the back office support to Rice Bowls, reducing their overhead and allowing more of the money raised to go towards the mission of Rice Bowls.  Overtime, Rice Bowls shifted its focus from famine relief to providing for the food budgets of children’s homes around the world. We realized Rice Bowls was a perfect partnership through which we could clearly connect the giving dots for our employees.  It was an organization and cause our employees were already familiar with and an organization and cause to which we had been deeply committed to for over 25 years.  

In 2010, we rebranded Bridgewater with a give back component and the Light a Candle • Feed a Child™ program was born.  For every container filled candle we sell, we donate $.75 to Rice Bowls.  On average, $.75 will provide 3 meals. So, for every container candle purchased, an orphaned child is fed for a day.   It’s humbling to look down our candle production lines and know that each candle on the line represents the life of a child who is being transformed through something as simple as a candle.

2. Not only do Bridgewater Candles smell incredible, but they’re also held in colorful,intricately-designed tins. What’s the design process for each candle? How important is the role of design in the process of creating a new candle or new scent?

As it relates to design, we are first and foremost fragrance driven.  Great packaging will catch the consumer’s eye and may create an initial sale, but it won’t bring the customer back for more.  It takes great fragrances to accomplish that goal, and that’s what we are after. We are very unique in that we have our own team of in-house perfumers who work with the brand team to develop each fragrance from concept to finished product.  The development of a fragrance typically begins with the creation of a fragrance brief,which includes pictures and color swatches to set a mood and inspire specific fragrance notes and accords for inclusion in the fragrance. This brief is then used to inspire both the perfumery team and the graphic design team in creating the fragrance, packaging, and a fragrance name so that each component builds off the other all integrating into one great product.

(pictured: Sweet Grace Mingle tin candle in the Winter CAUSEBOX)

3. Is there a lesson or takeaway that Bridgewater has learned on the path to success? There are so many new, smaller socially focused businesses out there and I know they would love to hear advice from a company as successful as Bridgewater. 

Focus on designing great products first and foremost.  As a socially-focused entrepreneur, it is easy to fall into the trap of making social impact the primary focus of the business.  Never forget that it is a business first, and your ability to have social impact as an entrepreneur will be directly tied to the marketplace success of your products.  Work to create products that consumers will enthusiastically seek out. While the mission absolutely rests at the core of the socially-focused brand’s DNA, within the marketplace the social mission should be the cherry on top that closes the sale, not the sole basis for the sale in the first place. 

4. We fell in love with the Light A Candle, Feed A Child program. Can you tell us about that, and why it’s so important for Bridgewater?

One of our core values is to “Act justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly.”   Another is to “Do things that matter.”  Caring for vulnerable children who lack a family to support, nurture, and protect them is something we care deeply about and is one of the ways we live out these core values.  In addition, the Light a Candle • Feed a Child™ program directly connects the work that our employees do each day to the difference their work makes. 

(pictured: Bridgewater Candle president at a orphanage in Haiti)

5. What’s the number one thing you’d want a new customer to know about Bridgewater?

We are in this for the long haul.  We are serious about creating great fragrances and great products that customers will return to loyally purchase.  We are equally serious about having a long-term impact on the international orphan crisis.  The more we grow, the greater the impact we can have together. 

6. How can readers best contribute to the Bridgewater mission?

When we discovered LandMine Design, we knew immediately that we had to feature them in the CAUSEBOX! As we scrolled through their website, we fell in love with every single one of their pieces and the beautiful, yet simple and elegant design of each. Then we read their story and we felt an even stronger desire to showcase their products and bring awareness to a brand that is bringing so much hope, light, and opportunity to a tiny village in Cambodia. Read our interview with Creative Manager Kristie Dunnigan below and don’t forget to grab a Winter CAUSEBOX filled with a one-of-a-kind LandMine necklace, exclusive to our CAUSEBOX community!

(pictured: LandMine Design Creative Manager, Kristie Dunnigan)

1. The LandMine Design story begins before there was jewelry – with the discovery of this village in Cambodia. What drew the team out there in the first place? What was it about the place that moved you so much? When did you know you had to and you were going to help?

The Discovery of The MineField Village is attested to LightBridge International, the parent non-profit from which LandMine Design stems. LightBridge International cares for the orphan and the poor throughout Southeast Asia through community development initiatives such as orphan care, education, clean water initiatives, feeding programs, and medical resource. LightBridge staff was led over the border of Thailand into Cambodia in 2009 where they came upon 500 families living on top of a former minefield simply trying to survive. In this moment, to see was to act. LightBridge began community development and witnessed a dire need for job options for women.  Prior to LandMine Design, these women were leaving their children alone for months at a time in search for work in neighboring Thailand, and subjecting themselves to one of the most trafficked borders on the globe.

LandMine Design was an answer to a problem; a glimpse of hope amidst survival; a token of safety within a landscape of danger. Today, the women of LandMine Design may work safely from home, have access to education (some for the first time in their lives), and are learning what a life beyond survival could be like. 

(Pictured: Signs that riddle the fields of the tiny Cambodian villages, giving warning of the landmines that surround them)

2. One of the most fascinating and beautiful parts of your story has to do with gamboge – what exactly is gamboge? How do you use it and what does it mean as part of the LandMine Design story?

Gamboge is a story that our staff stumbled upon that struck us deeply. Gamboge is a word used to refer to a color, a rich mustard yellow, that is derived from tree-sap native to the land of Cambodia. To harvest the tree-sap is both timely and dangerous; dangerous due to the risk of landmines that have been laid across the poverty stricken nation that Cambodia is today. The color derived, both rich and beautiful, is a testament - a testament to what was and what can be. What was once broken and is today made beautiful. A Gamboge bead marks our every clasp and forever will.  It’s a marking of the past, but more importantly it’s a glimpse of what can be. 

3. Your jewelry is uniquely chic and refreshingly minimal for the socially conscious space — where do you draw your inspiration from? What kind of design background did you have before LandMine Design?

As the Creative Manager, when I first learned the story of LandMine Design, I was deeply struck. I was struck by its power, by its name, and recognized the whole thing was just dripping in emboldened women meant to purvey change for a nation. I had eyes for this and my mind immediately began translating this aesthetically, literally, and physically. I wanted to strip away what wasn’t necessary and I wanted to refine. I wanted the story and its  power to mobilize what was beautiful simply for what it was.

As women, I think we all desire to be captivating, and I find this to be innately powerful. I looked at the horizon and I saw a sea of women grabbing ahold of this story, but beyond that, I saw a sea of women grabbing ahold of who they were - of their purpose, boldness, and depth.

This was my dream, and if I was to see it through I needed to meet her where she was. A woman like that doesn’t need fuss.  A woman like that deserves something as sophisticated and timeless as the way she walks about life. To create a piece that mimics the essence of her, that is my inspiration. The standard of quality in design and execution has always naturally followed suit.  We’re working with and serving the emboldened woman and the way I see her has always been my fuel - styling her is just a privilege.

(Pictured: LandMine Design Evy necklace, exclusive to the Winter CAUSEBOX)

4. Can you share a story about one of the artisans who you work with who really stands out and showcases the impact you have been able to have so far? 

There are several amazing stories to chose from of women whose transformation is undeniable.  One in particular that comes to mind is one of the younger girls in the program named Volek.  When we met Volek a few years back, we found out that she shares a two room hut with 9 other family members and is being raised by her 70 year old grandparents. Back then, Volek's demeanor was visibly downtrodden, heavy and sad.  Tears would easily fall from her eyes when telling her story and how difficult life for her is living in poverty on a minefield.  At that time, our staff was still deciding whether we would hire younger girls for an opportunity to work at LandMine Design or if we were going to target mothers and older women.  But something stirred in our hearts for the younger ones as well - the ones vulnerable to slavery, a future they wouldn't be able to chose on their own.  We had to give them a chance.

Volek was one of the first.  Within a year, Volek didn't even seem like the same person.  A smile came on her face so quickly, her head high, as if she was walking with purpose and sensed value within herself for the very first time. Simply giving her an opportunity to earn an income for her family and being emotionally and holistically invested in, changed her life. It wasn’t long before Volek began to dream.  Today she dreams of being a teacher and translator.  She has a mentor and teacher who has invested in her for over two years whom Volek wants to be like.  In the LandMine Design Program, she saw for the first time a dream, a future she could possibly attain someday.  She wants the inner transformation she's encountered to be one she passes on to other girls like her.  You see, we believe Volek's story is a game changer.  It's what we're believing for an entire generation of young men and women Volek's age in Cambodia - and more than ever, we're seeing it happen before our very own eyes. 

(Pictured: Volek, a LandMine Design creator)

Follow LandMine Design: 

Website: www.landminedesign.org/

Facebook: facebook.com/landminedesign

Instagram: instagram.com/landminedesign

Partnering with craftsmen and artisans in Guatemala, The Root Collective creates beautifully handcrafted shoes from handwoven textiles. These artisans and shoemakers are defying the odds in their communities and being empowered with jobs and food so that they can help provide for their families. We are so excited to feature a one-of-a-kind passport holder in our Winter box that is exclusive to the CAUSEBOX community as well as a $45 gift card for a pair of their shoes!! Read our interview with The Root Collective founder Bethany, fall in love, and then head over to causebox.com to get your hands on the beautifully handcrafted passport holder and gift card! :) 

1. Where does the name “The Root Collective” come from?

We believe that we each have our own roots, the things that we're good at, but the impact that can be made without community, without the collective, is minimal. We are all interconnected and everything we do impacts someone else. If we are intentional on honing our own skills, and then combining them with the skills of others, the world could change.

2. Can you tell us a little bit more about how The Root Collective first got started?

I am heavily involved with a nonprofit called Lemonade International. They are dedicated solely to the slum of La Limonada, where Otto (our shoe maker) lives. Lemonade International runs a campaign around the holidays each year to provide new shoes and backpacks to the kids in the academies they run in the slum. They had been connected with Otto through working in the slum, and gave him a micro loan to start his shoe business. They then placed an order for 250 pairs of shoes through this fundraiser, and Otto was able to pay back his loan within a few months. I got connected with Otto through Lemonade shortly after this. His shoes have come a long way since we met! He had the basic skills in place already, and we worked with him on improving them. My heart was in creating independence in this community through partnerships with local business leaders before I even met Otto. I had the concept for the business first, and then found the relationships through Lemonade afterwards. It was the same way with the weaving cooperative. I developed a relationship directly with them as well, so that I was ensured that the women were being paid and treated fairly.

3. The Root Collective is a B-Corporation – can you share a bit more about what this means and/how why you decided this was the right move for TRC?

We wanted to hold ourselves to the highest standard, while giving our customers peace of mind that we were doing what we say we're doing as a social impact business. Anyone can say that they're a social business, but we wanted the certification to back it up. The process looks at your entire business model, from fair pay, to recycling, to succession plans and determines if you meet a high enough standard to bear the seal.

4. What excites you most about what you’ve accomplished so far at The Root Collective? What is one thing that you hope to accomplish in 2016?

We have seen very steady growth and very dedicated customers. We LOVE knowing that people are coming alongside us, not just for cute shoes, but for making an impact with how they spend their money. The fact that they keep coming back time and again means we also have a quality product that can be used in their daily lives. In 2016, our big goal is to increase our presence in boutiques and shops around the country.

Follow The Root Collective: 

Website: www.therootcollective.com

Facebook: facebook.com/TheRootCollective

Instagram: instagram.com/therootcollective

SoloHope, Spanglish for “Only Hope”, is one of the 6 brands that we hand selected to feature in our Winter CAUSEBOX. When we discovered SoloHope, not only were we drawn to their beautifully handcrafted pieces, but we fell in love with their story – a story of hope, empowerment, and community. Read our interview with founder Emilee below! 

(pictured: Founder Emilee Connell in Honduras)

1. Let’s hear the SoloHope story – When was the company founded? How was it conceived?

I’ve been traveling back and forth to Honduras since 2002 and during that time, have built some amazing friendships with women in the remote mountains of Intibuca. I listened to the women share their stories and express the challenges they were facing—the struggle to provide for themselves and their children. It was clear: there was a need for jobs for women! In 2012, I had a random idea for bracelets created out of pine needles + thread. I met with a woman named Dilcia who knew how to handcraft baskets from pine needles + thread but didn’t have a steady market for her goods. I showed her rough sketches of the bracelets I had in mind and asked her if she thought it was possible. She quietly said yes. And that’s when all the fun really got started! SoloHope officially launched in 2012 with two Honduran artisans and myself stateside, with just 80 bracelets in our classic bangle design. We’ve really taken off from then! We now have a product line that features women’s accessories and home goods (like the Estrella Bowl featured in the CAUSEBOX) and we partner with 13 women! 

2. Was there a moment when you realized that SoloHope was really happening — and that you were going to be jumping all in?

Yes, absolutely! Faith is very central to SoloHope and within each of our lives. In 2013—less than a year after our launch—we really began to feel like God was leading us to take a risk, scale up, and go from a part-time venture to a full-time business.

As the only member of SoloHope stateside at the time, that meant I’d have to go “all in.” And I did! I quit my comfy full time job and moved to Honduras for four months to work with our founding 2 artisans to create a product line. It was a scary and exciting time for us but I know it was the right decision. The women I get to work with in Honduras have faced tremendous struggles yet they are the most resilient and generous people you will ever meet. They are my heroes! I’m so thrilled to be on this journey with them. The risk taken 2 years ago was definitely worth it!

3. What have been some hurdles for SoloHope as you’ve been building the company? How did you get through them?

Honestly, this journey called SoloHope has been a roller coaster at times. The truth is it started with an idea, a dream, but our artisan team and I didn’t always know exactly what we were doing. We’ve made mistakes (LOTS of mistakes!), but if you could see the tenacity in the faces of the women we partner with in Honduras, you’d know failure wasn’t an option. A journey doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference.

4. Is there a particular Honduran woman or man who stands out in the SoloHope story — someone who really reveals what drew you to this country and its people in the first place?

Dilcia & Maribel. They have been best friends since they were children and they were our first 2 artisans. They have really taken on a leadership role with our group. Dilcia’s our lead designer.She takes sketches and makes them come to life and has even started designing some of our new products from start to finish. Maribel is very business-savvy and takes on a management role with the group while continuing to create product herself. These 2 women have hard stories of abuse and neglect yet they are determined to build a better life for themselves and their families. I can think of one story that really highlights how much of an inspiration they are. We were meeting in June, and I brought up the idea of building a SoloHope HQ in Honduras (our artisans had been working from home or meeting at Dilcia’s house). Dilcia and Maribel got huge smiles on their faces. I knew something was up. They told me they had been thinking the same thing—“Great!” I thought, “we’re on the same page”—but they took it a step further and said “We’ve bought the land for our building.” THIS is what SoloHope is all about! These women have been empowered to write their own story! I’m so proud to know Dilcia and Maribel. They are the definition of determination and grit.

5. What is your dream for this company? Any spoilers on some exciting plans that you guys have for the future?

In the spring, we’ll be launching a new way for people to join our journey and share whatSoloHope does by hosting a “Party in a Box” with their friends, family, and co-workers. It’s a fun and tangible way to get involved with SoloHope (and earn free product!). If you are interested in being one of the first to host a “Party in a Box,” email us at [email protected] for more information. 

Additionally, we’re looking to expand our mission to new contexts in the coming years. In 2016, I’ll be going to India on an investigative trip. We were invited by a couple of pastors in Mumbai to visit, learn about the life of women in the slums, and see if it could be a fit for SoloHope’s model. We’re not sure where the visit will lead but we’re excited by the opportunity!

Overall, our dream is to continue offering hope and empowerment to those overcoming poverty. This is truly about hope. Something I’ve learned through this process is that poverty often makes you feel like you don’t have a choice but hope allows you to see the possibilities around you. Our ultimate goal is to create a legacy of hope in our artisans, their families and communities for generations to come.

6. We noticed some good Spotify playlists on your company blog — can you leave us with one fabulous song recommendation?

So many awesome choices to pick from! Our friend, Hayley Catt, puts together our playlists. She’s an excellent curator of music. Everyone has their favorite—I’m partial to “I’m Good,” by Mowgli’s. Check it out on our Summer playlist. I know it’s not a winter song but hey, it still kinda feels like summer outside! ;)

(Pictured: 3 SoloHope artisans in Honduras)

Follow SoloHope

Website: www.solohope.org/

Instagram: instagram.com/solohopeorg/

Facebook: facebook.com/solohopeorg/

CAUSEBOX05 is full of all kinds of goodness, from products that will warm your home and make it cozy and comfortable — beautiful exclusives from Landmine Designs and the Root Collective, that will make you shine and get you ready for the road. And the best part, of course, is that everything inside is made purposefully and each product enriches the lives of the people who made it. The Bridgewater Candle alone provides three meals to international orphanages, and the necklace helps provide hope, restoration, and opportunity for women in one of them most dangerous regions in the world. The Winter Box is sure to brighten your holiday!

SOLOHOPE – Navy Hand-Weaved Ombre Basket

SoloHope is a non-profit homeware and jewelry company, which is based in Georgia, but was founded to serve and restore the women of Honduras. What started as a simple bracelet handcrafted out of pine straw and thread has evolved into a whole line of beautiful products created by artisans who are now able to provide for themselves and their families. We absolutely adore this hand-weaved basket — it is the perfect place to throw your keys, wallet, and phone.

BRIDGEWATER CANDLE COMPANY — Sweet Grace Mingle Candle

Bridgewater Candle Company’s Sweet Grace scent is a best seller, and you’ll have no trouble understanding why! Every candle is made in the USA, and will infuse your home or workplace with hospitality and warmth. Not only do these candles burn clean and smell amazing — each Mingle candle also provides 3 meals to international orphanages through their charity partner, Rice Bowls. Um, amazing.

LANDMINE DESIGNS — Exclusive Seven Bead Necklace

We love companies with good stories — Landmine Design may just have our favorite story yet. Every one of these beautiful jewelry pieces is handmade in a Cambodian village called “MineField Village” which has the largest concentration of mines of any place in the world. Five hundred families call this village home — there is no electricity or clean water, and it is difficult to find safe, stable work, but it is still home. After visiting the region the founders of Landmine Design witnessed very few opportunities for the women to earn a living, so they trained several women to make beautiful jewelry and the jobs that have been created have saved these beautiful women from the dangers of nearby human trafficking along the Cambodian border. Every exclusive Seven Bead Necklace, is elegant, minimal, and provides hope and a hand-up for woman in Cambodia.

ONE LOVE ORGANICS — Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum

One Love Organics is bucking the beauty products trend by producing products that actually work amazingly and are also produced ethically. The OLO manufacturing facility in St. Simons Island, Georgia is ECOCERT® licensed and is only 1 of 10 in the United States to meet the rigorous standards of organic and sustainable production practices. When we learned about OLO's commitment to environmental responsibility and to producing award-winning skincare products that are the absolute best in the marketplace, we had to share them with the CAUSEBOX community!

ROOT COLLECTIVE — Exclusive Passport Holder + $45 Gift Card

The Root Collective is a socially conscious B Corporation known for their beautiful and unique handcrafted flats and shoes — which are made with their signature handwoven Guatemalan fabric. The man who makes their incredible shoes is named Otto, and you can learn all about him on their website — you will love him and his story. We partnered with The Root Collective to bring this beautiful passport holder to life using the same fabric that they use for their shoes. But before you put that passport holder to use you’re going to need a good set of shoes for the journey :) The Root Collective has included a $45 gift card to help you buy your first pair!

ALTER ECO — Dark Almond Organic Chocolate Bar

Alter Eco makes some of the tastiest internationally inspired food around, and they never compromise on their core values. Farmers, Fields, and Foodies are all nourished by Alter Eco’s socially responsible, fair-trade chocolate, quinoa, rice, and more. After sampling several of their chocolates it was a close call but we fell in love with their Dark Almond Bar and had to share it — toasty, nutty, rich, and delicious!

It’s a Christmas miracle – the CAUSEBOX for Men has finally arrived! This box is filled with socially-conscious products for men that have all been approved and loved by the Sevenly team. No commitment or subscription is required for this super limited edition box. Read below to learn about each of the products in the limited CAUSEBOX for Men! 

PARKER CLAY – Exclusive Card Wallet 

Parker Clay designed this elegant and minimal card wallet exclusively for CAUSEBOX, and it is limited to just 250! We’ve tested it and it gets prettier with every day of use. Like all Parker Clay products, this wallet helps provide jobs, training, and education for women in Ethiopia. 

THX CO. – Cologne 

THX Co. believes in transparent pricing and radical generosity (they give 100% of profits away!), so even though this cologne only costs $10, it is formulated in the same place in Switzerland as world-class, super expensive perfumes. It has deep base notes of amber, musk, and balsam fir.

OSEA – Ocean Cleanser

The Ocean Cleanser is one of OSEA’s best selling products among men. It is formulated with red algae which is a rich source of microelements, proteins, mineral salts, and vitamins — which are as good for your skin and our environment as they sound.

PACT – Ribbed Crew Socks (2-Pair) 

Most clothing is made by robots — PACT’s clothing is made by humans. You’ll notice the difference. These socks are super classy and incredibly soft, but most importantly, PACT only works with farmers and factories that treat workers well and compensate them fairly.

LSTN SOUND CO.  – Zebrawood Earbuds 

Each pair of LSTN Bowery Earbuds is handcrafted from REAL wood. But beyond just being cool to look at, they are engineered to be some of the purest sounding headphones available. Best of all, for every pair of headphones that LSTN sells, they help to restore hearing to a person in need.