Noonday Collection is the World's Largest Fair-Trade Accessories Brand Empowering Women in the World

Jessica Honegger and a group of artisans who *(Photo Courtesy of Noonday Collection)*

How Noonday Collection blends employment with empowerment

Global artisans into your living room

Noonday designs and sells a collection of jewelry and accessories made by artisans in vulnerable places, in particular where gender inequality and limited economic opportunities have held them back.

‘At Noonday Collection, we believe that investing in the economic empowerment of women has the potential to transform entire communities,’ said founder and Co-CEO, Jessica Honegger.

‘Help a woman earn a paycheck, and she will take that paycheck and equip the next generation to succeed through nutrition, medical care, and education.’

I’ve always felt like entrepreneurship was a solid way to really impact poverty. If I could create opportunities for the poor in resource-poor areas of the world, then they could elevate their lives and elevate the lives of their community.

When I met my first artisan partners, Jalia and Daniel, they had graduated from a university in Uganda with art degrees. They were really talented, but they had no outlet for their craft. I began to create a marketplace for their goods here in America.

Today, Noonday supports dignified work for 4,500 artisans in 15 countries, impacting over 20,400 family members.

‘Crucial to us is that every business pays their artisans a fair and living wage, creating dignified jobs for the people who need them.’

Jessica and her team travel the world to identify potential partners who are passionate about making a difference in their communities.

‘We focus on impacting women in vulnerable places in particular where gender inequality and limited economic opportunities have held them back,’ shared the entrepreneur.

‘Since our founding in 2010, we’ve been fortunate to meet talented people in countries across the globe–many of whom face seemingly insurmountable challenges each day.

‘A powerful truth has emerged through our conversations: what people want most in the world is the ability to apply their talents to a good job.

‘People don’t want to live off of charity, they want to thrive in doing dignified work to provide for themselves and their loved ones.’

‘Dignified jobs in Haiti and Uganda helped to ensure children are not orphaned or abandoned because of poverty; and we always work with our local partners to ensure that artisans receive fair and living wages,’ Jessica said.

Beyond just helping the artisans’ families, Noonday gives back to entire communities.

‘Our Artisan Partners is really our leaders in terms of deciding what the needs are in their specific areas. In many cases, we work to support programs that these partners have developed.

‘For example, in Ethiopia, artisans receive counseling services to foster healing from past traumas; in Guatemala, workshops enable moms to work from home while their children play nearby; and in India, women at risk of gender-based violence take part in self-defense classes and are educated on their rights.’

Noonday helps families here in the United States as well.

Ambassadors (or as Jessica calls them ‘stylists, storytellers, and social entrepreneurs) to the brand create a marketplace for artisans by selling Noonday Collection products online and at trunk shows across the country.

Noonday Collection: Our Story

It started with about eight ambassadors in the first four months, but that quickly multiplied the business. Now, we have around 1,000 ambassadors. So, it’s just been this really beautiful and amazing story of entrepreneurs in America being able to create opportunities for artists and businesses in other areas of the world.

‘Today, over 2,000 women in the US have launched their ambassador businesses and are earning an income, while also making an impact in the vulnerable communities where we partner.

‘At Noonday Collection, our vision is to work together to build a flourishing world and you can help us to make an impact in the following ways:

Shop the Collection: Each handmade piece helps you tell your story through style, while also telling a beautiful story of transformation
Host a Trunk Show: Partner with an Ambassador to host a Trunk Show! You simply gather your friends, and your ambassador sets up her beautiful samples and handles the rest.
Become an ambassador: Ambassadors earn an income with an impact by growing their fun, flexible businesses. By styling women at Trunk Shows, you’ll create a marketplace for Artisans across the globe.’

Jessica shares one of her favorite quotes from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

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