Better Life Bags

 I have a special treat for you today. I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to an amazing lady who has both talent + a big heart for others who I had the privilege of meeting at Influence Conference last year. Although, I feel like we’re long lost friends because she knows my hubby! Once upon a time she + Kyle went to school together, how awesome is that? #smallworld. This is what I love so much about being apart of this community! Rebecca has an incredible story and from that story came her business Better Life Bags. Go visit her shop, I promise, you’ll swoon + then you’ll start adding things to your cart. You’re welcome!

I really wanted the chance for you all to hear from Rebecca in her words about her incredible business + her beautiful family, so without further ado, Meet Rebecca from Better Life Bags…

{Style: Orange Denim + Chambray – Madewell // Necklace c/o Caroline G Shop // Brynnda c/o Better Life Bags}

Tell us a little bit about you, your blog + your shop

My name is Rebecca Smith and I own and run a give-back business called Better Life Bags.  We hire women in our community who otherwise could not work to make custom bags of all kinds using genuine leather and designer fabric.

What was the inspiration behind your shops name?

When I started Better Life Bags, we were giving 10% of all sales to low income entrepreneurs in developing countries through Kiva.org.  I wanted the name of the company to reflect that.  To show that lives are better because our little company exists.

Tell us about the organization you support with proceeds from your sales.

We don’t give out of our company’s profits or proceeds.  We still give 10% of our total sales to Kiva.org – a micro lending company that loans to entreprenuers in third world countries trying to get their small businesses off the ground.  You can see all the loans we’ve made on our Kiva page here: http://www.kiva.org/team/better_life_bags

But Better Life Bags goes beyond Kiva.  We live and work in an urban area of Detroit, MI.  Our neighborhood is made up of many recent immigrants and their families trying to gain footing in America.  Many of the wives of these families cannot work outside their home because of their religious culture.  We come alongside them and give them a skill that they can use inside the safety of their walls and pay them a living wage ($3-$7 above federal minimum wage).

Where do you see yourself + your biz in 5 years?

The women who work for us.   I’ve seen such a change in them since they started working for BLB.  Many comment that their lives feel like they have purpose now.  One particular woman was able to buy her kids bunk beds after many years of sleeping on mattresses on the floor with the money Better Life Bags has given her.   They are respected by their husbands and given much honor because of their ability to contribute to their family.  THIS is why we exist.

Ok let’s get serious, if you could add any toppings to your ice cream what would it be?

I seriously thought about this for about 5 minutes.  I think I’d warm up some apple pie and dump it all over my vanilla ice cream!

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to take the Brynnda bag for a test drive, and it’s amazing!! I’m pretty sure my mail man thought I was nuts because I stalked him for days waiting for her arrival. I love that it’s deep and has so much space inside to fit all the necessities this mama needs to carry around with her. I can fit my clutch, a wipes case, my iPad and my planner in it without an issue. #love My favorite has to be the combination of this blue herringbone fabric and leather. Did I mention that it’s made incredibly well?!!

If you have a chance, please pop by and visit Rebecca’s blog + say hello, oh and be sure to do a little shopping around too.

Happy Monday!

P.S I’ve got a great giveaway happening, did you enter yet?

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google