Lauren Conrad and Hannah Squarla first crossed paths in 2005 when they both enrolled at the Institute of Fashion Design and Trade in Irvine, California. Conrad, later on MTV oraksI photographed several scenes for the show on campus. “We came together with a common love for fashion and then for travel and female empowerment,” says Squarla. “We wanted to find a unique and important way to come back.”
After visiting several women-focused nonprofits in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, two Orange County residents saw an opportunity to “create something where there wasn’t a geographically limited number of women to help,” Squarla said, explaining how to reach they. Passion for extracting special artisanal products from global markets.
Their shared mission grew into the non-profit online fair The Little Market, founded in 2013 to provide economic and social support to women artisans and their families in vulnerable communities around the world. The traditional store debuted in the city of Palisade in September 2018.
“I was very lucky to have the opportunity to build a platform while working in television, and I wanted to use it responsibly,” said Conrad. “The co-founder of a small market allowed me to do this. I was able to take advantage of the experience and knowledge gained during my years of working in retail and use it in cooperation with our artisan partners.”
The organization operates approximately 25 non-profit and social enterprises in 25 countries (including Homeboy Industries, Downtown Women’s Center, Cast LA, and Los Angeles-based ShemeshFarms), employing more than 1,000 women. They’ve created over 1.25 million hours of work and are aiming for 2 million hours by 2023. During the pandemic, The Little Market, which sells everything from candles and bedding to luggage tags and blankets , launched a pilot program to directly employ five women. The traffic took place through LA
“When women have access to their own income, the ripple effect is incredible,” Skvarla said of the program as a whole. “Domestic violence is decreasing, mothers are deciding to invest in their own education and have extra money to send their daughters to school, when they normally only send boys.”
The couple also used Hollywood connections to support the nonprofit. Jordanana Brewster was one of the small market’s first attorneys, while Melissa McCarthy, Eva Longoria and Molly Sims serve on its advisory board. McCarthy combines The Little Market products in a home makeover with his new show HGTV, great returnWith Jenna Perusic. Kelly Ripa, another supporter, also highlights the nonprofit and its products during her “Giving Tuesday” coverage. Live with Kelly and Ryan. And Charlize Theron was one of many stars who participated in The Little Market’s Changemakers virtual shows during the pandemic to highlight the rise in domestic violence and other issues affecting women.
As for model Little Market’s standout, Conrad, who has two children with husband William Tel and Lauren Conrad’s own line of products (including clothing, cosmetics and perfume), points out a curator. “We would often come across fair trade websites and say, ‘I really want to support this business, but I’m having a little trouble finding items that are aesthetically pleasing or that I’m happy to donate.’ others.’ “We felt like there was a shutdown where there were so many offers that weren’t available,” he said. “As we traveled, we discovered amazing parts and loved hearing stories from the creators. We were very excited to share them. ”
Conrad and Squarla met women artisans in Guatemala in 2014, including weavers who perform traditional techniques.
Courtesy of Small Market
A version of this story first appeared in the June 22 issue of The Gossipify. Click here to subscribe.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
