Emma Watson - A Woman of Action

Emma Watson- A Woman of Action

In the financial times we are living in, it’s sometimes hard to support a charitable cause. Just the other day, I had the opportunity to look at some beautiful wood carvings of elephants, tigers, and other animals. The proceeds went to a charity organization in Africa and I almost bought one until I saw one that was made out of ivory. Then I got a little wary.

Countless times I’ve picked up a pair of pants or a sweater that was hand made and if I bought them, the profits were said to go to charity. But I would always find myself looking at the price tag, looking at the sweater, looking at the price tag again, and wonder….would I really wear this? Maybe I should just go with the sheet set.

Well, it seems I’m not alone. Emma Watson not long ago voiced my feelings concerning some fair trade clothing. In July, she told Women’s Wear Daily that “I'm really interested in fair-trade fashion and organic cotton, but it's hard because, to be honest, the stuff's kind of ugly or really plain.” Interestingly enough she also added this when asked if she would front her own line someday, “I’m really not interested in doing it for my own ego. I’m not a designer,” she said. “If someone asked me to do something that was beneficial to a cause, then maybe I’d consider it, but not just [to be able to say] ‘Look at me! I’ve got my own line!”

Emma mentioned in Interview magazine in May, 2009, that she had environmental concerns and even drove a Prius. Greenpeace even asked her to be a goodwill ambassador after the article. But as we all know plenty of people talk the talk, but do they walk the walk? Well it seems Emma is a woman of action. She looked at the problem she felt was facing fair trade clothing’s lack of options and took action.

Rumors had been swirling the last few months that Emma was launching her own clothing line. In June 2009, News of the World announced Emma was launching a clothing line and all proceeds would go to UNICEF. Quickly, People Magazine reported that the UNICEF rumors weren’t true according to Emma’s people. On August 1, 2009, the Daily Mail wrote that Emma was close to signing a deal to produce a line with People Tree. Nothing more was heard about it until last Thursday when Emma was able to finally announce that she had indeed made a deal with People Tree to provide a clothing line aimed at the younger generation.

On Thursday, Sky news reported that “Harry Potter star Emma Watson has revealed she spent her gap year designing a "complete teenage summer wardrobe" for the fair trade fashion brand People Tree.” Well, now we know why she was at all those fashion shows during last year, she was doing her homework!

Emma had this to say in a press release,”
"I wanted to help People Tree produce a younger range because I was excited by the idea of using fashion as a tool to help alleviate poverty and knew it was something I could help make a difference with.“
“I think young people like me are becoming increasingly aware of the humanitarian and environmental issues surrounding fast fashion and want to make good choices but there aren’t many options out there.
"It has been the most incredible gap year project.”

Better yet, all of the proceeds go to charity. Emma’s not making a penny off of it. The money is going to those who need it - the poor. Much of the range uses organic and fairly traded cotton. The clothes are made entirely by hand by fair trade groups using weaving, knitting and embroidery, helping to create livelihoods for disadvantaged groups in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Not only does People Tree provide jobs for the poor they also they to provide schooling for the disadvantaged.

There is an interesting interview with CEO Safia Minney here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/22/peopletree

People Tree is a fair trade fashion pioneer and a world class organization and I’m glad Emma chose to work with them. Considering Emma just made the Guinness World Records for having the "Highest Average Box-Office Gross for an Actress" with an average of $753.7 million each, I would imagine People Tree is happy too!

So please go to http://www.peopletreeyouth.co.uk/ where you can sign up for email updates and learn more about this amazing collection. We can do a good work here people and make a difference! (Plus view the beautiful new photo of Emma!)

Emma also released an official statement at her official site:
http://www.emmawatsonofficial.com/

Par of the coarse when somebody does a good deed, somebody else gets all worked up over it and goes negative. Sadly this has happened with the news of Emma project. The Telegraph wrote a very negative article about Emma’s collection. They seem to think who said what and when is more important than helping others. The article was completely petty (not to mention seriously skewed) and is attempting to take the focus off what is important and that is helping the disadvantaged. Don’t let that happen and more importantly don’t sink down to the Telegraphs (and the “sources”) level! I’m not even posting the link here because it’s just that bad. On the spiritual level, it’s poison. Every major religion talks about helping the poor so it doesn’t matter what religion you are. You can even be more spiritual, than religious (which is where I tend to be.) What matters is you take action and help those who cannot help themselves.

Isa. 58:6 "No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn. Isa. 58:7 I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor, and destitute. Clothe those who are cold, and don't hide from relatives who need your help. Isa. 58:8 "If you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Isa. 58:9 Then, when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. All you need to do is to stop oppressing the weak and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Isa. 58:10 "Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. Isa. 58:11 And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.