Re-usable Shopper Tote only $10

As I was walking to the market this afternoon, I was completely in awe of the fall colors around me. This past weekend was surely the peak of fall foliage for Washington, DC, but today's breeze made it seem like the air was filled with color. Not unusually, the beauty made me think of Uganda, and the soft golden light just before sunset in Gulu.

One of our newest products, the Shopper Totes are inspired by fall's incredible color, with sweet messages that really speak to how we at One Mango Tree feel about fair trade. My personal favorite features a beautiful golden fall leaf which reads:

"Empower a woman and you'll change the entire world."

That belief is pretty much at the core of what we do at One Mango Tree. At only $10, our Shopper Totes make great gifts - the office holiday party, a friend moving into a new place, etc. Each tote makes sure we're keeping the One Mango Tree ladies working, and always creating new jobs for other women in Northern Uganda. Help us get the word out by buying, sharing and carrying one of our One Mango Tree Shopper Totes - and then when people ask about your bag, you'll be part of the story too!

xo Halle

Just spread the love to win our NOVEMBER giveaway!

Friends, we've got a NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY for you!
Just in time for the Holidays...

Our Winter 2010 Handloomed Scarf in Eggplant

One lucky winner will receive a small, sweet package from our ladies in Uganda with one of our *brand new* EGGPLANT HAND-LOOMED SCARVES ($26 value) tucked inside. We're not ashamed to say we've been drooling over it for months! Each is unique, limited edition, and woven right here in northern Uganda. So, if you don't manage to grab one before they run out, you can win yours' right here. Oh, and if this deal couldn't get any sweeter: shipping's on us!

Enough of the sweet talk, here's how you can win!

Step ONE: Simply tweet or blog about us! Link this this giveaway.
Step TWO: Just tag us with @OneMangoTree (twitter or facebook)

Do this and you'll be in the running to win the apple of our affection, our One Mango Tree Winter 2010 Handloomed Scarf in Eggplant!

If you can't tell, we pretty excited to send this sweet thing to your doorstep...

So get to tweeting!

DC Downtown Holiday Market

Mark your calendars, DC shoppers!

We'll be in Washington, DC, this holiday season! Stop by our booth at the DC Downtown Holiday Market, 12 - 8 pm December 13-14 (that's Monday and Tuesday). The market is on F Street between 7th and 9th, near the National Portrait Gallery. If you work downtown, it's a must-do December lunch break. We'll have all of the gorgeous One Mango Tree products, and some freebies to boot! Make sure to tell friends, and let us know if we'll see you there - check out our Event page on Facebook!


Check out some of the great photos from past Downtown Holiday Markets - nothing better to get you in the holiday spirit - lots of caroling, hot drinks and twinkly lights - not to mention awesome products. Our favorite, The Red Persimmon will be there too!

xo Halle

'Empowerment' made real.

Over the past six weeks, our ladies have completed an incredible Financial training course and have begun their own Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA). Fancy terms aside, it's one of the many beautiful ways that their incomes from sewing and creating are being multiplied and yet another way that YOUR purchases are transforming lives here in northern Uganda. Simply put: empowerment is truly being made real at One Mango Tree... read further to hear the exciting news!




In the span of these six financial trainings, our ladies have saved over ONE MILLION shillings (about $500) as a VSLA group. AMAZING! We were told this is pretty extraordinary for a beginning group... so proud of the ladies and excited to see how their savings will continue to empower their futures.

AWESOME!

xo lauranne

Visitor Spotlight: Hilary Dell

All week, we've been so thrilled to welcome a dear friend back into our midst that we have to share it with you.

Hilary Dell is an extraordinarily-loved past One Mango Tree volunteer and an awesome fashion designer/buyer for our friends and partners at Global Girlfriend. Before working full-time for Global Girlfriend and traveling around the world working with groups of artisans, she spent a summer living and working with our ladies here at the Workshop in Gulu, Uganda.

I wish we could've captured the faces and squeals of the moment Hilary entered the Workshop for the first time in over a year and a half. Because of the war and the plethora of NGOs meeting all different needs in northern Uganda, many aid-workers come and go... few returning to embrace the friendships they once made. For Hilary to return, to embrace the women with hugs and laughter, to sit with them and teach them about the new designs they'd be sewing was tremendous for them - and awesome to watch.

Needless to say, it was a fantastic week! Hilary, we were so happy to have you here and we can't wait for you to return! (We'll have your favorite 'Stoney' soda awaiting you upon arrival!)

xo lauranne

OMT Gives: Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation

Katie Couric, honored at the CCBF Breakthrough Ball, received a One Mango Tree bag!

Our tote bags for the Ohio Fair Trade Expo were such a big hit, that word spread about One Mango Tree's promotional bag business. Shortly after the Expo, we received a call from the Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation - an organization that raises funds to improve treatment for children with cancer and blood disorders. Each year the Foundation holds a gala benefit called the Breakthrough Ball - this year honored several activists, including Katie Couric. Attendees raised more than $1 million for research, and went home with a beautiful One Mango Tree tote bag! Check out the pics! We're honored to have been a part of supporting this awesome cause!

Breakthrough Ball attendees sport their One Mango Tree tote bags!
Want to see One Mango Tree bags at your event? Contact us at info@onemangotree.com.

FEATURED: Dallas Clayton + An AWESOME World

We know we're not in the business of children's books or even childrenswear (as of yet!) but we think every human being should read this book. Dallas Clayton is a fabulous author who's been traveling the country with the belief that children and people everywhere should rekindle the ability to dream - really dream - about the world, our lives, and how whimsical they can be if we let them.

So, here's our ode to Dallas and the movement of dreamers he's encouraging to make the world a better place by loving the people in it. The heart of this book is why we at One Mango Tree do what we do - we're dreaming of a better life for those who deserve it. We want to be dreamers of big dreams and we want to empower others with the opportunity to dream big dreams here in northern Uganda.



IDEA: For the Holidays, why not wrap up a One Mango Tree handbag and a copy of Dallas' book "An Awesome World" and give it to a dreamer near you? The best of both worlds - idea and action.

Take a look at the entire book on his website.

xo lauranne