10
Feb
Follow Friday.
In the chaos of Fashion Week and Social Media week, it’s rare to catch my attention. It’s far more rare to catch my inspiration... At the State of Style Summit this past Tuesday, StyleCaster filled the 92Y with not only brilliant, but thoughtful and insightful members of the social, fashion and media community. The three standouts: @Pencils of Promise, @WarbyParker and @FallingWhistles. You may have heard it from me before, but here’s a dedicated Follow Friday to three companies who make me think, and make a difference, all with perfectly pixelated visuals. Swoon.
Falling Whistles.
Self described Vagabond Scribe Sean Carasso’s story is the same as so many, and yet the story of so few. Lived, fled, traveled, backpacked, landed in Africa… somehow, landed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He witnessed souls of suffering and struggle and then, he shared.
Originally just a journal written about boys sent to the front lines of war armed with only a whistle, readers forwarded it with the same kind of urgency in which it was written and demanded to know (as he poetically explained in one of the most heartfelt startup stories ever told): What can we do?
The Falling Whistles campaign launched with a simple response – make their weapon your voice and be a whistleblower for peace in Congo. They partner with local leaders to advocate and rehabilitate for those affected by war. Even more impressive, Carasso and partners have made Falling Whistles into a trend, and a successful enterprise with a buzzed about marketing and social strategy (I mean, take a look at that website). We wear them with pride, with style and most of, all with action.
Pencils of Promise.
A bit more well known (like, well over 100k twitter followers well known) Adam Braun is no stranger to the social scene. Humbled by the humanity of child in need, in need of just one small thing - a pencil - Braun set out to build an impressively innovative and successful non-profit organization.
Pencils of Promise partners with local communities to build schools and increase educational opportunities in the developing world. They focus on early education, high potential females and empowering a new generation of passionate young leaders to create profound good. They focus on building strong foundations, collaborative relationships and integrated communities all over the world, from Laos to Guatemala.
For POP, it’s both the big and small wins that make up the meaning: the team, based out of downtown NYC, blasting Kanye in the office is a true testament to the culture Braun built; or the 65 schools worldwide (and counting) that they have actually, literally built. The social space is full of voices, but here’s one that has something worth listening to.
Warby Parker.
Warby Parker wasn’t stemmed from a “see the sadness, save the world” story. It came from one thought: Why on earth do we pay so much for glasses!? A collaboration between four close friends, Warby Parker was conceived as an alternative to the overpriced and bland eyewear available today.
At Warby, they believe in the right to see. So it’s no surprise that they rolled out that promise for the millions of people around the world who don’t have access - not only to fab frames, but proper vision care. To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with non-profits, such as VisionSpring.org, to deliver one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair that they sell.
They crafted their first collection of 27 limited style, plus one monocle, with a vintage-inspired aesthetic. The catch: they’re all priced under $100. Their site offers a unique shopping experience (try on at home for free!) and sleek user interface full of bells and whistles (have you seen their dreamy 2011 annual report. Madness!) that places them years ahead of the frame game. If the spectacle fits, share it.
via nationalpost
