BUY SUSTAINABLE. SUPPORT WOMEN IN MALAWI.
BK&LP
We are BK&LP. Our aim is to connect beauty and kindness by creating exciting sportswear and accessories that are made ethically from sustainable and recycled materials. We deliver love and peace as profits from the project go to help charities all over the world and even those in our own backyard. All this at a price that you can afford while our workers are paid a living wage.
We are part of the fashion revolution - are YOU in?
#beautyiskindnessandloveispeace
#BKandLP
BLESSING IN DISGUISE
We are so excited to team up with “Blessing in Disguise”, a non-for profit charity organization helping women and young girls in Malawi, in southern Africa.
www.facebook.com/blessingindisguiseproject/
They manufacture and provide Malawian women with sustainably-designed sanitary pads, which can last up to a whole year! This provides two benefits - helping women maintain hygiene during the time of the month, while Blessing in Disguise’s project provides employment for women and their families to bring them out of poverty.
Every girl deserves to manage her period with dignity.
Image credit of "old soul films" of the girls with sanitary pads from the new workshop in operation.
WHAT IS BK&LP?
We created BK&LP to show that zero waste sustainability is possible through:
*Engaging with you using crowd funding to provide the exact amount to be produced
*Choosing clever manufacturing methods to reduce or eliminate waste and chemicals
*To have the public decide on what pieces should be produced
This is all part of our process to bring “ Sell to Make “ into the fashion scene
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO?
BK&LP has a passion to create sustainable fashion options for Australians with proceeds supporting charity. Bringing the manufacturing chain to the public.
Our goals for this crowd funding appeal to you are clear and simple.
WE WANT TO MAKE SPORTSWEAR AND ACCESSORIES. We are kicking off with one of the most exciting pieces we have designed so far - it is basic, beautiful and will delight everyone with its sustainable philosophy.
The SUNNIES!!
WE WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING DIFFERENT. We want to take the knowledge of “Sell to Make” and bring it to the Australian market to show that it can be done. No more waste.
WE WANT TO SEE A CHANGE. We are dedicated to using improved manufacturing processes, to show larger companies that buyers will support and love these products that are made sustainably, just as much as what is on offer at the moment.
WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT US?
YOU GET A PAIR OF BEAUTIFUL SUNGLASSES. And help CHARITY
By SIMPLY purchasing a great pair of sunglasses that are unlike anything on the market at the moment you are enabling women in Malawi to better themselves with sanitary pads and educate more women on sanitary practices and the importance it plays in their lives.
We also have for sale our amazing bamboo hard cases that are beautifully crafted.
WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY. At the moment we have a representative from Australia monitoring production and the practices used to create these and many other amazing products. By monitoring the materials and treatments used to make the sunglasses, making sure the woods used are coming from sustainable or recycled resources we can ensure that our sunglasses will have a significantly lower impact on the planet than any plastic counterpart!
WE ARE AFFORDABLE. BK&LP is not out to make gigantic margins, in fact we want to be completely transparent on what we are spending and what we are making so you know your money is working for good, and not filling the pocket of some rich CEO. We think you will be very surprised and pleased at the price tag.
WE ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY. Every purchase results in a donation directly to the Blessing in Disguise charity cause, DIRECTLY to the people in need and bypassing all “admin” costs.
WE ARE COMPLETELY AUSTRALIAN OWNED AND DESIGNED. Every purchase also supports jobs in Australia and away from multi-national companies that may exploit their supply manufacturers and workers.
SO WHAT DO YOU GET?
*41% off the price they will be in the E- store later on.
YOUR NEW SUNGLASSES ARE:
*Hand made by skilled workers.
*Made from 75% sustainably grown and processed bamboo used to make the base frame and solid structure of the sunglasses. The Bamboo is sourced from local farmers in Wenzhou who use recycled water for production.
*Our bamboo glasses are laminated together using a PVA water-based solvent free formula glue that uses less than 1% VOC’s. This product is also free of phenol, isocyanate and urea formaldehyde resins. Meeting European standards.
* 25% includes the veneer (outer shell) of the glasses that uses reclaimed and recycled Ebony and Chinese Cherry Wood that was unsuitable for anything else due to the small size of the pieces.
*Utilizing recycled and reclaimed wood restricts the amount of sunglasses we can make keeping each style special and limited edition.
*No dangerous chemicals used in the production process meaning that there are no dangerous chemical residues on the wood when you wear them.
FEATURES TO LOOK FOR:
*Brushed nickel hinges are a delicate touch complimenting the fine grain of the Ebony veneer.
*1.1mm polarized smoke lens. FDA APPROVED
*Solid spring hinges reduces the damage to the glasses when knocked or strained.
*The wood is Eco friendly treated for durability and weather, as well as perfumed lightly.
*More styles to be added very soon.
DIMENSIONS, WILL THEY FIT?
All glasses designed and made are built on a standard European frame shape, for those who would like more information; the frame dimensions are shown below. Follow the YouTube link to view an instructional video!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVK9e1QJBRc
HOW LONG WILL I WAIT?
All glasses are produced to order, an example time frame below.
Order processing, preparing materials and shaping by hand: 20 days
Assembly and production: 20 days
Staining and polishing: 8 days
Laser engraving: 8 days
Inspection and packing: 4 days
Shipping to Australia: 3-4 days (UPS, DHL)
Shipping within Australia: 1-2 days (Australia Express Post)
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A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON BLESSING IN DISGUISE AND WHAT THEY MAKE FOR THESE WOMEN.
Every pair of glasses will contain the inscription:
“a woman in Malawi says thank you : and so does the earth”
The women are taught how to make these re-usable sanitary pads that can last them up to a year. They are given an income and even education on sanitary practices.
Their supply chain supports the women every step of the way with guidance and assistance when needed. To add to this, the money is fed back into their system to help them to continue to grow more.
recently "Blessings in Disguise" successfully set up a vocational sewing college, revamped their sanitary pad production center and now have accommodation for twenty girls who will begin their training in sewing, tailoring and business.
This course is for girls once high school has been completed. Once the girls have successfully completed their studies at the Vocational center they are offered employment at the pad production center.There the girls will sew pads and sell them in “Blessings in Disguise” shop located in the center of town This not only provides employment but an alternative to disposable pads, which are not affordable for the majority of girls in Malawi.
Founded by a group of boys originally in 2009, the product development only began early 2016 when the team joined forces with a small clothing label in Australia with similar ethical values and importance on sustainability. Using connections in China, India and Italy as a group they have been sourcing the best products to create something fresh and new.
Website in Development!
