2008 April « Pangea-Collection.com Blog

Archive for April, 2008

It’s Cold Outside

April 30, 2008

Not sure about where you are but here in Toronto the last few days have been really cold. We had a wonderful start to the spring, almost like we went from the deep of winter to summer. People were out skiing and golfing in the same day – that’s not common for Ontario.

Anyway I’m refusing to turn the heat back on in the house so I’ve been pretty cold at night. This reminded me of the Pashima Shawls in Pangea Collection. These shawls are perfect for travel, warming up at home, or even more appropriate to wear out on a cool summer evening. They look elegant, are lightweight and very warm. Please allow me to share with you a little about Pashima.

Pashmina is a type of cashmere wool which can be made into various types of clothing and blankets, most commonly sweaters and shawls. The word pashmina comes from the Pashmina Goat that is native to the Himalayas in Nepal.

This wool comes from under neck and chest part of the Himalayan mountain goat. The “pashmina shawl” is an indigenous and unique product of Nepal. of the wool comes from altitudes of 2,743 to 3,353 metres above sea level.

The wool is usually in one of four colours: grey, white, black, or cream. The wool is carded to separate the rough, outer part. The soft wool is spinning by hand and turns into ” Pashmina” yarn. The yarn set on hand loom in different composition such as 100% pashmina or combination of pashmina and silk, sheep wool, cotton etc.

The making process still follows a traditional method that dates back thousands of years back. Wool is hand gathered and combed by nomadic herders. Scarcity of the wool accounts in part for its price, but its soft, light weight and warmth make it a rare treat to own and wear. Pashmina shawls are considered a necessary item for the wealthy Nepalese bridal dowry.

Take a look at the Pashima Shawl from Pangea Collection.

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Touring Slums

April 28, 2008

Recently, I’ve been reading about tours that take you through impoverished areas or slums in various countries such as in Africa, India and Thailand – I’m sure their are others too.

My question is – is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Is it right to pay someone to take you on a tour of impoverished people so you can stare at them and take pictures? Does the money from the tour benefit these people at all? Does it change you in a positive way after? I’m not sure about this, in many ways I feel as though this is like putting these people on display, like a circus act.

Wouldn’t it be better to be on a working tour where you go to a village and work with the community? Whether that’s teaching, working in agriculture or helping to build the community in some way. This in my opinion at least contributes something to the community and you actually have the opportunity to feel what it is like to live in these villages and understand a little of the culture. You cannot get that driving by in a jeep or walking through in an hour.

You can also buy their products from Fair Trade organisations who help to teach them business skills, provide them with resources and education for their families – this is the meaning of a hand up rather than a hand out and can contribute to a long term economic self sufficiency. If you are interested in exploring some of these products in Pangea Collection, you can check out the following Collections:

Kenyan Jewellery Collection
Klong Toey Jewellery Collection

There are other Fair Trade Collections at Pangea Collection too but these two are from Nairobi and Klong Toey which are highly impoverished areas for which this type of tourism would be common.

Love to know what you think, feel free to add your thoughts.

Patricia

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Seasonless Fashions?

April 23, 2008

Lately I’ve been hearing about this trend toward “seasonless fashion”. Interesting.

The idea is that you can wear these fashions in any season, they’re like a neutral and I don’t mean neutral colour but neutral in wearability.

This is an interesting idea – it can be economical – you aren’t a slave to the traditional fashion seasons and it’s also to some degree environmental – for the same reasons. Another point here is that when people buy something new they want to wear it right away, they don’t want to wait for the season to start.

I first heard the name “seasonless fashions” in a fashion trend presentation and the idea has been popping up here and there ever since.

So if you have something that you think works equally well in the summer as the winter – go for it – apparently you are on trend!

Cheers
Patricia

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Mont Tremblant

April 21, 2008

As spring approaches I get very excited about going up to Mont Tremblant. Last year I had planned to spend most of the summer there but in the end only spent about 2 weeks. Here are some deer who like to hang out in our back yard.

For those of you who are not familiar with Mont Tremblant – here’s some info.

About an hour drive North-West of Montreal in the Laurentians there are three beautiful villages that make up Mont Tremblant. Other than the fact that it is a bit confusing because they’re all called Mont Tremblant, once you get over that and find your hotel, you’ll fall in love.

The three villages are St-Jovite (this is the main town), the Resort, a pedestrian village operated by Intrawest and thirdly the village of Mont Tremblant (older town which is experiencing a nice revival).

St-Jovite is just to the East side of highway 117 which is the highway leading into the upper Laurentians. St-Jovite is essentially a just one main street which is filled with wonderful boutiques, restaurants and bars. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon strolling and enjoying a bite to eat or a drink on a terrasse.

Resort Village
Pretty much every weekend during the summer and the winter there are activities or a festival organised by the resort. Check out their website for the dates you plan to travel to see what is on at www.tremblant.ca.

Tremblant Village
The petit train du nord runs through here and is a perfect place to start your 250 some odd ride if you are up for it! If not just enjoy a few kilometers and return for a dip in the lake. This is one of the better areas for less touristy restaurants.

Things to do
This is the place for active sports fans, there is a endless variety of activities to enjoy. The villages site on the edge of the Mont Tremblant park which is a wonderful place to participate in outdoor activities, watch for wildlife or take a swim in one of the lakes. In the winter you can cross country ski and stay in one of the huts within the park.

Summer
Golf, canoeing, hiking, boating, cycling, horseback riding, swimming and more.

Winter
Skiing (alpine and cross country), snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skating, dog sledding, snow tubing, ice climbing and more.

Anytime
Scandinave spa
This is a must do to unwind and treat your body right especially after days of sports activities. The Scandinave is based on the Nordic tradition of hot, cold, rest. Basically you rotate between heating up your body in a steam room, sauna or outdoor hot tub followed immediately by a plunge into a very cold pool or under a equally cold water fall. You then allow you body to recover for a few minutes (15 is the recommended) in the relaxation room and then the whole process is repeated. After you have done this for a couple of hours, you go for a Swedish massage. When the day is done, you’ll want to cuddle up for a nap!

Places to eat
St-Joite
Our favourite place is a local spot called Moe’s, it’s really nothing to look at but the food is really good and the service is friendly. If you like sandwiches you have to try the smoked meat sandwich which is called Moe’s #5. If you are more of a salad eater, try the spinach and chicken salad with warm balsamic dressing!

Village of Mont Tremblant
Cayenne Grill
This restaurant is a mix of locals and tourists (but mainly the tourists in the know so they’re not so annoying) and also groups from the local race track.

The Cayenne serves fusion food continental cuisine meats Asian cuisine. In the summer enjoy a seat on the patio.

Patrick Bermand
If you prefer a more upscale meal, try Patrick’s. It’s in an old converted log style house. The service is excellent as is the food. I’d recommend fish, oh and of course a great bottle of wine.

Resort Village
La Savoie
La Savoie is named after the region in France from which the owner originates. The service is charming and you will surely have a visit to your table from the owner herself. The food is authentic cuisine of the alps, including fondue, pierrade and raclette.

Happy Exploring!

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Happy Thai New Year!

April 20, 2008

Happy New Year to our friends in Thailand.

The Thai New Year festival (Songkran) started on April 13th.

While officially Thailand changed the calendar New Year to January 1 back in 1940 to be consistent with the western business world, the traditional Songkran New Year festival is still widely celebrated and remains a national holiday.

The celebration is four days long. Marking the end of the old year the and the beginning of the new and celebrating the elders. As part of the festival small birds are released from cages and lots and lots of water is thrown around in playful celebration.
Water in Thailand has historical significance dating back to pre-Buddist rituals where throwing water was meant as a symbol of luck to bring good rain for the crops. Water then became a religious custom whereby Buddha statues were cleaned on an annual basis and today during parades, crowds throw water on Buddha statues passing by. Pouring a small amount of water on elders’ heads is considered a sign of respect.

In Thai temples people bring sand to symbolically replace the sand that they have carried away on their shoes throughout the year. This sand is formed into pagodas and colourfully decorated.
Food is also an important part of the festival and depending on the region could be Pad Thai, Green Curry Chicken or other traditional dishes.

What’s a celebration without great fashion? See traditional Thailand Jewelry in the Thailand Jewelry Collection.

Happy New Year!

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I’m dreaming of Buenos Aires

April 16, 2008

Oh I have been dreaming for a while. I’ve been to Rio but have not had the pleasure of exploring any of the other parts of the vast South American continent. Since visiting Rio a couple of years ago I’ve wanted to return to South America and spend a lot more time there. In particular, near the top of my list are Chile’s wine regions and Buenos Aires, I’ve just heard so many amazing things about it.

I’ve been warming my husband up to the idea since planning our vacation last Christmas. We decided to go to Europe (Vienna, Paris and Budapest) instead of South American and leave that for another year. I’m hoping this year. I’ve been thinking about how many aeorplan miles it would take ever since.

Yesterday I picked up my copy of Flare from the mail and the feature Living Travel story is on Buenos Aires, this had me at my computer checking for flights.

I’m dreaming of beautiful architecture, people, food, wine, shoes and jewellery (is it wrong to put beautiful shoes and jewellery in the same sentence as people?). Buenos Aires is known for all of these and I can wait to explore them all. Watch for a new Pangea Collection from Argentina in Jan!

Anyone out there who has been, please drop me a line and let me know your insider’s advice.

Cheers,
P

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What is Fair Trade? And Fair Trade Jewelry

April 15, 2008

I am often asked what is Fair Trade exactly. Well for those of you who don’t know and are interested, below is an explanation.

Fair Trade is a trading partnership that seeks equity in international trade. It is intended to contribute sustainable development by offering better trading conditions as well as ensuring the rights of marginalised producers and workers, especially in developing countries.

Fair Trade organisations aim to generate awareness in an effort to promote change in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. Fair Trade’s main objectives are to:

• Work with marginalised producers and workers in an effort to aid them in achieving self reliance
• Empower producers and workers as stakeholders in their own organisations
• Actively play a role in the global marketplace in helping to achieve greater equity in international trade

Wherever possible Pangea-Collection.com is committed to working with Fair Trade organisations and small independent jewelry artisans around the globe. This business philosophy guides the Pangea Collection buying practices and supplier selection.

Pangea Collection’s goal is to do our part in enabling artisans, particularly women and those living in developing markets, to earn an income through the practice of their craft. In our own small way Pangea Collection is working towards supporting the livelihoods of these skilled jewelry artisans. In many cases their crafts are the living expression of deep cultural traditions and Pangea Collection, along with the Fair Trade organisations with which we work, believe in the importance of the preservation of these cultures. We also believe that interpretation and the evolution of such crafts are important for their long-term sustainability.

Explore the Fair Trade Jewelry at Pangea Collection, for beautiful pieces including earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, pendants and more. Collections include, Nepalese artisan jewelry, jewelry from India, Ecuadorian artisan jewelry, Kenyan artisan jewelry, Thailand jewelry and Chilean artisan jewelry.

Tags:artisan jewelry, fair trade jewelry, jewelry from India, Thailand jewelry, unique handcrafted jewelry
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“Mission Mom” – This Mother’s Day, Support Moms Around The World

April 14, 2008

After years of working in the corporate world, I wanted to do my small part to help enable artists around the world, especially women. It is especially meaningful on Mother’s Day and Fair Trade Day to recognise the privilege we have living in this wonderful country while at the same time acknowledge that there are mothers around the world who are struggling to support their families. Together we can help them achieve the art of self reliance.

This Mother’s Day, Pangea Collection is on “Mission Mom”, honouring Mothers and Fair Trade Day, which falls on May 10th, the day before Mother’s day. A Mother’s Day purchase from Pangea Collection will mean a $1 donation from every order going to Opportunity International.

As the founder of Pangea Collection, I have been looking for an organisation that focuses on improving the lives of women around the world. More importantly, I was looking for an organisation that wasn’t just about charity but about providing tools and resources for long term self sufficiency. I found it in Opportunity International.

I’d love to share with you a little about Opportunity International – I think you’ll be impressed. Opportunity International is a Microenterprise Development Organisation. To explain what Microenterprise Development is in case you are not familiar, micro financing provides small business loans, training and support to small (or micro) entrepreneurs in the developing world.

With a loan and training, a struggling entrepreneur can start or grow a business. With a business, no matter how small, they can earn an income. With an income, they can feed their family, provide education for their children and improve their housing. This idea of a “hands-up”, rather than a “hand-out” is exactly the approach Pangea Collection was looking for in an organisation to support.

And this approach has proven successful: Loan repayment rates are 98%. About 87% of loans go to women. On average each loan supports five family members. Will you believe it if I tell you that for as little as a $50 donation, that’s enough to start or expand a small business! Really, $50 and that’s enough to get a business started in many developing countries. You can also make a donation directly to Opportunity International by clicking on the following link:

https://www.opportunityinternational.ca/?action=view_catalog&Join_ID=99125.

Here are some more facts:

- 70% of fair trade artisans are women, who are often the sole wage earners in their homes

- Of all the impoverished, women are the poorest

- Women do 67% of the world’s work and earn only 10% of the world’s pay and a mere 1% of the world’s property – this data is according to The United Nations

As the founder of Pangea Collection, I want to support Fair Trade organisations and micro financing as much as possible – and to spread the word. In particular, Pangea Collection is committed to working with Fair Trade organisations and their artisans worldwide. You can see a beautiful selection of jewellery crafted by artisans from all over the world, a majority of them women.

With pieces starting at under $20 and the broad range of styles we think that you’ll find the perfect something for even the hardest to shop for mom! For every order from May 1-May 7th, 2008, $1 will be donated to Opportunity International. So your gift to mom can help other moms around the world too.

Happy Mother’s and Fair Trade Days – Patricia

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Thai Fair Trade Saori Weavers

April 11, 2008

The following is the full story of the Saori weavers which initially started as a therapeutic project for children and became a therapeutic and significant source of income following the Tsunami in 2004. Also included is a recent press story featuring one of the Saori bags in Pangea Collection.

Saori is a hand weaving program which was founded in 1968 by Mrs. Misao Jo in Osaka. The Saori process is created by freely weaving wool threads across hundreds of warp threads that are stretched on a wooden loom. The resulting cloth is used to make a variety of articles such as the Saori bags you find in Pangea Collection.

The Saori technique does not require a pattern or any experience, it is therefore used in art lessons at schools. Children can fully enjoy their creativity and learn to how to control their body and mind. This technique is used in the special education for autism in Chiang Mai also as teachers and parents believe that the concentration, from Saori weaving technique, can help these special children in many ways.

The Saori products that are sold through Pangea Collection are from Mayagotami Foundation whose founder is a Japanese monk, Pra-ajarn Mitzuo Gavesako (Pra-ajarn can be compared to the English word a monk master).

Pra-ajarn Mitzuo was born and grew up in Japan. Later he was interested in the teaching of Lord Buddha and decided to become a monk under the guidance of Pra-ajarn Cha Subhaddo (the master of forest monastery line) in 1975 and stayed in Wat Nongpahpong (pronouced wat-nong-pah pong).

Throughout his monkhood, Pra-ajarn Mitzuo has been doing many good deeds not only for himself but also other people and living creatures. After having appreciated the Buddhist teaching and monastic discipline for some times, he founded Watpahsunantawanaram (pronouced wat-pa-su-nan-ta-wa-na-ram) as the 117th branch of Wat Nongpahpong forest monastery.

One day while he was doing the walking meditation in the forest in Japan, he realised that world peace could simply happen if we lessen our self-concern, so called selfishness, and start to learn how to give to other people.

He consequently established a non-profit Mayagotami Foundation to help give the opportunity for Thai children in 1989 and it has been run by board member and volunteers up until the present time.

Initially, this foundation aimed to provide living, educational, and moral support to Thai children who lacked the opportunity or access. The role model of the future Thai children, quoted from the foundation’s goal, is Lord Buddha.

But after the Tsunami attacked 6 southern provinces, Pra-ajarn Mitzuo raised the idea of using Saori weaving technique to help console the hearts of those who lost their beloved ones, their houses, and everything. And this method did really well as it helped distract or pull back the suffering victims from the repetition of the tragic scenes by encouraging people to focus on the weaving and releasing their positive creativity.

Today, because their products are unique and contain really deep and admiring stories, there are more demands from domestic and international markets. Now, this mental therapy has already become a significant source of income.

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Favourite European cities/towns

April 7, 2008

1. Paris
I love a lot of cities but for me there is Paris then….. number two. Paris is beautiful, full of culture, great food (French food that is) and of course great shopping. If you are shopping for fashion jewelry, stroll the Marais.

2. Vienna
Vienna is another wonderful cultural city, fantastic museums and cultural entertainment, especially music. It is an extremely civilized and elegant city.

3. Amsterdam
While the coffee shops and red light district do attract a different tourist, Amsterdam is also a beautiful city. If you like Van Gogh you’re in luck! Watch out for the cyclists whipping by and don’t forget to take a ride on the waterways.

4. London
As an Anglophone, it is hard not to love, London. You feel instantly at home.

5. Barcelona
Who could not love the incredible architecture of Gaudi? Oh and the Tapas and a couple of Cavas to go with it!

6. Dublin
Dublin is another city where any Anglophone can’t help but feel at home. The city has a wonderful energy and a fantastic mix of historical architecture and tradition with modern sophistication and convenience. Make sure to visit the Trinity College Museum library. Oh and a pub, or two, or… is a must!

Okay so this picture is not from Dublin but rather the Giant Causeway, I didn’t take any pictures while in Dublin, sorry I was busy in a Pub!

7. Dubrovnik
This is a magical city. The best first encounter is to enter the city gates at night. Wow. Dubrovnik is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage City for Culture. Read the details on the UNESCO World Heritage List at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/95.

8. Prague
Charles bridge, the President’s castle and crystal chandeliers need I say more?

9. Vevey
Vevey is one of two favourites that are not cities. Vevey is charming little town in Switzerland. It sits on Lake Geneva and across the lake is France. The view from the lake is well, breathtaking even with the freshest air I have ever breathed. The water and sky changes every day and one could never tire of looking across it at the wonderful mountains in the background.

10. Aix-en-Provence
Stunning tree lined streets and some of the best markets in France. Aix-en-Provence is a must visit.