Fashion for Change Haute goes Ethnic - Styles by Danielle

Fashion for Change starts today and runs through April 25.   In a nutshell,  Fashion For Change is a fantastic two week shopping, entertainment and high fashion event designed to raise funds for the charity Womankind Worldwide - an admirable and important RL group that has been around for 25 plus years and is based in the UK with the mission of helping women in the developing world.  The theme of the event is "ethnic goes haute" and with that in mind, I am wearing the gorgeous new exclusive made for this event by Styles by Danielle called  Ivona.  And don't miss Danni Sunday April 12 at 12 noon -- she sings like an angel... and she is so special.

Ivona is a wine colored silk gown that is fit for a empress with its intricate baroque inspired gold thread traditional embroidery from Croatia.  Here, embroidery is a lavish floral artform garnished with geometric patterns made with gold and silver thread for clothing made from silk or wool.

Cutwork, applique embroidery work on Ivona add elegance.  I love the shimmering gold scarves draped at each shoulder that adds a sensational flair as you sweep into view with every eye on you.

Diversity is the main characteristic of the Croatioan woman folk artist whose work with fabric and her use of colors, threads, weaving patterns and intricate embroidery stitches come together to create a beautiful and traditional look that reflects the life of her rich culture heritage.  Ivona reflects this perfectly.

Ivona also comes with a traditional headpiece made of flowers (vijenac) that adds elegance to this look. You may spend a few extra minutes in the mirror when wearing this gown. Stare. Get to know yourself. There is no greater mystery. Nor reward.

Your recollection of history may come down to the rosiest of shades. The grandest of grand. Positively positive. Don’t worry, vanity isn’t calamity. Just get this gown!  Shall we dance Mr. X?

Wearing: Styles by Danielle - Ivona -- a Fashion for Change Exclusive

LM http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lifestream/44/88/22


Skin - Jewell - October 4 Seasons
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Hair- Wasabi Pills

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About Womankind

Womankind Worldwide is a UK based, international Women’s Rights charity working to help women transform their lives and communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 

It celebrated it's 25th Anniversary last year (2014).

The Charity's motto is 'Equal, Respected, Proud' and its vision is of a world where being a woman does not limit choices, opportunities or rights, where ever she lives.

The Charity's aim is to support local Women’s Rights organizations and smaller local women's groups.  These groups, often at great personal risk to themselves, are challenging discrimination, human rights abuses and violence towards women within the countries and communities they are based in.  

Womankind delivers the essential support – funding, expertise, contacts and publicity that these local grass roots women’s organizations need to amplify their voice, increase their impact and bring about greater change in their communities.

Womankind's approach is not to impose a 'top down' solution but to help and empower the women's groups it works with to achieve their own solutions and change. Womankind Worldwide also works in wider arenas, to lobby for change , working to influence the powers and practices of governments and non-governmental organizations.

While not being a very large charity, over the 25 years of its existence it has supported directly and indirectly over 18 million women and their families. In 2013, for instance, it worked in 15 countries, directly supported almost 141,000 women, and helped improve the rights of over 6 million women. In 2013 as an example, it worked in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

What follows is just a tiny example of the schemes, large and small, that it has helped.

Afghanistan - In Jalalabad WW helped a a legal aid center run by a local Women's Organization to provide free legal support to 175 women, psychosocial support to 70 women/girls and basic health treatment to 46 women

Bolivia - WW helped 550 indigenous and peasant women leaders in 5 out of the country’s 9 regions to acquire the knowledge to challenge discrimination and they are now actively participating in local politics.

Liberia - WW helped develop a manual to help the police improve how they manage cases involving violence against women and girls, especially rape

Tanzania - WW worked with the Women's Legal Aid Center in the Nyarugusu camp to support refugee paralegal units to take action on violence against women, and other human rights abuses, and they trained the wider community to recognize, promote and protect the rights of refugee women, children and men.

Nepal - WW helped Dalit tribal women’s political participation and their understanding of local political processes

Ethiopia - over five years, alongside another charity, WW worked with local communities to raise awareness of women's rights, violence against women and harmful traditional practices. Just one result of this work was that 250,000 girls escaped genital mutilation.

That is only a tiny sample, the list could go on for hours....

This is a charity where even small donations can make a significant difference, because the money is targeted to make maximum and lasting impact. Some examples are shown below.

$20 US could train a police person in Peru in issues of sexual exploitation, violence and women’s rights to ensure that they better support trafficked women and women in prostitution.

$60US could train a community paralegal in Ghana, to provide legal support to survivors of violence, helping them to obtain child custody, a divorce or to keep their home.

$300US could train 25 Aymara women in Bolivia to educate other women in their communities on women’s rights, violence and leadership.

Looking at the figures, you can see that there is a real chance that money raised in Second Life could make a real difference somewhere.

Womankind Worldwide's weblink is below - go check it out!

http://womankind.org.uk/