“These makeup bags are more than just fabric, they tell a story of freedom,” shares Valarie Maloff of Vast Spa Solutions, the wholesale distributor for the bags. Every makeup bag is hand-sewn by women in India who have escaped human trafficking (sex slavery). Making this product, she explains to me, is a part of a woman’s journey to freedom. Each bag is unique and tells a special story of hope and freedom.
“For the hundreds of women who were once trapped in India’s sex trade, they now have freedom, dignity, and hope,” says Maloff. “The women making these bags are able to gain financial independence, have access to healthcare, literacy education, and other social services.”
The inspirational (and cheerful) bags, available in two sizes, are made from 100 percent organic cotton fabric that is Fair Trade Certified, and each bag is lined with Indian sari fabric and a matching sari tassel. Spas that carry the bags include the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, Cliff House Maine, a Destination Hotel, the Lavender Spa in Celebration, Florida, and Beyond Spa in New Jersey.
To support this cause and for ordering information, contact valarie@vastspasolutions.com.
Mary Bemis
A pioneering voice in spa and wellness journalism, Mary Bemis has spent four decades chronicling, championing, and helping shape the modern spa industry. As Founder and Editorial Director of Insider’s Guide to Spas, she brings a distinctive editorial perspective informed by a career that has helped define the language and landscape of spa media. Mary launched American Spa magazine in 1997, co-founded Organic Spa, and helped launch Luxury SpaFinder and NewBeauty. Her industry leadership extends to board service with ISPA, NYSPA, and WSPA, the latter two organizations she helped establish. She has also served as Special Advisor to the Balneology Association of North America. Today, she serves as Special Advisor to Global Wellness Day and sits on the board of the International Sauna Aid Foundation. Recognized among Medika Life’s Top 30 Influential Voices Transforming Wellness, Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award, an inaugural Folio Top Women in Media honoree, and an American Spa Wonder Woman of Wellness. Her mission remains as steadfast as ever: to keep spa culture alive and relevant, honor its roots, challenge its shortcomings, and inspire an industry to live up to its promise.
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