Color Out Loud

You down with POC? (Yeah you know me.)

Be Bright.

Every once in awhile, I come across something so lovely I want to share it with you instantly. This time around, I couldn't wait to tell you about 31 Bits and the launch of their summer collection. In this case, there's more to each accessory than meets the eye. 31 Bits uses fashion and design to empower women to rise above poverty. "Kallie Dovel traveled to Uganda in 2007 and got a firsthand look at life in Northern Uganda. While she was there, she met women making paper beads who lacked a plan to market and sell them. After learning a little bit about these women and hearing their stories, Kallie knew there had to be a way to give opportunities to her new friends. After her initial trip to Uganda, Kallie finished her degree, and with the help of a few friends, 31 Bits quickly evolved. The girls traveled back to Uganda in August 2008, and selected six women to begin buying jewelry from on a monthly basis. Since then, 31 Bits has grown to 99 designers -- each with a unique story of suffering that has been overcome with joy and liberation." Want to know more about the cause? Click here to learn more about the designers and the mission behind the program. I challenge you to read about some of the women; I guarantee you'll love the cause and the company even more.

And as an unabashed advocate for a POC, or pop of color, I was thrilled to learn about the inspiration behind 31 Bits and their COLOR OUT LOUD summer collection. As eloquently explained on their website, "A color has three components: VALUE -- brightness; CHROMA -- its strength; HUE -- its position in the spectrum. The word color describes 31 Bits perfectly...because it takes VALUE, CHROMA, and HUE to make us who we are. Between our designers in Uganda, our staff, and our customers, our 31 Bits team is made up of people who are BRIGHT, who are STRONG, and who each have an important position in our FAMILY. This summer, we're going to show the world what makes us who we are...we're going to COLOR OUT LOUD." 

My favorite necklaces from the COLOR OUT LOUD collection...

1. Sky Jumper

2. Razzle Dazzle

3. Happy Night

4. Shackle

5. Marmalade

6. Mamba Braid

Wishing you a colorful and cheerful weekend!

Toodles,

ANF