Turning Poverty Into Prosperity
fashion
by Laila Silva
All of the items are crafted using materials
from Haiti including leather and up-cycled
tires. All the soles of deux mains sandals are
made out of the up-cycled tires so no two
pairs of sandals are alike. They have created a
brand that is “Made to Engage. Made to Em-
power. Made in Haiti.”
When we buy a pair of sandals, we don’t re-
ally consider where they come from. Most of
the time, we wear them, get the occasional
compliment, and move on. However, there
is a company in town that’s changing the
whole way we look at fashion and that’s,
deux mains. Their name, which means “two
hands” in French, refers to the craftsmen and
women who make these items with their own
two hands.
Deux mains is an employee-owned and oper-
ated footwear and fashion company in Port-
au-Prince, Haiti. The idea to create this brand
started back in 2010 after an earthquake dev-
astated the small country. Founder and CEO
Julie Colombino knew she wanted to help
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Deux mains has also expanded their brand
into accessories such as earrings and hand-
bags, and they just debuted their new spring
collection at their annual REBUILD globally
fundraiser fashion show. This event included
dinner, music, a silent auction, and a fash-
ion show. All proceeds were dedicated to
the education and job-training programs that
REBUILD globally leads in Haiti. They also
shared their new spring collection, which
includes products made with recycled plastic
bottle fabric, denim, inner tubes, and even a
new men’s line with their partner, Kenneth
and needed to make a difference. That’s how Cole.
deux mains was born.
REBUILD globally, along with deux mains, is
With the help of their non-profi t, REBUILD helping the men and women of Haiti restore
globally, deux mains helps provide liv- their dignity, while creating a product you can
ing-wage jobs. They pay their craftsmen and be proud of to purchase and wear. Every time
women 225% of the minimum wage, ulti- you purchase an item, you are helping rebuild
mately offering them stability and, most im- a place where, at times, all hope can seem to
portantly, self-esteem. “The people we work be lost. “Every step you take in deux mains
with don’t just want to be handed money, sandals turns poverty into prosperity.”
they want to work for it and feel they are sup-
porting their family on their own,” says Isa-
bel Walker, Director of Impact Partnerships.
Photos by Macbeth Studio
These craftsmen and women have learned the
art of shoemaking and are creating something
You can see more at:
valuable for others, as well as a meaningful
DeuxMains.com
life for themselves.
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