Elevyn Blog | Our story on social entrepreneurship, e-commerce, fair trade, poverty and hand-made crafts

Blue Orange Green Pink Purple

Archive for the ‘Contests’ Category

You can use the search form below to go through the content and find a specific post or page:

May 05

Celebrating Mothers for Fair Trade

A Mah Meri Indigenous Artisan in Malaysia. Photo by Sze Ning.

At Elevyn, many of the artisans we work with are struggling mothers, who rely on craft-making to feed their children and send them to school.

Having worked with and getting to know these artisans, we truly admire their strength and perseverence in overcoming the adversities in their daily struggles.

Fair trade provides an assurance that a reasonable amount of the selling price go back to the artisans, and that they are afforded proper working conditions.

Throughout the month of May, we would like to invite all fellow moms, sons and daughters to join us in recognizing these brave artisans who may not change the world, but are working hard to provide a better one for their children.

–

How It Works

Email us (info@elevyn.com) a photo of you and your mom, or, if you are a mother yourself, one with your children. Include a short message to all fellow mothers out there.
The photo will be posted on The Wall (see below). At the end of the month, all the photos and messages will be compiled and given to our partner artisans from Tompoq Topoh (indigenous women’s group) and Mang Tha (refugee women’s group).

The Wall - Mothers for Fair Trade at www.elevyn.com/mom/

What Do I Get?

A warm fuzzy feeling that you are connecting to all mothers out there, regardless of their nationality and background

What, not enough?

OK fine… we’ve spoken to our partners, and they are more than happy to contribute!
Here are the goodies: *

ALL approved submissions get a 10% Discount Voucher from Lollietots.
For every 20 entries received, we will pick one with the best photo and message to receive a RM200 Gift Voucher (+ free shipping) from Tiny Tapir.

ONE Grand Prize Winner for BEST photo & message *

A family portrait shoot worth RM600 from one of Malaysia’s hottest wedding & lifestyle portrait photographer Anna-Rina.
A special mystery gift from Elevyn.

We are still finalizing the sponsor prizes even as you read this, so expect more to come!

–

* Terms & conditions apply, and may be subject to change

Jun 29

Meeting the Artisans

Last Saturday, we brought the team from Tongue in Chic and contest winners Cheah Hsu Jen and Eudora Maluna Manggala to visit Tompoq Topoh, a group of artisans working with Elevyn.

“They are… well… erm…. they write about fashion on a website,” I explained to Tompoq Topoh a week before the trip as I explained to them who their guest will be. I wondered if these women who grew up planting their own food and catching fish and crabs from the sea, understood what I meant.

“Oh.. so they’re fashion people,” Maznah, the chairperson of Tompoq Topoh echoed, affirming that they understand.

The day of the trip arrived and we meet the two contest winners who graciously spent time writing about Elevyn on their blogs and told all their friends about the artisans on Elevyn. From the Tongue in Chic team were Joyce Wong who helped model Soning Craft/Sinompuru Women’s Group’s accessories, and her assistant editor, Claudia Low.

Every time I bring a city people into the village, I worry that they’ll be very uncomfortable and complain about the heat and mosquitoes (which particularly like to feast on new people). This group however were a great sport and perfect guests in the village.

We first had a look at Tompoq Topoh’s range of crafts in their workshop. The girls took on the challenge of solving the marriage puzzle. One has to finish the puzzle to be able to marry.

Did they solve it? Well, we can only wait and see if they do get married!

Next we went to see some well toned wood carvers at their craft.

Traditionally, when people were sick and ill – a woodcarving of the spirit that is making that person ill is carved. The spirit is then cast into the woodcarving and drifted out to sea.

Now they are made as high quality handicraft using a very durable wood called nyireh batu.

We then settled back to the hut where Maznah told us a little about Tompoq Topoh while we waited for lunch.

Lunch was delayed a little as there was a storm in the morning therefore Maznah’s husband could only go out to catch the fish a little late that morning.

Worth the wait? Mostly likely as the traditional kampung menu had fresh fried fish, fish curry, homemade belacan (chilli) and oil palm tree shoot. The mouth washers were kampung durian and mangoes.

As the afternoon heat wore on and made eyes droopy, the women demonstrated their weaving and later brought some life back to the group as they jammed with their traditional instruments, playing a song which is traditionally played and sung during their Ancestral Day.

Our group left Carey Island by late afternoon, leaving a world of old traditions, customs and belief system deeply rooted in their unique culture and the environment.

Once, the Tompoq Topoh women played a song for me to hear and explained that the lyrics were directed to visitors to their village, singing about how you ever miss us just come back and we’ll be here, same as ever and ready to welcome you with open arms.

To the group that just visited and to those who have ever been there – if you miss Tompoq Topoh, remember that they are now just one web link away

Written by Puah Sze Ning
Photographs taken by Puah Sze Ning

Reflections from the contest winners

“I feel that there is something else beneath the surface, motivating and giving them the strength to come forward and embrace the modern world where they would probably feel quite bewildered and lost at first.

Maybe its the realisation that the existence of their heritage in the future is all dependant on their own hands and what was once shared only among their own people, now has to be made public knowledge in order for them to move forward.

Either way, I feel a lot of respect for them and listening to them sharing their stories of their hopes and aspirations has me rooting for the Tompoq Topoh team, whatever their endeavours are.” Hsu Jen.

—-

“Going for this trip has made me realize how fortunate and lucky I am compared to other people. Meeting and knowing, learning about other people’s culture, beliefs and their different way of life has given me yet another whole new, awesome experience.” Eudora Maluna.

Read Tongue in Chic’s Claudia’s account of the trip here

Read Hsu Jen’s thoughts of the trip here

May 08

Elevyn Contest Winners!

Back in March, Elevyn joined hands with fashion website Tongue in Chic and wedding photographer Anna-Rina to organize an online contest, where participants write a blog about Elevyn.

We’d like to congratulate Hsu Jen and Eudora for their winning posts (here and here). They will both be receiving a free photography session with Anna-Rina worth MYR 1,400, and the photos will be featured on Tongue in Chic and Elevyn.

The winners will also receive a complimentary jewellery set from Soning Craft, and a fully-sponsored, half-day trip to meet the artisans in Carey Island, Selangor.

Congratulations again, and thank you all for participating!

Mar 26