Behind the scenes at 'The Bloom Effect'

With all the stories about non ethical fashion trade I thought it was a good time to tell you how it works at The Bloom Effect.

Its pretty simple.

I got to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam every 6 months for a month.  While I am there I work with the children at the orphanage...by work I mean sing, dance, hug, massage, play and just 'be'.

Then in the afternoon I get on my motorbike and head to the fabric markets. I walk for hours finding just the right fabrics that are unique and special.  I buy them and carry them on my motorbike to my tailor Han.

Sometimes I need to take a translator with me so I am so lucky to have the awesome 'Michelle'!  She laughs at me when I forget to put petrol in my bike, get lost and forget to carry enough cash...but its all part of this authentic process.

All my items are hand crafted by a local lady by the name 'Han' in Ho Chi Minh City. Han is a disabled and spritely lady who lives with her brother and sister. She is 60 years old and single (something that is very frowned upon in Vietnam).

I have always wanted to have women only tailors and to be able to support Han in an ethical way so that she can work in her home, makes my heart sing!!

Han is paid well for her skills and is often 'paying it forward' by giving some of her wages to the local temple right next door. 

This IS 'The BLOOM Effect'!

 Michelle and I

The Bloom Effect was created by Sharon Thompson, a creative soul who has devoted her life to making the world a better place through documentary photography and volunteering work here and abroad.

The proceeds of your purchase help to share kindness where it’s most needed. Nothing blooms in isolation.