Black Friday (but different) starts today

Inspired by last year's Black Friday, where all you lovely people helped us send an amazing 36 girls to school (read our most recent recap blog if you missed it!) we are thrilled to be working with Fior Di Loto for another year. We want to send those 36 girls back for another year AND hopefully more!

We're really passionate about ongoing, sustained involvement in communities (the school is near Ismail's factory so will impact the whole town), as we believe this is what makes true, lasting change to peoples' lives.

In 2018 spending across the Black Friday weekend in the USA was up about 20% from 2017, making it the biggest online trading weekend in history. In a world where we have an estimated 12 years to fix the climate crisis, growing overconsumption is worrying and we really wanted to use the increased momentum to make a more positive change, so you can get AND give this sale season.

For £220, Fior Di Loto can educate one girl for a year, buy her uniform, shoes, and books and also provide her lunch and transport (and a lovely dress for their Diwali Celebrations). That's not a lot of money to transform one person's life! And that's no understatement. We've seen first hand the difference that Deepu and Mara have made to girls' lives in the town so we know the money will be in safe hands and going to such an important use. Education is one of the most powerful and long-lasting ways to make change and reduce poverty, as it not only changes one person's life but transforms communities and futures.

There are some great videos of Lucy's adventures in India on Insta, with several clips of the school to check out here.

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Tomorrow is Black Friday, but we are doing it differently! Last year we found an amazing grassroots charity in the town near our factory in India! Fior Di Loto is an amazing school that was created by two wonderful people! They provide education for girls that otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to go! £200 pays for the girls books, uniform, travel, food and education for a whole year! The teachers went to the school so understand the value of a good education! Last year we donated 10% of all sales to the school, and thanks to all you lovely people raised enough to cover 36 girls education for a year! You asked us what happens next year, so here we are, doing the same again this year! Let’s see if we can help the school give even more girls an education this year! Thanks for your support! PS: the funny faces at the end we’re so we could pick a good thumbnail for the video!

A post shared by Lucy & Yak (@lucyandyak) on Nov 28, 2019 at 11:19am PST

We, of course, have the option to donate directly through Just Giving if you would like to give but don't want to buy. We will also be reducing a few more exciting items and adding to our sale section so you'll also have the chance to get some of your faves for less, but we're all about trying to make more sustainable, non-excessive choices (check out our conscious shopping tips on last week's blog!). There are some exciting new products that have just landed too!

It means so much to us that you guys are prepared to forfeit the usual massive discounts and embrace our vision of an ethical, sustainable business that tries to look out for people rather than exploiting them.

Let's see if we can make it an even bigger donation this year and send more amazing girls to school!