This Friday and Saturday, August 21 & 22, Urban Zen in Sag Harbor is celebrating Haiti in the Hamptons with Haitian artisans Caroline Sada, Chandler Busby, Karine Faubert Villard, Magalie Dresse and Paula Coles.

In 2011, Donna Karan began collaborating with a handful of Haiti’s best artisans and today, she and Urban Zen are working together with Haitian communities to build a sustainable model of philanthropy and commerce.

A portion of proceeds from the event will be used to continue the Urban Zen Foundation’s Haitian initiatives which include the Haitians Artisan Project and the DOT Program – Design, Organization, Training Center for Haiti Artisans

PAULA COLES

Paula Coles founded Paula | Coles, Haiti as a mission to provide education and a promise of a brighter future for thousands of underprivileged children in Haiti while caring for our planet, using 100% of recycled fabric scraps from t-shirts manufacturing factories in Haiti. Each and every one of their products is a unique work of art; a canvas of culture and creativity crafted with 100% recycled fabric scraps by native Haitians.

Click HERE and HERE to see Paula Cole’s work for Urban Zen

 

PAPIER-MÂCHÉ BY CARIBBEAN CRAFT business owner Magalie Dresse

See Magalie being interviewed by Oprah HERE

Caribbean Craft was founded in 1990 by young Dutch and Belgian entrepreneurs who wanted to address Haiti’s high unemployment with artisan training, design assistance and new export market outlets. In the course of their work, they created jobs for hundreds of local artisans, providing income for more than 500 families in 2008. Caribbean Craft strives to find ecological uses for recycled materials and is committed to producing in a sustainable manner.

Click HERE and HERE to see Caribbean Craft at Urban Zen

Karine Faubert Villard

Karine Faubert Villard, lovingly called “Cookie” by all who know her, was born to Haitian parents in San Juan, PR. Cookie launched her career as a wrought iron artist in Port-au-Prince, Haiti twelve years ago when she began to transform chandeliers, patio furniture, house gates, windows, and doors. With great skill and an impeccable eye, Cookie finds artistic success by mixing crystals with wrought iron to create objects of beauty; the roughness of the iron and the sophistication of the crystals come together in perfect union.

Click HERE and HERE to see Karine’s work at Urban Zen

Urban Zen, 4 Bay Street, Sag Harbor NY