Big things have been happening over here at Vi Bella and we are very excited to fill you in!  First, you might notice we have added a brand mark to our logo. You will see this incorporated on all of our social media platforms as well as emails and our website. Vi Bella was started out of love; a love for all of God's children and the desire to empower marginalized individuals to have hope for the future.  The heart is a fitting companion to our logo and "Style with Purpose" tagline.

Next, early last year we restructured our retail business to be housed under the umbrella of our non-profit, Vi Bella Serves.  Not much has changed for you, the customer; same great, high-quality product made by Vi Bella artisans. Additionally, we are conducting business the same way as always; steady, dependable wages for our artisans, school scholarships for all their children, safe and encouraging working environments, and additional housing/medical stipends as need be. We have always been led by the mission; it has never been about making a profit. But now, we can apply for grants to further our initiatives and impact more individuals and communities in Haiti. More on that to come...

Finally, we have achieved a goal of ours that's been a long time in the making. We have been accepted as a member of the Fair Trade Federation!  To apply for the FTF, you must fill out a very detailed 48 page application, outlining all aspects of your business, from hiring, ordering supplies, determining wages, etc to ensure you are abiding by the 9 principles of fair trade.  These principles have been guidelines of ours since Vi Bella's inception, but with our very small US team of seven individuals, we felt overwhelmed with the time it would take to complete the large application.  We finally decided 2025 was the year, setting aside time each week until completion.  This certification will allow us to enter into new partnerships with businesses and retail establishments that require this vetting process.  We pray this opens new doors and sales avenues for Vi Bella.

We are hopeful that all of these changes will increase our reach and provide greater impact in Haiti. These improvements are meant to put focus on what's always been at the heart of Vi Bella: the people. Thank you for joining us in this circle of empowerment.