Conscious Consumerism Starts with Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla of The Little Market
by Ramisa Tasnim
Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla combined their passion for fashion, art, and social justice into The Little Market, an online platform that empowers women artisans and entrepreneurs worldwide
Being friends and mothers working in the non-profit space is tough, but #BlogHer20 Creators Summit speakers Lauren and Hannah are passionate about working toward a conscious and mindful future.
As disparities in fashion and business became more apparent, Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla made it a mission to combine their love for fashion, art, and social justice into what is now The Little Market. The Little Market is a platform that connects artisans, mostly women, from all parts of the world and their products to consumers and buyers online. Observing a lack of “dignified work opportunities” for women, Hannah and Lauren created The Little Market as an avenue for women’s empowerment, independence, and economic freedom.
Discussing their own stories at #BlogHer20 Creators Summit with moderator Ericka Sóuter, Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla noted their transition from a personal to a professional relationship as quite natural based on The Little Market’s unique goals and their areas of expertise in fashion and non-profit work. Of course, they find that maintaining these relationships is challenging, but advise future partners and friends to set boundaries, understand the dynamics of the business, and have some fun! While Lauren and Hannah started The Little Market before they were mothers, their friendship has allowed for a more flexible and understanding schedule, both claim to even “workaround naptime.”
“Continue to be creative and flexible and understanding that not everything will go according to plan.”
Due to the pandemic, things are looking different for The Little Market. Artisan groups that carry products to The Little Market cannot find materials due to the lockdown in locations such as India and Bangladesh. After numerous canceled orders, groups are reaching out to The Little Market to sell their inventory. While the situation does look unsettling for the time being, Hannah and Lauren expressed hope for the future of conscious consumerism and mindful purchasing. Since the pandemic, people have become aware of where and who their money is going to. People want their money to help others and benefit a good cause. Hannah and Lauren are excited about customer conscious spending and want to continue to share issues of social justice and human rights with their audience!
Watch lauren conrad and hannah skvarla’s full interview below
About Lauren conrad
Lauren Conrad is a television personality, New York Times bestselling author, fashion designer, and philanthropist.
LC Lauren Conrad, Lauren’s exclusive collection for Kohl’s, launched 10 years ago. The collection includes apparel (in regular, plus, and petite sizes), fashion and fine jewelry, fashion accessories, footwear, handbags, and home.
Her first book series for young adults, “LA Candy,” spurred a spin-off trilogy called “The Fame Game.” In addition to the novels, she has written three fashion, beauty, and entertaining books.
Lauren has made it a point to use her platform to help and empower others. In 2013, she co-founded The Little Market, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of women worldwide.
About hannah skvarla
Hannah Skvarla is the co-founder of The Little Market. She has traveled extensively to see the impact of top human rights nonprofit organizations. These trips inspired her to dedicate her life to helping women break the cycle of poverty so they can createa better future for themselves and their families.Hannah has visited projects sponsored by Landmine Survivors Network in Vietnam and Cambodia, American Jewish World Service in El Salvador, and CARE in Uganda. She has traveled with Human Rights Watch to Burma, Congo, Colombia, Thailand, and Turkey.Hannah was honored to be named Chapman University’s first recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Institute Rising Star Award in recognition of the work of The Little Market.
About Ericka Sóuter
Ericka Sóuter is an editor at Mom.com. It’s her job to speak to moms across the country and stay on top of the issues and trends families face today. As such, she frequently appears on Good Morning America, Nightline and other national broadcasts to discuss the news and controversies most affecting parents and kids.
Previously, she was a news and entertainment editor at CafeMom. Prior to this, she was a staff writer at Us Weekly and People Magazine.
Ms. Sóuter received her B.A. from Georgetown University and a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her work can also be found on the pages of Cosmopolitan, Essence and Self. Her first book, “Honey, I Can’t Find Myself: How to Have a Kid and a Life” will be published in Spring 2021.
About Ramisa Tasnim
Ramisa Tasnim can be found on Instagram at @miluberry and on Twitter at @Miluberry_.