SICKA THAN AVERAGE

These may just look like cozy, two-toned scarves, but woven into each these 100% pashmina pieces is a profound message. Dubbed Sutra Scarves, these pieces are the result of a collaboration between Tonic, the philanthropic-minded online store and media company, and Citta, a non-profit organization that seeks to bring long-term stability to impoverished communities around the word by providing access to proper medical care, education, and the means for economic development. The scarves were hand-knit by the women of the Citta Hamalayan Women's Center located in the Bhaktipur village of Nepal, where women are trained in knitting, embroidery, beadwork, quilting and jewelry making. Citta actively seeks mediums through which to sell these lovingly crafted goods, so as to establish income flow channels for these women. In Sanskrit, the word "Sutra" means "a thread or line that holds things together" — the name "Sutra Scarves," then, seemed appropriate for the project. After all, the scarves are held together by threads but, more importantly, the Sutra Scarves represent a thread that ties this community of women together and gives them new opportunities for financial empowerment.

Citta founder Michael Daube called upon designer Lucy Barnes
to supervise the project and, together, all the parties enlisted celebrity supporters to become involved. Each of the eight celebrities involved (listed below) chose one symbolic, powerful word, which would be translated into Sanskrit by a Berkeley scholar and then embroidered into the scarves using Nepali script. Each of these scarves, then, is like a hand-knit scroll, containing uplifting mantras and sentiments.

The words selected were: "Funk," David Bowie's selection, which speaks to music's healing power;  "Dust," David Byrne's pick, which could perhaps reference the "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" belief; "Silent," singer Natalie Merchant's pick, which seemingly equates quiet with peace; "Reuse," bombshell Scarlett Johansson's environmentally conscious theme; "Awake," Susan Sarandon's profound pick, which beckons people to open their eyes and take full accountability for their actions; "Resolve," musician/activist Sting's call to action; "Surrender," actress Thandie Newton's pick, which encourages people to strive for a greater understanding of their environment and of those around them; and "Strength," hip-hop pioneer/actress Queen Latifah's theme of moral, emotional, physical, mental and spiritual perseverance.

The 100% pashmina, two-ply Sutra Scarves are available in camel or gray and measure 65" in length and 7" in width. 

Citta x TONIC Sutra Scarf, $100 each. Visit Tonic.com.

To get more information on the project,check out this video of Citta founder Michael Daube.