See Beautiful Grant Applicant: Peace of Thread

The feature below is brought to you by Peace of Thread, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.
 
To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

Finding Refuge in the Beauty

Peace of Thread is a nonprofit based out of Clarkston, GA that empowers, employs and advocates for women in vulnerable populations through the art of sewing. We envision a world where every woman has dignity, value and a voice. Our Founder and CEO, Denise Smith, says “Peace of Thread is proud to be recognized as a female-owned, global accessory brand built on relationships and quality work. Established in 2012 with a business plan to empower women, Peace of Thread has grown from pop-ups to selling products worldwide.” The beauty of Peace of Thread’s work is that we provide the opportunity for refugee women to work from home, meaning they can take care of their families and still make an income. Through working for Peace, these women also have access to free counseling, free medical care, free ESL classes, job training, and educational workshops.

 One of Peace of Thread’s core values is providing an atmosphere of peace for refugees to work in. The environment created within the training center is one of kindness, inclusion, love and safety. We create an atmosphere for learning culture, English and respect for not only others, but themselves as well. In Clarkston, women from the East and the West work together to master the challenges of managing a business. The seamstresses can develop life-long relationships with our team who may not understand their struggles but are more than willing to share the joys and sorrows of life.

​At Peace of Thread, we have created a beautiful backyard space, through the support of See Beautiful, where we’ve planted herbs and flowers, and the women and their children can feel protected and safe enough to be themselves again. Their children can engage in play therapy on our donated swing set while their mothers have space to rest. It’s truly beautiful to see these kids, who have come from such trauma and difficulty, simply become kids again.

Other than the sheer beauty found in the reenabling of our women, the beauty that comes from their work is incredible. Every bag sold by Peace of Thread has been handled with an immense amount of care and love by our team. Each product is sewn one-of-a-kind and with up-cycled materials. All of the fabric, leather and straps have been donated by partners, such as the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. We take pride in knowing all our products have a story, just like our women, and no one product is the same, just like no one woman is the same. We teach them every products is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the inside. Their work allows them to make an income, which provides motivation and drive for the ladies to turn in their products routinely. They are learning many different jobs skills while working with us.

We are committed to developing opportunities for women to support themselves through working, but also through relationships. We pair invested volunteers with each refugee artisan to bridge the gap between cultures, transfer skills, build confidence, and affirm dignity and value. This mentorship-based program allows for beautiful friendships and connections to form through genuine time together and intentional conversations. It provides another way for these women to feel welcome, seen and loved.

Submitted by: ​Annie Jones