Pomegranate Moon: Fashion Accessories That Are Handmade By A Fair Trade, Socially Responsible Company

If you’re looking for fashion accessories-scarves, hats, kimonos, purses-that are handmade and created by a fair trade company, Pomegranate Moon is for you! With beautiful accessories from Nepal and Morocco you’ll find great gifts for friends, family, and maybe (definitely!) a little something for yourself!

I’m excited to introduce you to wife and husband, Stacie and Rusty, who, together, run Pomegranate Moon.

How did you get started in your business?

Stacie’s aunt started this company in 2008. We began working with her at shows (after college) when we were able and fell in love with the mission of the company and the products. When our aunt was ready to retire, we bought the company from her. She’s still involved with some design and other creative work.

Who creates your designs?

Originally our aunt, who is an artist, designed most of the products. She still helps with design as she has a great eye and attention to detail! However, once we took over, Rusty and I (Stacie) both do design work as well. We love the creativity this allows both of us. So overall it’s a group effort now.

Some of the designs are created by the artisans in our factory, too. They often show us something they have created, and we will ask to add it to our line or make some adjustments to their original design. They are incredibly talented and creative as well.

What materials are used?

We use merino wool in most scarves. The base can be a variety of materials from chiffon to recycled saris.

Where are the scarves, hats, purses created?

Pretty much everything is made in Nepal. We work with a factory that supports women. We do some ethically sourced leather goods out of Morocco as well like purses and totes.

The process:

Most of our handmade scarves are created using the nuno felting process. Very small amounts of merino wool are carefully placed on recycled sari, chiffon, or cotton. The materials are heated, soaped, and scrubbed causing the wool fibers to migrate through the weave of the cloth and bond together creating garments that are lightweight and drape beautifully on the body. We also use the traditional wet felted technique for our more solid pieces like the hats and felt purses.

What is your favorite part of owning your business?

We love the ability to work with people from another culture. Learning about their daily life and becoming friends with people a world away has been so special. It’s great that we have found a way to mutually benefit one another. We also love to travel, and we have had so much opportunity to do that with this work.

How did you get the name Pomegranate Moon?

The name of our company was created by our aunt. The name inspires whimsy and represents the notions that there is enough. Pomegranates represent abundance. So the name reminds us that there is enough for us and there is enough for the women we work with. As a fair trade for-profit company our name reminds us to always be straightforward about our work and only to take our share. When our aunt thought of the pomegranate as a symbol for the business, she was on her balcony over looking a large golden moon rising on the horizon. This gave her the marriage of Pomegranate and Moon for the business.

What are the goals/mission of your company?

Pomegranate Moon is a fair trade, socially responsible company dedicated to providing quality handmade fashion accessories for our customers while increasing benefits for our artisans in Nepal. We encourage the preservation of traditional craft processes while promoting environmentally sustainable practices. We take pride in cultivating long term relationships with our collectives. Our project provides a means for women to lift themselves and their families out of poverty while building self-esteem, pride, and confidence.

One of the things I love about these pieces from Pomegranate Moon is how versatile they are. Each can be styled to wear throughout the year. In the winter, I’ll wear the hat with a heavy coat, while in the fall or spring it’s a great accessory with a little dress or jeans.

The recycled sari kimonos are also so easy to style for year round wear. In the summer they’re perfect over a bathing suit or over a little summer dress. As it gets colder I’ll still wear it over a dress, but add tights and boots. Another option is to wear pants or jeans and maybe a turtleneck. I love them because, as you know, I wear a lot of black. When I put on one of the kimonos I’ve added some beautiful color to my outfit!

The scarves and wraps are so beautiful! The colors of the felt against the silk chiffon are striking. In the winter I’ll wear them over my winter coat. In the fall and spring I’ll use them instead of a jacket over a dress, or jeans, or a skirt, or pants-you get the idea-over anything and everything. I also loved belting the wrap for a different look. The scarves looked great belted also.

I absolutely love everything I tried on from Pomegranate Moon. The craftsmanship is simply amazing. For someone who wears mostly black, but would like to wear some color, these accessories are the perfect way for me to do so. They truly are works of art!

I love to shop, excessively some might say, and it makes me feel good to know that shopping Pomegranate Moon is helping women and their families. Ok, maybe I’m justifying my shopping habit, but still…

PS Please excuse my hair. It was really windy out!! 🌬️