Fashion designers are typically known for not having in-depth meaning when it comes to clothing and shoes. However Parisian designer, Jessica Hendricks Yee, is not your typical jewelry designer.
Having been exposed to multiple indigenous cultures and spiritual values while traveling throughout Cambodia, Yee decided to put her sights and New York University knowledge to use. In the wake of her experience, Yee was struck by the beauty as well as the violence endured within this respectively small country in Southeast Asia.
As of 2017, “Cambodia is ranked the 14th in the world for modern-day slavery,” reported She Rescue Home to draw a bigger distinction.
With 36.1 percent of children working in the labor force and 31.4 percent receiving inadequate care this is, unfortunately, no surprise. Essentially, 35.8 million people are being forced into labor that’s not only through the workforce but through sexual exploitation—sexual exploitation that will most likely result in a higher percentage in human trafficking. Furthermore, over half, to be exact, $1.2 million children are trafficked every year in Cambodia.
As of most recently, Cambodia, Haiti, Sudan and Myanmar are the few out of many countries with the highest rates of human trafficking. However, nothing comes close to Cambodia, which is reportedly the “destination” country for human trafficking, as She Rescue Home suggested. It’s estimated that $15.14 million people populate this respectively small country and majority are being exploited to human trafficking. Nonetheless, this prompted Yee to integrate her love for jewelry and exposure to real-world issues, which further enticed her to create the Brave Collection.
Yee’s collection is a unique brand that’s authentically pieced together by local Cambodian artists. In doing so, these pieces, straining from bracelets to anklets, are drawn from the experience of Buddhist spirituality, strength, spirit and the Khmer alphabet (Cambodia and Thailand language writing system). By the authenticity, Yee aimed to attach a symbolic meaning with the jewelry pieces. Furthermore, the unique pieces are meant to empower the bravery and strength of the user.
The newly launched unique hand-crafted pieces are variously priced from $95-$175 and can be purchased at thebravecollection.com. Yet, the fight against human trafficking does not stop there.
The Brave Collection will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to empower women and men who have fallen victim to human trafficking.
Though human trafficking awareness month was celebrated last month, it’s an ongoing epidemic that needs to be fully recognized in order to be fully dismantled.
However, contrary to Yee, you do not have to travel miles and miles across the country to foresee the reality and overall impact of human trafficking when it could be happening on your own soil. Therefore, human trafficking is a rampant epidemic that needs to be addressed.
