How many times have you been put in a position in which you have the ability to help someone? Even if it’s putting your last five-dollar bill in your local homeless person’s cup rather than the usual quarter, it stirs something within you. A feeling is born, a sense of humanity, awareness to charity, proof that you are not just a self-serving human being. Then an hour passes, you want a snack, and all you can think is, “Man, I wish I had those five bucks I gave that guy earlier.” I know, it’s horrible, but it’s human nature. For a lot of people, although the initial moment is great, it is fleeting. On the other hand, there are smaller groups of people that dedicate their lives to these moments, and because of their devotion, these brief moments turn into permanent change.
Kavita Parmar and Inigo Henales are the founders of a clothing company called The IOU Project. I was introduced to The IOU Project via an online video that my wife was entirely too eager to show me. I walked to the computer with expectations of watching Charlie getting his finger bit for the millionth time; instead, I was blown away by three minutes of complete inspiration. Watch for yourself:
On top of being rooted by a solid cause, the clothes actually speak for themselves. The night I met with IOU, Inigo was wearing their chinos and Madras sport coat that, believe it or not, was actually handmade in Madras! After becoming fully acquainted with their website I couldn’t shake how brilliant this concept was: beautiful handmade clothing made by a beautiful idea.
I know that giving that extra five dollar bill to a person that needs it will help them for a moment. But how good would it feel to understand that same individual’s talents and cultivate that skill so that they can make many five dollar bills for themselves?
Photo Credits: www.iouproject.com
