Glowing with Purpose: How I’m Using Style and Storytelling to Empower Women Around the World
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
By Ginger Shields, Founder of Intertwined: Handmade for Good
When I think about what it means to “glow” this summer, I don’t picture a perfect tan or a new lipstick shade—though I’m all for those little joys. For me, this season’s glow comes from something deeper: from impact, purpose, and showing up with heart.
I’m Ginger Shields, founder of Intertwined: Handmade for Good, a small but mighty ethical brand that partners with artisans around the world to create handmade accessories and home goods. From Guatemala to Nepal, Afghanistan to Uganda, I work with talented makers who are building better lives through their craft—many of them women navigating unimaginable obstacles with grit and grace.
This summer, my glow comes from amplifying their stories.
Style That Speaks
At Intertwined, we believe what you wear—and what you bring into your home—should reflect what you stand for. Our bags, belts, pillows, blankets and framed textiles are all handmade from natural or upcycled materials and rooted in cultural tradition. Every piece is a quiet (or sometimes bold!) act of storytelling.
There’s the vibrant clutch made from repurposed Guatemalan handwoven huipiles (traditional Mayan blouses), each pattern symbolizing generations of indigenous heritage. And the vintage textiles transformed into throw pillows by a seamstress from Afghanistan who’s rebuilding her life and supporting her family after resettling in North Carolina. There are gorgeous neutral placemats, hand-spun and handwoven by women in remote villages of Nepal, carrying the rhythm of generations of weavers in every thread.
These aren’t just pretty products. They’re tangible connections to something bigger: resilience, dignity, and possibility.
A Summer of Showing Up
This season, I’m stepping into greater visibility—with intention.
I’m pitching exciting new collaborations (including one with a well-known TV personality I’ve long admired and a North Carolina scent mixologist). I’m speaking to university fashion students about ethical sourcing and the power of career reinvention. I’m mentoring a young college intern (who gives me so much hope for the future), and I’m continuing to grow a platform that celebrates women who are weaving change in their own communities.
I never set out to be in fashion or interior design. I was once a partner in a law firm, with a wardrobe of suits and a traditional (and stuffy) office. But a series of life pivots—and a calling I couldn’t ignore—led me here. Now, I spend my days championing global artisans and helping shoppers connect beauty with substance. It’s not the path I imagined, but it’s the one I was made for.
Rooted in Real Relationships
Intertwined isn’t just a business. It’s a relationship. A network of trust and collaboration built across borders and languages and time zones.
I’ve shared meals with weavers and leather artisans in rural Guatemala and walked side-by-side with women navigating refugee resettlement in my own hometown. I’ve heard stories of heartbreak and of hope, of craft as survival, and of joy stitched into every seam.
One artisan told me, “When someone buys what I made, I feel seen.” That’s what drives me. That’s my glow.
Empowerment That Flows Both Ways
Yes, Intertwined uplifts women around the world—but I’ve been just as transformed in the process. Every bag or blanket we create reminds me that beauty and impact are not separate; they’re intertwined.
This work isn’t about rescuing anyone. It’s about recognizing each other’s humanity. It’s about sharing the spotlight and creating space for every woman to stand in her strength.
This summer, I’m cheering for women who are redefining leadership—not through perfection, but through presence. Not with power suits, but with power rooted in purpose.
You Don’t Have to Choose
If I could share one message with women this season, it’s this: You don’t have to choose between beauty and substance. Between style and soul. Between success and service.
You can wear a statement bag and make a statement with your life. You can glow from within while amplifying others. You can lead with confidence and still hold space for compassion.
My summer glow? It’s made of sunlight and sweat, laughter and labor. It’s imperfect and deeply fulfilling. And it shines brighter because it’s shared—with every artisan, every customer, and every woman walking her own purpose-driven path.
Connect With Ginger
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