Fashion for a Cause | Krama Héritage

Outfit #1 features the krama in "le vert impérial"

As a blogger you get approached by several companies to check out their items and perhaps write a blog post about them. I have to admit that I tend to skip out on a lot of these opportunities because sometimes the brand doesn't reflect my style, or it just doesn't grab my attention. I received an email from one of the founders of Krama Héritage a few weeks ago after he found my study abroad blog, De San Diego à Paris. After declining the offer to write about a fashion accessory in an educational blog, I decided to read more about the brand and that was when I knew I couldn't turn down the opportunity to spread the word about a great company. In my eyes Krama Héritage is one of those rare brands that don't come around too often, and it only felt natural to write about them since I did live in Paris for a bit.


Let's start off with the origin of the brand. The brand is based in Paris but the scarves themselves come from Cambodia. The krama is a tradition scarf from Cambodia which is passed on from generation to generation and provides many uses for the Cambodian people. The scarf is more than just an accessory for the Cambodian, it is often used to provide shade, carry infants, and is even used to collect firewood! This remarkable scarf caught the attention of Raphaël and Alexandru (the founders) during one of their trips to Cambodia. They observed how much the Cambodian people valued the krama and what it means to them.

Outfit #2 features the Krama krama in "le bordeaux"

Thanks to their trip Raphaël and Alexandru got the opportunity to meet Cambodians, learn the history of the krama, and begin what now is Krama Héritage. Their goal is to not only create a fashionable item which embodies Parisian chic, but also to develop social and local projects in Cambodia. For every scarf purchased 3€ is donated to the For a Child's Smile foundation which helps children in Cambodia. The money is used to construct classrooms, purchase school materials, pay teachers, and also offer the children meals. This was the thing that really caught my eye about Krama Héritage. The fact that they are willing to give back to the place that inspired their company makes me admire them a lot. I applaud those people that are willing to take the extra step and try to make a difference to the world.

Another attribute about the scarves that I really liked is the versatility that they offer. These aren't scarves that only Parisian women can wear, these scarves transcend gender and cultural barriers. The unisex item can be worn by anyone from men in Cambodia, to a girl in San Diego. And as you can tell from the three Polyvore sets, they can worn in a variety of ways. You can either dress the scarves up or wear them in a more casual and laid-back look. The scarves retail for 33€ ($44) which makes them more expensive than your average high street scarf, but they're definitely worth the price since they are not mass produced and a portion of the money goes directly to children in need.

Outfit #3 features the krama in "le bleu nuit"

I felt like the Cambodian heart was perfectly captured in the Krama Héritage's kramas. The scarves themselves are woven in series in a traditional workshop in Cambodia which allows anyone to have a piece of Cambodian heritage with them without physically going to the country. I'm going to leave you with a video featuring the company's founders. The video is in French but you can definitely sense how proud both Alexandru and Raphaël are about their company, as they should be. Any company that gives back to the less fortunate while creating a quality product deserves a lot of respect.

What do you think about Krama Héritage? Let me know in the comments below and if you know of any companies that also give back to those who are less fortunate please leave them in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I was contacted by Krama Héritage to write a blog post about their company. I am not being compensated for this post. The links featured in this blog post are also not affiliate links, they're direct links to their English website in case you want to find out more information about the company or the founders. I am just sharing the word about a great company to those willing to listen.