In making this beautiful box, we asked ourselves how women support other women to be the best versions of their rockstar selves.
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Thankfully, Abdullah’s family weaving workshop has stood the test of time and continues to produce beautiful cotton textiles, staying true to their old traditions of using a wooden loom, high-quality organic cotton from across Syria, and hand making each piece with love.
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In Hama, Mint + Laurel artisan Abdullah operates a family-run weaving workshop spanning three generations. While there were originally over 600 workshops in operation in Hama, Abdullah’s workshop is known to be the last one standing.
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Hammams or bathhouses hold a special place in the daily life and traditions of peoples across the Arab world. Although hammams can be visited and experienced in many places including in Morocco, Turkey and Jordan, little is known and said about the hammam experience in Syria. This two-part blog series will explore hammam experiences from Morocco to Syria.
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At Mint + Laurel, we believe in creating a sense of peace through self care, wellness and community engagement. Here are five ways you can promote peace and serenity to mark the International Day of Peace on Monday, September 21.
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There’s a lot to say about Lebanon. It’s a country of incredible resilience, passion, and creativity. After the explosion in Beirut, we must remember what this Middle-Eastern gem brought to the global cultural table. As such, our team prides itself on teaming up with Azm Zaman, a local non-profit in Tripoli, Lebanon in the hopes of keeping the traditional arts alive.
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Self-care and wellness come in all different forms, from exercising to eating a healthy diet or even just treating yourself to your favorite bath and skin products. Here’s how our Mint + Laurel team members practice self-care:
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In the spring of 2010, I traveled to Afreen, an enchanting community northwest of Aleppo where I learned about soaps, kilims, and my Kurdish ancestors. I saw rolling hills dotted with olive trees and sheep grazing the land and met the generous, warm people of Afreen. I learned about their customs, sustainable lives, and left with memories of the fragrant scents and beautiful natural images.
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Growing up, I didn't know much about Syria. I was never exposed to Syrian culture. I had never been to Syria. All I was reading about and hearing about was the war. I appreciated what they were trying to do. Mint + Laurel is trying to change the narrative that Syria is not only about the recent war, there's culture that goes back thousands of years that we need to preserve. “I was there for Mint +Laurel’s first pop up event. I was there when the founders were getting started, to growing the brand, and now to actually be selling things!”
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We highlight one of our most loyal customers, Gail Vignola to learn more. Gail explains also how Mint + Laurel offers products to a particular niche market and speaks to a consumer looking to give back and get behind certain causes. “By purchasing products from Mint + Laurel, I am satisfying my passion for Syria and I feel like I am a part of something bigger.”
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As a Latina journalist, I find comfort working in a women-led business and here’s why…I had so many jobs where my coworkers were mostly men, and though they were professional and treated me as equal, I still felt so isolated in a job place lacking diversity. Whether it be one to two women in a business meeting, or some of our projects missing a female point of view...we needed more representation.
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Following the tragic event that took place in Beirut this week, many of us are feeling helpless, with our attention on Lebanon and wondering how we can support. If you are looking to donate or support ongoing and emerging initiatives, please consider the following three ways you can help Lebanon now.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, we explored the meaning of Justice and Freedom for different communities; justice for the environment, the vulnerable, and the oppressed. Freedom for the rights of women, the right to vote, and who to love. As Arab-American female founders, we wanted the launch of our Arabic Calligraphy T-shirts to celebrate justice and freedom for all.
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Yemen has been known throughout the Arab World as the “Land of Origins.” Over the centuries, coffee drinking has become embedded within diverse cultural customs and concepts of hospitality of countries and peoples globally. However, drinking coffee made from authentic beans from Yemen has become a rare opportunity.
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In the Arab world, coffee isn't just a morning time ritual, but one for the after-meal occasion. The act of sharing a drink dripped in history ties communities to a rich heritage and one another. Why not try your hand at making your own beverage with ingredients from Mint + Laurel's newest Coffee Break Box
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If you’re like me, you’ve realized by staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic that you have way too much stuff. Perhaps we should ask ourselves, “do I really need three different types of hair conditioner, two equally loud music speakers, and countless travel organizers?” I know the answer to that question, and it’s motivated me to shop more responsibly, with sustainability in mind. Before making an online purchase, I think about how I might reuse or recycle the product to minimize clutter and lead a greener lifestyle.
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ust off the shores of sunny Hermosa Beach, our headquarters, sits a charming and lively small business popular among local residents. The Green Store, run by Syrian Lana Istwani, is one of the city’s most prized spots and one of the first certified Green businesses in Hermosa Beach. As a supporter of small and artisan businesses, Lana works with vendors to bring their amazing products to customers in the area.
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Across the Arab world, rose water is used in a myriad of ways including as a key ingredient in deserts and in many beauty care products and rituals, its antibacterial and antioxidant qualities do wonders for the skin. Our Damask Rose Soap Body Bar is imported from Aleppo, Syria, made with dried rose petals, rose oil, laurel oil and olive oil. Each purchase supports an at-risk artisan community and their families.
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Today is World Refugee Day and it has a special meaning for the three founders of Mint and Laurel. We are an e-commerce and social enterprise, this is why a shop with purpose matters to us.
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