Combining the glitter of aluminum with pearl white threads, Neide Ambrosio achieves the regular textures of chain mail armor. She crafts this novel belt from pop-tops, recycling castaways into a beautiful, useful fashion accessory. Finely crocheted by hand, the belt is flexible and adjustable.
"I am very happy to be able to help other people getting a better life. I am also very glad that I can help the environment by using recycled items."
"I still cannot believe how life can be so unpredictable and have everything change from one day to another. I am from... São Paolo, and when I retired I moved to Rio de Janeiro because my husband is a singer, and Rio offers better career opportunities. At the time, my husband was very busy because he wanted to further his career in this new city and it wasn't easy, so I spent all my time alone. I was getting bored and feeling useless. I was unhappy and I didn't have any friends so I was alone all the time.
"One of my friends in São Paolo was sick and I was going over to visit her, so I wanted to bring her a present. I went walking all over Rio looking for an original and I came upon an arts and crafts fair where I saw a woman making belts using recycled objects. I fell in love with that belt and I started talking with the woman. I confided how difficult it was for me to adapt to Rio, and she felt compassion for me. She said that she would teach me how to crochet and use recycled objects, so that this could became a hobby for me.
"The day after, she came to my house and I started my first crochet class. And this is how it all began! I decided to use soda pops because Brazilian people consume a lot of canned drinks, and in the beaches all over Brazil you can find many soda pops. I started going to the beach and down the streets collecting soda pops. I love doing this, and now I spend all my day crocheting.
"My creativity started to boom and I had so many ideas that I wanted to make all of them right at that moment! At the time, I went to show and sell my products at the beach and one day I sat next to an artist, and I was staring at him painting. Suddenly, some people approached him and told him that he was a very talented artist and that he should contact Novica, which is a company that promotes artists and artisans, and this is how I started my relationship with Novica. I loved Novica from the very beginning. I was welcomed so well — they motivated my craft and my life has improved a lot.
"I realized myself as a person and all my problems of loneliness disappeared. Novica encouraged my creativity, and I started dedicating all of my time to making my handbags and accessories. Novica helped me a lot, the quality of my life improved and I got the opportunity to do things that at the beginning I would have never even thought of. I am able to take better care of mine and my husband's health, have a better life, and the chance to go back to São Paolo and see my family, because back then it was almost impossible for me to do so.
"As the demand for my designs increased, I was in a better position to help my husband with his career. I am in a position to offer employment now to many young girls from the favelas who are unemployed and spent their time with bad company. I decided to teach them how to crochet and how to create fashion accessories with soda pop-tops. You might not believe me, but now I work with ten girls. I am very happy to be able to help other people achieve a better life. I am also very glad that I can help the environment by using recycled items.
"It is a good way for me to contribute to keeping Brazil clean and unpolluted.
"I could not believe my eyes when I saw my work on Novica's webpage and in their catalogs! The idea that people from all over the world can see and buy my creations is a great thing for me! I feel even greater when I receive customers' reviews of my work. I feel so glad every time I read what my clients tell me, it so motivating!
"I am so enthusiastic about Novica and my creations, that my husband began to get involved too. He was so glad for the opportunity I got, that little by little he started to learn and help me by offering great ideas, and sometimes we work together. During the 2006 Soccer World Cup, he made a Brazilian flag entirely out of soda pops – he made it at the beach and it took him 10 days to finish it, it measures 2 by 1.80 meters. While working on this, many tourists approached him and congratulated him for his work.
"I really have to thank the powerful God who brought me to Novica. Without Novica, I would be just an artisan who sells in the beach and in the streets, but with Novica I am an artist known all over the world."
2008 update
"I could never have expected that my life would change in this way! Everything started because of Novica. In addition to the economic improvement, Novica has made several other dreams come true.
"Before Novica, I could only sell at local fairs. Through Novica, even Hollywood stars have become interested in my recycled handbags — and several have been pictured in magazines carrying them. I could never have expected this!
"But the best thing that happened to me was when some little angels at a primary school in California became interested in my recycling work. Those students made a book of personal messages for me, and sent it to me through Novica. I was so emotionally touched that I cried with happiness.
"Shortly after that, I was invited to appear on television, here in Brazil, to tell my story. Now many people recognize me here, and stop me in the streets. My husband came with me to the show, where he was invited to perform one of his songs. Now, many people stop him on the street as well.
"It is wonderful to earn a living by recycling, helping the environment while at the same time gaining recognition as an artist. Thank you Novica."
In 2011, Neide Ambrosio received the award for the Most Socially Responsible Handbag in The 5th Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards in New York.
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. UNICEF USA partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from UNICEF Market to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
Each item purchased from UNICEF Market will benefit UNICEF's programs that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.
You can learn more about UNICEF's work, on About UNICEF.
WIN # 3 Artisans Profit!
UNICEF Market artisans set their own prices and control their own businesses. UNICEF Market offers artisans a free platform to sell their work throughout the United States.
