Crowdfunding platforms make it possible for individuals and organizations of any size to harness social networks and raise start-up capital for projects that might otherwise fail due to lack of funding. Each week, Xpress highlights notable Western North Carolina crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd.
Siammosé’s DNA collection
Designing high fashion attire is a spiritual practice for Siammosé owner Cristina Moise, whose clothing label “celebrates the beautiful female figure with playful and magical elements.” Glass crystals adorn her “anti-gravity” dress, which features an image from NASA’s Hubble telescope, and bold, oceanic sequins cover her latest motorcycle jacket — a piece she likens to “cosmic mermaid skin.” Both designs are part of Moise’s first official collection, entitled DNA, which she hopes to realize through a successful crowdfunding campaign. Moise aims to raise $12,100 by Friday, Jan. 27, to pay for materials, production and Kickstarter fees.
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards’ field crews
In its mission to protect public lands, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards employs high school and college students and other community members through its Wilderness Field Crew program. “These crews work over the course of 12 weeks in the wilderness areas of the South, improving trail conditions that support the economies of the surrounding communities, while also connecting people to the values of wilderness,” reads a fundraising page for SAWS. “The crews spend up to nine days at a time in the backcountry in service to the place, to the idea of wild places, and to each other.” Executive director Bill Hodge aims to raise $30,000 to cover the costs of the next cohort of six stewards, who will begin working in April, 2017. Donations to the campaign will be matched by the National Forest Foundation.
Send your crowdsourcing campaign news to kmcreynolds@mountainx.com. A limited number of campaigns will be highlighted each week, at Xpress’ discretion. Campaigns must be locally based and should represent a current project with an achievable goal. Conditions are subject to change. Read about more Western North Carolina projects here.
Ohhhhh yes, you had me at ‘designing high fashion is a spiritual practice’ and ‘cosmic mermaid skin’.
Reconciling the vapid and mercurial world of fashion with the vague promise of enlightenment through spirituality du jour-
You dear goddess, have truly built a better mouse trap. Kudos.
You are entitled to your own opinion,Boatrocker. I don’t consider myself a goddess and I don’t practice anything that involves enlightenment either. You can misinterpret all you like and that is strictly your problem. I don’t expect you to understand but don’t you have anything better to do than to criticize somebody’s dream and ambition? Acting like a big tough guy behind your computer as you hit those keystrokes must make you feel important that you get to share your opinion with the world. Thanks for referring my approach to how I create my dream to a “mouse trap.” There is nothing vague about what I do. You should think carefully and really get to know a person before posting narrow minded comments such as these.
All the best,
Cristina M.
Thank you for the feature!