Thanksgiving: 10 Things We Are Grateful For This Year

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we made a list to celebrate gratitude. We're in our 16th year in business and we're so blessed to be able to say, it's been an amazing journey! Here are 10 things we are grateful for this year:

1)We had the means to sponsor several animal charities 

We love nature and animals so we want to give back where we can. We got the opportunity to work with The Amanda Foundation and Orangutan Republic. If you know of any organizations or charity that we should work with, please point us to the right direction.

2) We were able to revamp our warehouse and corporate offices

We did a makeover of 1 World Sarongs Southern California location where we set up a new photo studio so we can explore our creativity and take better photos of all our collection

3) We cut out Palm Oil and we recycle within in our offices

Our mission is to assimilate the art of sustainability in our business practices and so we're trying to be more aware with our actions.

4) Family time

Where would I be without my wife and kids? Says owner Terry Sherry. We couldn't agree more. There's nothing more important than quality time with the people we love the most.

5) Faith in God and humanity

We maintain peace in our state of being and keep our core beliefs strong.

6) Great Customers both wholesale and retail

Loyal and supportive, nothing makes us happier than a happy customer! We are driven by what we do to bring happiness to all our customers. 

7) Support and synergy within 1 World Family Team 

More than just work colleagues, we are a family! We got a strong foundation of great people we work with both new and old.

8) Beautiful New Designs 

Thanks to our amazing team of artisans we work with in Bali, we launched a range of floral and colorful sarongs plus clothing. With fresh prints and patterns in our new arrivals, we take our passion for art seriously and hope to continue hand making beautiful designs inspired by Mother Nature and our travel adventures. We also launched a new line for kids sarongs, added more plus size and men sarong styles. 

9) We redesigned our e-store and launched our new website

That's right, we finally got a makeover after a long time and it was a big step for us! We needed to take it slow and made sure we worked out the kinks so we can continue to keep our customers happy. One of the common feedback from our customers when they shop with us at 1 World Sarongs is that they wanted better features and categorization for all our products so they can browse at ease. You can now have a great shopping experience on our updated website plus enjoy other features like product reviews and create wishlists. What else do you like about our new site?

10) Beautiful office locations in both South California and Bali

We get to work and live in two amazing destinations both California, USA and Bali, Indonesia. Living the dream!

Have you ever tried this little activity? It's great practice to remind ourselves about the simple things that matter and how important it is to be thankful in order to live a purposeful live. Through this list of gratitude, you get to take a step back and evaluate what you've accomplished for the year and continue to make the best out of the remaining days of 2016 and aspire for bigger dreams in 2017. It's an act of mindfulness to help with clarity of the mind and to allow ourselves to reconnect with the self and our surroundings. Here's what you need to do to create a 'gratitude list':

1) Free up a couple of hours and find a safe space. This could be anywhere, be it at home or at a park or by the beach. Wherever the location may be, it's important that you feel safe where you are.

2) You will need a paper and pen, maybe a diary or journal. Avoid using computers or phones, the idea is to unplug from distractions.

3) When you're ready, sit still and close your eyes. Take deep breaths and continue to breathe for 5 minutes. 

4) Once 5 minutes is up or whenever you feel at ease, open your eyes again and start writing. Every sentence should begin with - "I am thankful for........................"

5) Write from no.1 until no.10 whether you have less or more points, feel free to shorten or expand. What is key is that you continue to write without getting distracted and allow yourself to feel every memory and thought.

6) Take 30 minutes for this exercise. Take your time to write, do not force or rush the process. Once 30 minutes is up, take a step back. Then re-read your list again. You will be amazed by what you've written and you will start to think about the people in your life that you've given thanks to.

Try it out and tell us what you think! How did it feel? We would love to hear from you. Leave us a comment below.

Postcards from Samir and Hart: Costa Rica

'Pura vida' means pure life and that is exactly how we feel when Samir Janjua and Hart Sawyer sent us these amazing photos from Costa Rica. We've always dreamed about travelling to Costa Rica as we heard nothing but beautiful reviews from people who have been there. Strolling along the softest white sand beach and trailing through the rich tropical forests, one can find so much peace and happiness just by being here.

Short sarongs are great for beach walks.

Get this man sarong here.

Located in Central America, it seems to be one of the most live-able cities in the world and with wonderful beaches and people who reside there, it's pretty much self explanatory to why it's one of the most popular destinations of the world.

Secret trails to through an energizing experience with majestic waterfalls

Find cool Celtic designs for men

Soft white sheer sarong for jungle adventures

We got to admit. Once upon a time we did fantasize about booking a one way ticket, packing our bags and moving to Costa Rica. It's so beautiful over there, it's hard not to fall in love. What inspires us the most about this magical place other than the grand waterfalls and lush nature is that they aim to be fully carbon neutral by year 2021 which is totally in line with our values on sustainability.

Salty breeze on skin, life is good when you have the perfect blue sarong to match the mood

Happiness is a day at the beach

Cooling off with the fresh sea water

Finding serenity with Mother Nature. Shop for green sarongs here. 

If you want to learn more about this amazing travel destination, click here. We're going to sign off with Hart Sawyer's beautiful voice and the sound of her Ukelele. She created a song inspired by the air of Costa Rica. Pura vida!

 

Moiyshee X 1WS: 6 Ways to Wear a Sarong

Watch this video to learn cool new ways to accessorize and slay your favorite sarongs with Moiyshee. We love how she used a rubber band to tie the back of her sarong for the easy halter style and not to mention the funky head wrap look with just a few simple twists! If you want more style tips from this fashionista, check out her blog.

How to Layer Up for Fall

The warm and cozy weather of Fall is a great time to fall in love again. It's a contemplative season of change and a beautiful reminder for us to learn to let go. As we ease away from Summer to welcome colder days and feel the chilly breeze on skin, it's time to enjoy the art of layering. Take out your favorite texture, print and pattern materials, the best season to get dressed with a touch of creativity is here. Layering is one of the best ways to get dressed and it works for both men and women plus all body types and shapes. Using scarves or sarongs, anyone from all walks of life can have fun with the freedom of layering. From inner, middle and outer layer, you can style your scarves in so many different ways to match your mood for the season.

Want to have fun layering up with scarves? Too easy! You can also layer with sarongs if you want more fabric to experiment with. We have compiled scarf looks we love so you get 10 easy ideas to pull off this season:

1) Classy Neck-Kerchief

Gentle and pretty, a simple knot and bow around the neck works with any outfit be it pants or skirt or dress.

 2) Waist Belt

Not only do you get to wear the coolest belt in town but you get to define your waist line and have an outfit that flatters your body line.

3) Turbanista Head Wrap

Inspired by the great mamas of African culture, the turban look is great for bad hair days or for cold windy days to keep your scalp and head warm wrapped up in your favorite scarf fabric and print.

4) The Neck Loop

Get Kim Kardashian's scarf look here

Black is always a good idea. Shop here.

This style literally takes 2 seconds of your life to look amazing! From casual to night wear, the neck loop works with jeans or a pretty dress or whatever your heart pleases.

5) Throw Over Shawl

Find men scarves here

Guys! Tuck any colored scarves into your coat or jacket for that extra warmth. Be it at the movies or when you're out taking an evening stroll, this relaxed look is also a great way flaunt your favorite scarf designs. 

6) DIY Casual Top

Turn your scarves or half sarong or full sarong to a one of a kind top matched with jeans or pants. Whether it's a tube or toga or halter style, put on a belt for more definition and to keep your scarf top in place. 

7) Statement Neck Warmer

Image via Man Repeller

From the smallest to bigger fabric, this neck warmer style works best with loud and vibrant prints. If you were thinking to throw out your grandma's scarf, think again! Vintage patterns work wonders with this style. 

8) Hat Decor

If you been wearing your hat far too often these days, switch it up and make it as if it's a brand new hat by tying your favorite scarves around it. The flowy touch to your hat will make you look so glamorous!

9) Cool Sash

Image via Man Repeller

This effortless style is great for lazy weekends or for a quick run to the grocery store with your family. It keeps you warm and makes you look fashionable without even trying hard. 

10) Comfy Blanket Scarf

Some days the wind gets really cold and all we really want to do is to stay in bed. With the blanket scarf, you get to move around with so much comfort and ease as though you're tucked in bed. How amazing is that?

You know what they always say, scarves NEVER goes out of style, no matter what print and patterns you may own you can only always count on your scarves to be there for you through thick and thin. They are amazingly versatile and functional plus you get to use your imagination and use creativity to find your own style. Give these looks a try and let us know how it worked out for you. 

May you and your loved ones have a blessed and beautiful Fall. No better time to get cozy and cuddle up!

So much love,

1 World Family

Postcards from Rachel: Ubud, Bali

Bali is a magical island that needs no introduction. They call it the 'island of Gods' which can only be felt and understood once you travel there and experience it on your own. If you want to dive deeper into the culture and spirituality of Bali, Ubud would be a good destination to start with. Famous from the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love', there's something really mystical about this little town. Maybe the fact that it's located at 200m above sea level that brings this natural sense of relaxation. I have once read somewhere that mountains are attributed to a high vibratory frequency which is why a lot of sacred temples and monasteries of the world can be found on higher altitudes. I am not sure if it's a proven theory but I can validate that theory by how I feel when I am high up on the mountains. 

If you ever get a chance to travel to Ubud, you must take time to discover the beautiful houses and villas tucked away in an oasis of greenery. Recently I packed my bikini, sarong and a good book for a weekend retreat to indulge in tranquility by the pool at Ubud Mana, located in a quaint village called Penestanan. With the sound of nature, swimming in a natural salt pool, it was all so serene and peaceful. With a beautiful weekend spent revitalizing for the week ahead, I am reminded about the simplest things in life we take for granted - gratitude. I believe it's important to make time for the Self to reflect and observe your thoughts and emotions after a week of productivity. If you need suggestions on where to go in Ubud town, just get in touch and I'll point you to the right directions. Namaste!