The Power of Local: Supporting our Communities through Thick and Thin

The tragic New Year’s Day attack on New Orleans has left an indelible mark on our city. A week later, conversations with friends still sound like: “How do I talk about this with my kids,” “I’m so tired of the word ‘resilient,’” and “How can we be part of the changes New Orleans desperately needs?”

This event has been a horrific reminder of the immense challenges our city faces, but – as always – New Orleanians have shown unity, support, and action in the face of disaster. While I long for a time when we won’t need to be resilient, I’m proud of how the people of New Orleans have faced this tragedy. For us at Passion Lilie, this moment has reinforced our commitment to the power of local – supporting our neighbors, businesses, and community in every way we can.

Why Local Matters More Than Ever

Local businesses are the heartbeat of New Orleans. They’re the pastry shops that know your name, the artists who bring color to our streets, and the restaurants, hotels, and theaters that preserve the spirit of our vibrant city.

Supporting local fosters connections, preserves traditions, and ensures our community remains strong in the face of challenges. When you choose local, you’re not just making a purchase – you’re making an investment. You’re supporting:

1. Jobs: Local businesses create employment opportunities and keep money circulating within the community.
   
   
2. Culture: Small businesses celebrate and sustain the unique traditions, flavors, and culture that define a city. Think about your local bookstore, for example. If it’s anything like ours, it creates a community of people with similar interests and values. We know that loneliness and isolation are a dangerous epidemic in our country, and local businesses often provide the antidote by making connections and creating spaces for community.
   
   Local businesses often have unique characteristics or quirky characters that make visiting them more special than a big box store. Does your Barnes & Noble have an angsty cat swirling around piles of books? Does your Starbucks have a giant golden retriever who lives for your love? Probably not…but your local shops just might.
   
   
3. Sustainability: Local businesses typically have a smaller environmental footprint, especially those that prioritize fair trade and sustainable practices like we do at Passion Lilie. Shopping locally also reduces the carbon footprint of transportation.
   
   
4. Resilience: As grating as that word is right now, it’s true and important that a strong local economy is better equipped to weather economic and social challenges. After the New Years Day attack, it was local shops, restaurants, and nonprofits that organized blood drives, coordinated materials, and shared authentic messages of unity. Amazon and other big box stores were concerned about their injured employees returning to work while your local small businesses, who had been struggling to make ends meet all year, contributed in every way they could.

Standing Together After the New Years Day Attack

The New Years Day attack shook New Orleans, leaving our community heartbroken for the victims and their families. But in the aftermath, our city has once again shown its fiercely unyielding spirit. People have come together to support one another, share resources, and reaffirm their love for this city. While we’re not blind to the systemic issues that plague New Orleans, we’re ready to step up and work for change. At times like these, it becomes even more evident why supporting local matters.

When you support local businesses, you’re uplifting the people who make New Orleans the soulful, vibrant place it is. You’re helping shop owners, artisans, restaurateurs, and workers who call this city home. And you’re ensuring that New Orleans can recover stronger, preserving our history and culture for generations to come.

How You Can Make a Difference

Every small action counts when it comes to supporting your local community. Here are some ways you can contribute:

• Shop local: Whether it’s picking up groceries from a neighborhood market, buying art from a local gallery, or choosing fair trade fashion from a New Orleans brand, your purchases have power.
  
  
• Dine local: New Orleans is home to some of the most incredible food in the world. If you’re local or visiting, we hope you’ll support local restaurants, cafes, and food vendors who pour their passion into every dish. No matter where you live, we encourage you to seek out local restaurants.
  
  The pandemic forced talented chefs out of New York and other major cities, and smaller places around the country have benefitted from the movement. Check out new local restaurants or neighborhood classics to keep your dollars where they’ll serve your community.
  
  
• Attend community events: Festivals, markets, art walks, and pop-ups are excellent ways to connect with your community and support local businesses. If you’re visiting a New Orleans festival, chances are good you’ll run into a Passion Lilie booth!
  
  
• Spread the word: Share your favorite local finds on social media or tell your friends and family about the local businesses you discover. Plan nights out with friends to partake in art walks or local events. Your advocacy matters.
  
  
• Give back: In his outgoing message to America, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy prescribed relationships, service, and purpose as the path to wellbeing, health and fulfillment. There’s no better time to find a local organization whose values align with yours and see how you can help. Volunteer your time, donate to local causes, or support organizations working to make a difference in your city.

Passion Lilie’s Commitment to Local

At Passion Lilie, we’ve always believed in the power of community. As a New Orleans-based fair trade fashion brand, we’re proud to support both global artisans and our local community. From partnering with local photographers and models to supporting New Orleans non-profits to hosting events that bring people together, our mission goes beyond sustainable fashion–it’s about fostering connection and creating a positive impact.

This year, we’re making it a priority to build connections and strengthen our local community. You can look forward to clothing swaps, workshops, and crafting events designed to build relationships with like-minded locals. We’ll honor the things that make New Orleans great, and work to fix the things that aren’t. We hope you’ll join us 💚