Saving Education in Africa, One Stylish Bowtie at a Time

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While on vacation in East Africa last summer, L.A. native Heather Hasson was troubled by all the children she saw who weren't able to attend school because their families couldn't afford to provide them with the schools' required uniforms.

"I wanted to do something instead of just giving money to help send them to school," she explains, "but I also wanted to try and do something in fashion. That's when I came up with Threads for Threads." Hasson's program idea prompted the inception of her bowtie and necktie company, FIGS (Fashion Inspired Global Sophistication); for every tie sold, FIGS gives a uniform to a child in East Africa, thus enabling them to attend school. After only a few months since she began her operation, Hasson now works with NGO's based in northern Kenya and Tanzania and employs locals to sew the uniforms for 100 different schools in the region.

When Hasson explained this all to me, I was truly impressed and thought it was a really original way to integrate her interest in fashion with such a great cause. But why ties? Aside from being an element of the African school uniforms, Hasson says that while living in NYC, she really appreciated seeing men in ties: "Then I came back to L.A. and no one was wearing them so I wanted to try and push that style. I think a man looks really put together and sophisticated when he is wearing a tie." So true"¦ Get it together, L.A.! We've seriously taken the whole dressing-like-hobos thing to an unnecessary level. I went to the reception for a new art exhibit the other day and the place reeked of dirty hipster hair. So yeah, I'm totally with Heather and would like to see the men in this town step it up a little bit. To that end, FIGS is a stride in the right direction, guys. And gives you the perfect pick-up line (Did you know that by wearing this tie, I've allowed a child in Africa to get an education?).

Hasson designs all her ties, which are then made in downtown L.A. from the finest silks, wools, and cashmere. Visit wearFIGS.com to see the collection.

-Emily Green, YH Staff Editor

@green_emily