It is not yet the dark of winter, but the frosty days of snowflakes have certainly hit my neck of the woods on the eastern seaboard.  In turn, I am wrapping up my Ngozi Design blessings in Winter Couture.

 Agate & Jade Blessings in Winter Couture: Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C.

 

 
It is not yet the dark of winter, but the frosty days of snowflakes have certainly hit my neck of the woods on the eastern seaboard.  In turn, I am wrapping up my Ngozi blessings in fur.  I am so extremely grateful to Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C. for allowing me to select and model one of the pieces from their fabulous collection.  The necklace that I chose, Style # ND089, is primarily made of the semi-precious stones agate and jade.  I associate many of the characteristics of these two stones with facets of my personality.  Agate is bright and colorful, is said to have been formed from hot, volcanic rocks and is known as “the stone of balance” with strong leanings towards abundance, love, generosity, strength and bravery.¹  Jade stones are usually green – my favorite color – and symbolize good luck, prosperity, deep wisdom, compassion, peace, balance and harmony.²

The America’s Next Natural Model competition is more than simply a hair contest.  Similarly, the beautiful pieces designed by Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C. (www.ngozidesign.com) are more than just jewelry.  Both Going-natural.com and Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C. are black-owned and operated business entities that focus on uniquely, creative manifestations of beauty.  The former focuses on the external representation of beauty with a black and/or African-based aesthetic through the America’s Next Natural Model competition, while the latter, by virtue of its Eastern African, Burundi name, stands for “blessings” and the transformation of expectations.

Both www.going-natural.com and Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C. embrace the community at large through lifting, not leaning.  Going-natural.com provides a platform for aspiring natural hair models through the America’s Next Natural Model competition.  Models are given the opportunity to not only gain exposure, but also to try new products, share our ideas and gather gifts of feedback through weekly evaluation.  Likewise, the Ngozi Design Group supports the Save the Children Foundation, as well as donates 10% for every piece of pink-shaded jewelry ordered to The Sisters Network, “…an organization that supports African American survivors of breast cancer.”³ 

Together, America’s Next Natural Model and Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C. symbolize beautiful blessings through a cultural (i.e. African-based) aesthetic.  Each contestant in American’s Next Natural Model is unique, just as each piece of jewelry in the Ngozi Design Group’s collection is one-of-a-kind. 

Often imitated, but never [exactly] duplicated.

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¹ Shirley Gordon, Gemstone Meanings: Meaning of Crystals Spiritual Healing Chakra Balancing Metaphysical Gem Stones,  The Meaning of Agate, http://www.gemstonegifts.com/stones/agate.htm (May 2009).

² Shirley Gordon, Gemstone Meanings: Meaning of Crystals Spiritual Healing Chakra Balancing Metaphysical Gem Stones,  The Meaning of Jade, http://www.gemstonegifts.com/stones/jade.htm (May 2009).

³ Ngozi Design Group, L.L.C., Limited Edition and One of a Kind Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry,  Ngozi Design Group Cares, http://www.ngozidesign.com/ (December 2009).