You know the brands. There are just some fashion companies out there that are fabulous at promoting their stuff on social media. They share beautiful Instagram pics showcasing the products, and you find that you just can’t stop double tapping on your snaps. That’s how I first heard of Pura Vida Bracelets. Friends of friends shared #armparty pics and I found that the dainty woven friendship braids around their wrists actually had a huge story behind them – and I just had to get involved somehow.

So I did my research. I read into the story about how the brand started, and fell in love with the concept. The company’s 20-something year old creators started the whole thing after they discovered artisans in Costa Rica crafting the pretty designs, and the whole enterprise has evolved into a mega brand that offers great jobs for local designers.

I looked up which charities the company also says it supports with our purchases, since there’s a whole line of cause bracelets, supporting charities that deal with illnesses, animal protection, health condition awareness, military support and more. So many organizations are proudly associated with the brand and vocal about the heaps of donations they’ve been receiving. So I dove in and decided to order the wristful of coordinating colored bracelets you see in the photo above.

The threaded strings are metal-free aside from an iron-coated charm on each closure, but they don’t irritate my sensitive skin the way other jewelry can. The string is also wax-coated, so they don’t fray or come apart in water. There are always coupon codes and free shipping online, so ordering couldn’t be easier. The more of the adjustable-sized bracelets you stack on your wrist, the cooler and more stylish they look … and, well, that’s what led to my second order.

When people spot the bracelets, they either recognize the label and talk about their relationship to the brand, which is a really cool conversation starter. I met someone who was wearing an autism reseach support design at the same time I was wearing my clean water initiative band, and it was a surprising way to swap stories. It’s also a chance to tell brand newbies about the whole thing, so I love it all around.

I’m currently brimming with excitement about Pura Vida, so make sure to get in touch if you are too so we can rave over our next orders!