KATHERINE SCHWARZENEGGER - Founder, VIDA Bags

08/6/10 | Katherine Schwarzenegger | 1 Comments

Katherine Schwarzenegger, Founder, VIDA Bags

Did you know that every minute a woman somewhere in the world dies during pregnancy and childbirth? Did you know that over half a million women die each year, 400 in the United States alone, leaving over a million children motherless? Did you know that 88 percent of these deaths are preventable? Well if you didn’t know any of those facts, don’t worry, neither did I.

A little over a year ago I sat in on a conversation that my mother had with Sarah Brown (the wife of former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown), and walked out of it upset with myself for not knowing anything about what they had been discussing -- the global issue of maternal mortality. I felt I had an obligation to know and be aware of a women’s issue as huge as this one. Frustrated with myself, I went home and researched all that I could about the issue. My research continued for a few weeks and was the subject of all of my conversations with friends and family.

When I realized that I had informed everyone around me about the issue, I thought to myself, Why not spread the word about this preventable and heartbreaking issue to everyone I possibly can, and what better way than through fashion? After sketches and sketches and calls and calls, I ended up with the beautiful, meaningful and handy VIDA bag. Funds raised through the VIDA bags go to 2 organizations -- CARE and White Ribbon Alliance, thereby raising awareness about and working to end this global issue.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into in the beginning, but it turned out to be a great experience and one that I am proud of.  Here’s what I learned:

1. Have a pep talk, with YOURSELF: Before embarking on any journey, a personal chat is needed. You need to sit with yourself and make sure you know why you are going to begin doing something -- whether it is a clothing line, a business, or a family. If your reasoning starts with “passion,” then hands down go for it! When you have passion involved, you’re an unstoppable woman.
2. Don’t have crazy expectations: Now this is something that my mom said to me over and over throughout the process of creating these bags: Don’t compare your creation to anyone else’s because you will end up disappointed. She told me I should be proud of the fact that I put my time, energy and heart into this bag because it was for something that I believed in and felt passionate about. It’s okay to have the urge to make your creation successful, but even if it’s not, just be happy that you did it and know that you have made a difference.
3. Pace yourself: This is a mistake I made; I took on too much too fast and felt overwhelmed. When we take on something new and we are eager to do it we go go go because we think we are superwoman! Yes, I think all women have superwoman characteristics, but remember you are human. For me, going to school and working everyday on my VIDA bags taught me so much, and I had so much fun – but it was a lot. I did stress out. Just remember, take it all in doses and you’ll be fine. Most of all, remember to breathe!
4. Listen to your gut: It is always important to pay attention to your gut – especially when you are creating something for the first time. Since you don’t really know how everything works, people might take advantage of that. Remember -- if you feel like something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. Definitely do a mental check-in a few times a week.
5. Acknowledge your accomplishments! Remember that you are a smart and powerful woman. The fact that you were able to follow through on something you were hesitant about proves your strength. Don’t beat yourself up over things that didn’t succeed; they will just be a learning tool for you to use in the future. We learn from everything -- our successes and our failures, so cherish every moment on your journey, and always look for the lesson within every experience.

If you want to purchase a VIDA bag please visit www.VIDAbags.org, which will take you to CARE’s online store!

Katherine Schwarzenegger is a rising junior at the University of Southern California and is majoring in communications with a minor in gender studies. She created VIDA Bags last fall to promote the awareness of maternal mortality. Her book on body image -- Rock What You’ve Got!: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who’s Been There and Back -- will be released in the fall. You can follow Katherine Schwarzenegger on Twitter @KSchwarzenegger.

Katherine Schwarzenegger will be speaking at The Women's Conference 2010.