By Alexandra Souchkova

Okay, so fashionista and backpacker do not often go together in the same sentence. But as much as packing light is important for our mobility, we still want to look good as we train hop and jet set. The trouble is, style often takes a back seat in the backpacker’s world because we care more about the sights, stories, and strangers we’ll meet, than what threads we’ll be sporting. This week, I have found a solution for you. Say hello to your new humanitarian wardrobe and gear and consultants at Roozt.com. Roozt is a Los Angeles based company that offers products with a social mission at a discounted price. Roozt brings the silver lining to the material world, even if you are not a material girl, by providing real products with real stories.

I would argue that the people we encounter and the tales we hear when we frolic abroad are the finest aspects of traveling itself. Forget the Empire State Building, I bet it is the memory of the waitresses you played Jenga with at a diner until 4 am that will really spawn a grin at as you recount your trip to NYC. So if interactions and conversations are  precious, there is no reason our consumerism can’t generate the same sentiments. Everything you will find on Roozt is associated with a conscious message and will help out someone else in the world and allow you to become part of their story.

Take the even the most stigmatized touristic accessory since the dawn of the ages—you guessed it, the fanny pack—Roozt has an answer for you. Light Gives Heat is a brand featured on the website that offers the stylish and functional Hip Hugger, which is a three pocket fanny pack reinvented for the non-touristic traveler who can’t deny the convenience of having your essentials at your fingertips. When you buy a Hip Hugger, Light Gives Heat reinvests 100% of the profits into projects that help to empower Ugandan communities. Killing two birds with one stone never sounded so good, even to a vegetarian. The bad news is I am almost positive you cannot fit all of the merchandise offered on Roozt in a single backpack. The good news is, if you saw our article covering Kammok—a portable hammock you can set up anywhere you go, proceeds of which go towards donating malaria-preventing services in Africa—Roozt offers even this to you at an exclusive discounted price.

What’s cooler than being cool? Being generous. But thankfully, Roozt allows you to do both. So go ahead, treat yourself to something special, and feel special about it.

For more visit: www.roozt.com