Jessica Alba Discusses Women's Empowerment, Her Inspiration, and a New Collaboration

Here’s a collaboration that’s guaranteed to have you looking good on the outside and feeling great on the inside. Nordstrom has teamed up with Piece & Co., a company that sources handmade textiles from women artisans all over the world, on a collection of apparel and accessories from some of today’s most coveted designers. The Honest Company, Diane von Furstenberg, Rebecca Minkoff, Alice + Olivia, Tory Burch, and more created pieces using Piece & Co.’s ikat, block-print, and tie-dye fabrics, and they’re all available exclusively at Nordstrom.

Jessica Alba, founder of the Honest Company, created a versatile nursing scarf (below, $60; nordstrom.com) that’s a must-own for any mom. We caught up with Alba to find out why she collaborated with Piece & Co. and Nordstrom, what inspires her, and what she’s teaching her girls about women’s empowerment.

How did you get involved in this collaboration?With our exclusive Collective line, I’m constantly looking for collaborators that share the Honest spirit and create delightful products that speak to our stylish audience. We were excited to discover Piece & Co. not only works with beautiful organic textiles, but also supports a sustainable business model with fair labor and local employment for those that need it the most.

Can you tell me a bit about the scarf that the Honest Company designed? How is it unique?It’s no secret that I love scarves. I wanted to create an Honest Nursing Scarf that looked cool enough to work with a modern woman’s wardrobe so she could wear it whenever she wanted. Ours are made from soft organic cotton that’s so lightweight you can fit it into your purse or your diaper bag. They’re unique in their versatility, since they can be used for car seat and stroller shade or as a wrap or blanket.

Why do you like Piece & Co.? Why do you think what founder Kathleen Wright is doing is important?As a female entrepreneur, I’m passionate about supporting fellow women who work hard to achieve their dreams, wherever they are worldwide. Kathleen’s work with Piece & Co. empowers women to know their worth and contribute to their communities. She reminds us that we all benefit when women do better.

What did you do for World Women's Day?I shared a reminder on my Instagram that women deserve equal pay, education, opportunity and rights. In the U.S., women earn 78 cents on the dollar for doing the same work, we make up less than 5 percent of Fortune 500 company leadership positions, and for every female chief executive of S&P 1500 companies there are four men named Jim, Bob, Jack, or Bill! We’ve got a long way to go before there are more bossladies out there. When it comes to education, women still make up ⅔ of adult illiteracy rates worldwide---a proportion that hasn’t changed in 20 years. What has changed is the opportunity in technology fields. It’s the largest, fastest growing employment opportunity here and women are the leading adopters of technology. Unfortunately, we have half the number of female computer science majors that we did 30 years ago and women are only a quarter of the computing workforce.

How are you teaching your daughters about women's empowerment?Ultimately, I hope to teach my girls how to be problem solvers and encourage their own curiosity and creativity. Also, empathy and compassion are important characteristics we should all have. It’s fundamental to peace and progress in our personal and professional lives. By the time they grow up, I hope there are more female leaders in every field for them to look up to.

What women do you look up to?I admire Eleanor Roosevelt for her common sense, grace, and resilience.

How do you live a bountiful, full life?I want to know how to live a bountiful, full life and still get sleep! I find that being active and eating right gives me more energy to live life to its fullest. I also think maintaining a sense of curiosity always keeps life interesting.

What's the coolest place you've traveled to and seen artisans at work?I recently went to Guatemala and saw women who’ve been working at their craft for years in an extremely remote location. Everything they made was so vividly colorful, but their hospitality stood out just as much.

Where's one of the most inspirational places you've ever been?Japan is so inspiring. They consider beauty and function in every detail of their lives. There’s such an inspiring blend of elegance and efficiency there, from food to floral arrangements. Even the 7-11 is awesome!

Shop every piece form the Nordstrom and Piece & Co. collection now at nordstrom.com.