A bracelet that saves lives

“Together, our impact is multiplied.”

In the world of impact entrepreneurship, one connection can change everything. A shared conversation, a moment of understanding, and suddenly a door swings open to new possibilities. This is the magic of the Cartier Women’s Initiative — a global network of passionate changemakers who uplift, motivate and propel each other forward.

We have dedicated this blog series to showcasing these special connections and their far-reaching impact. This third installment tells the story of 2025 Impact Awardees Kresse Wesling and Mariam Torosyan. A flash of inspiration, born from a roleplay exercise, led to an impactful partnership between their two companies — one that is already protecting women and girls from violence.

A surprise reveal in Osaka

It was a balmy May evening in Osaka, Japan, and floating lanterns glowed against the dark sky above the Garden Oriental restaurant. Spirits were high as the 2025 Impact Awards Week attendees gathered on the terrace to toast the close of a special week spent together. The gentle buzz of conversation quietened as Kresse and Mariam, two of the nine Impact Awardees celebrated in the previous night’s ceremony, stepped up to make an announcement.

As the two women described the new partnership between their businesses Safe YOU and Elvis & Kresse, starting with a limited-edition wristband, applause resounded through the space. The same sentiment came up again and again in conversations throughout the evening — this kind of problem-solving alliance, conceived and then rapidly set into motion, perfectly encapsulates the dynamism and openness that make the Cartier Women’s Initiative community so special.

Jewelry with a heroic history

Of course, this is no typical bracelet. Elvis & Kresse rescues and transforms industrial and commercial waste, including fire hoses and scrap leather, into luxury goods and accessories. This recycled and repurposed approach was initially seen as radical but in the two decades since its launch, sustainable change has rippled across the fashion industry. Like many Elvis & Kresse products, this new wristband is crafted from decommissioned fire hose — a material with a heroic past, now harnessed for a new cause.

Safe YOU’s logo is laser-emblazoned in the center of the cuff’s design. Mariam set up the award-winning Safe YOU mobile application and platform as a virtual safe space and tool to protect women and girls from gender-based violence. It offers one-tap emergency alerts, secure evidence collection and free access to legal, medical and psychosocial support. Safe YOU has helped thousands of women across multiple countries with one mission: to make safety and dignity rights, not privileges.

As you would expect when two remarkable impact entrepreneurs come together, Mariam and Kresse are setting bold targets. Mariam explains, “Our dream is to sell one million bracelets, along with other accessories and bags, through this collaboration. For each item sold, £10 [$13.50 USD] will go directly to Safe YOU. The goal is to generate sustainable funding for our on-the-ground projects that create real, measurable impact for women helping to fight violence, to save and transform lives by ensuring access to safety, resources and community through technology.”

From conversation to commitment: a collaboration is born

The two women met for the first time on day one of Impact Awards Week, in a session on integrated leadership. They connected right away. Kresse explains, “I could tell immediately that Mariam was going to be fun, challenging and fascinating.”

Mariam tells a similar story. “Kresse shared a story about her grandmother, who told her: 'If you are capable, then you are responsible'. That line deeply resonated with me. The way Kresse said it, I could almost hear her grandmother’s voice. Kresse embodies that wisdom. She is someone I admire: grounded, present, real. She knows how to be, fully and authentically, but she’s also a doer. If she says she’ll do something, she does it. That kind of integrity in action is powerful.”

During the session, Kresse took on the role of the government in a systems change roleplay exercise. She expands, “I felt profoundly disappointed in myself as the 'government' that I wasn't doing enough to protect women. After the exercise, Mariam and I put our heads together and worked out how we could come together to raise funds. We had the idea in about five minutes and the product was live on the website within 24 hours. Where governments tend to be slow, impact entrepreneurs can be very quick!”

A whirlwind week of connection

Kresse describes Impact Awards Week as “incredible, a genuine whirlwind of learning, culture and reconnecting with the wider Cartier Women’s Initiative community, alongside really getting to know — and love — all the other Impact Awardees”.

She reflects, “I’ve been involved with this community since first becoming a fellow in 2011. From then on, it has just been the best at creating fantastic lifelong connections to peers and mentors, increasing our exposure to key press, fostering impactful collaborations and building our leadership capacity.”

Mariam adds, “I think we all felt truly celebrated. Witnessing each other’s work and being able to celebrate it together — with such an extraordinary community — was unforgettable. It made us feel not only proud, but more responsible. We left with a renewed energy to keep going, to partner and to expand our collective impact.”

Mariam concludes, “The Cartier Women’s Initiative community is more than a network; it’s a shared force of purpose. The connections we build here are rooted in lived experience and aligned missions. These relationships become pathways to collaboration, solidarity and support. They remind us we’re not alone and that together, our impact is multiplied.”