End of an Era… Mostly
Since 2021, Made for Freedom has had the incredible opportunity to bring our sustainable fashion accessories—and the stories behind them—into Painted Tree Boutiques across the country.
Our very first location was in Ballwin, St. Louis, and from there, we expanded our ethical fashion brand into 15 Painted Tree locations nationwide. It was both exciting and exhausting: setting up booths, tracking inventory, decorating displays, and—most importantly—sharing our mission of dignity, human trafficking stories, and empowerment with new shoppers.
This journey would not have been possible without the incredible support of my family (seriously, they deserve medals for hauling racks, tagging items, and helping create beautiful displays). Each booth represented more than just meaningful jewelry, felt nativity sets, and organic tees—it represented survivors gaining dignified employment, and customers choosing purchases that make a difference.
This video was made in the midst of a building blitz, when the spaces showed lots of promise.
Some locations thrived, while others were harder to sustain. Even the stronger ones began tapering off over time. In the past year, we’ve closed six of our eight remaining booths, and in 2026 we will likely close Sparks, NV and Scottsdale, AZ. There is a slight chance that we will open up again in Ballwin, just to have one nearby...we shall see.
It has truly been a gift to have these retail spaces—without the stress of utilities, hiring staff, or paying light bills—but as all seasons do, this one is coming to an end. We’re officially calling this the end of the Painted Tree era. But don’t worry—we’re not slowing down. Quite the opposite.
What’s Next
While one chapter closes, an even more exciting one is opening. Made for Freedom is leaning into the impact that matters most:
→ Educational Scholarships: Made for Freedom Foundation's new website has officially launched and donations have successfully funded 28 educational scholarships for human trafficking survivors from two cohorts, opening doors for brighter futures. Check out our new website and the thank you videos from scholarship recipients.
→ WIP Episode: I will be sharing my story on an episode of Women In Power, coming in early 2026, on a network about social entrepreneurship, purpose-driven business, and the pieces of my story that have gotten me to this point.
→ Helping Companies Turn Ordinary Actions into Extraordinary Impact: We are excited to build on recent partnerships of create bulk and custom orders. We will come alongside organizations wanting to make ethical gifts part of their corporate social responsibility and social impact. See below for the making of 2,200 custom ornaments created as donor gifts. Learn more about our Ethical Corporate Gifting Program.
This isn’t just the end of an era—it’s the beginning of a powerful new one. Thank you for walking this journey with us, and for continuing to fight for freedom and dignity with every purchase, share, and donation.Stay tuned. You won’t want to miss what’s next.
Looking back with gratitude and forward with excitement,
Dawn
