Sweatshop-Free Outfit from Head to Toe

I wore this outfit a couple of weeks ago, and in the middle of the day I realized, “I’m morally satisfied with where all of these pieces came from!” So I thought I would share it with you as an example of a totally wearable, sweatshop-free outfit.

Sweatshop-free outfit

I don’t always stand on my balcony, but when I do, I stand like this.

Shirt: Fair Indigo – organic cotton, fairly made in Peru (similar)
Skirt: Imprint Collection – made fairly Cambodia by at-risk young women in a job skills program
Necklace: Ten Thousand Villages – made fairly by Jacaranda Workshop in Kenya (similar)
Shoes: Oka B. – recyclable, made in USA

The black t-shirt from Fair Indigo is super-versatile, and I appreciate that the sleeves are real sleeves and not just caps. I fell in love with the skirt at a byTavi party one of my friends hosted. She had several skirts, all in different fabrics—as soon as I saw this one, it was all over for me.

Black ceramic necklace by Jacaranda Workshop

The necklace was an impulse purchase at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Portland, ME, when I was shopping with a friend on vacation. I had been thinking about getting a big black statement necklace since a lot of the jewelry I own is delicate and somewhat formal. This behemoth was on the clearance rack, and it is by far the heaviest necklace I own. One good thing about fair trade items is that they’re usually made from real materials, not plastic! The ceramic beads and brass chain are substantial and speak to the handcrafted nature of the necklace. If you want to be encouraged, read more about Jacaranda Workshop, the group that produces this necklace—their work is truly inspiring.

Sweatshop-free outfit featuring made in USA slingbacks

Full disclosure: when I wore this outfit originally I wore some black flats that I thrifted last year. But I just got these new slingbacks from Oka B. and wanted to give them a test run. I love my tan Taylor Oka B. flats, but being made of plastic, they do sometimes cause perspiration. My thought about getting the Brooke slingback is that they are less enclosed, allowing for a little more airflow. I haven’t worn them all day yet, but I’ll be sure to report if they pass the test.

What’s your favorite sweatshop-free outfit? Has anyone else tried out the Oka B. slingbacks yet?

News Roundup: September 2013

It’s official: summer has come and gone. I’m already looking forward to October for Fair Trade Month, some ethically-sourced chocolate, and a thrift-store Halloween costume. Before I go full pumpkin, here are some of the articles and links that caught my interest in September:

All You Need Is Less quote image

All You Need Is Less, via Fair Trade Quilts & Crafts on Pinterest

The Business of Fast Fashion – This short video examines the role of fast fashion in the fashion industry as a whole. Interesting to look at it from a broader perspective, instead of just through the lens of labor rights violations. (Minute MBA)

Fair Trade Gold – Fair trade certification is coming for gold! Very cool news for consumers and gold mine workers alike. (In Tandem Fair Trade Weddings)

4 Unexpected Energy Creators – Read about clever and innovative ways that inventors are working to generate energy. My favorite is definitely the kinetic dance floor! (Triple Pundit)

The History of Denim – An interesting look at denim throughout American culture including a brief history of how and where it has been manufactured. (Zady)

New addition to the Fairly Friendly directory – AWAZ offers apparel, accessories, home décor, gifts and more made by small artisan groups in India and Nepal.

What were your favorite finds this month? What are you looking forward to in October? Share in the comments!

Product Review: Mata Traders’ Garden Party Dress

For my birthday in February, my parents got me a gift certificate to Mata Traders, a fair trade shop whose products I had long coveted but never purchased. I waited for their spring line to come out and spent many hours deliberating what to get. A skirt? Jewelry? But in the end, the dress section won out, as it often does with me, and I selected the Garden Party pleated dress in polka dot.

Mata Traders Dress 1

Dress: Mata Traders
Leggings: Goodwill
Shoes: Oka b.

The dress was made by a democratically-structured women’s cooperative in India. The fabric is 100% cotton block-printed with a blue and pink polka dot pattern using traditional techniques. The full skirt features two pockets big enough to hold a phone or wallet.

Mata Traders Dress Back

One reason I chose this dress because it has sleeves, and my office has a strict “no sleeveless tops” policy. From the pictures on the site I thought it might be a little too short to wear to work anyway, but I wanted to have the option just in case.

Mata Traders Dress Pocket

It did turn out to be as short as I thought, so I think this dress will primarily live on the weekends, though I may get some navy tights and wear them with the dress in the fall. (Capri pants and leggings are also frowned upon at my office, so opaque tights are my trick for getting a lot of my shorter dresses to be less conspicuous at work.)

While I’m a big fan of this dress overall, it did require significant alteration to fit me correctly. I ordered a small, and the waist fits just right, but the upper part of the bodice was clearly designed for a bustier woman than I. I took in the bodice in two different places and the sleeves a little bit as well, and then it fit just right.

If you like the style but bright polka dots aren’t your jam, the dress also comes in a cute gray and red print with tiny giraffes, and a black and white floral print.

Have you ever ordered anything from Mata Traders? What are your workarounds for oppressive office dress codes?

The Tribal Trend and Cultural Sensitivity

Tribal patterns and accessories are a big trend lately, as evidenced by a Pinterest search for “tribal” (way more fashion than actual tribespeople).

I read an interesting blog post a couple of years ago regarding Urban Outfitters’ use of Navajo patterns that raised questions about how to incorporate cultural influence into fashion in an ethical way. (Here’s a blog post explaining the background of that case; I couldn’t find the one I’m thinking of specifically.) I had never really thought of cultural sensitivity as an issue in fashion, but the more I thought about it, I realized that members of a cultural group can be marginalized by large corporations appropriating their designs and traditions in an insensitive way.

Fair trade can be a solution to this problem. Fair trade artisans willingly bring their native crafts to a global marketplace, and retailers treat producers with respect for their cultural traditions. Artisans are also fairly compensated for their work. Through fair trade partnerships, artisans have a stake in the design, production, and distribution of items inspired by their cultural heritage.

Because of their global, handcrafted origins, many fair trade products have a tribal aesthetic unrelated to the current trend. However, this trend is a great opportunity to support fair trade artisans, and perhaps a good entry point for people who have never shopped fair trade before.

Here are some fair trade products that fit in with the tribal trend while still respecting the cultures where the designs originated.

From Greenheart Shop:

Tribal items from Greenheart Shop

  1. Handwoven Guatemalan Ballet Flats – Guatemala
  2. Ikat Arts and Crafts Skirt – India
  3. Black and Tan Wrap Skirt – Malawi
  4. Amina Earrings – Bolivia

From Bridge for Africa:

Tribal items from Bridge for Africa

  1. Bone Bracelet – Kenya
  2. Ceramic Double Pendant Necklace – Swaziland
  3. Zambian Chitenge Sling Bag – Zambia

From Ten Thousand Villages:

Tribal items from Ten Thousand Villages

  1. Multicolored Shoulder Bag – Guatemala
  2. Silver Desert Earrings – Niger

From various retailers:

Tribal items from various retailers

  1. Copper Etched Cuff – India (Fair Trade Designs)
  2. Mayan Belt – Guatemala (Nationwares)
  3. Chichicastenago Medium Pouch – Guatemala (Crossroads Trade)
  4. Thai Cloth Bag – Thailand (Exotic World Gifts)
  5. Bolero Necklace – Ecuador (Fair Indigo)
  6. Mud Cloth Basin Sacks – Mali (One World Projects)

For ideas on how to wear tribal pieces with the rest of your wardrobe, check out this blog post on Little Nostalgia. What are your thoughts on the tribal trend? Do you have any tribal-inspired fashion?