Fairmined Gold

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Brilliant Earth, the website best known for jewelry created with recycled metals and conflict-free gemstones, recently launched a line of certified Fairmined gold jewelry.

Fairmined gold jewelry from Brilliant Earth

The Fairmined certification seeks to create opportunity for economically disadvantaged mining groups and their communities. Its requirements include standards regarding child labor, worker pay, safe working conditions, environmental protection and more.

The certification was developed in 2009 in a partnership between the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), a group committed to fostering social justice and environmental responsibility in artisanal and small-scale mining, and Fairtrade International (FLO). Today ARM administers the certification independently. The Fairmined Standard lays out the certification’s requirements in four categories: social development, economic development, environmental protection and labor conditions. You can read the full text of the Fairmined Standard on the ARM website. (I found the website overall to be informative and transparent—it’s worth a look if you want a closer look at the nuts and bolts of the certification.)

Brilliant Earth’s Fairmined collection features four styles of white gold jewelry: two wedding bands, a bar pendant, and stud earrings. The items are priced as fine jewelry, so they’re definitely investment pieces. The styles are timeless and versatile, however, and would have a long life outlasting short-lived trends.

The gold for the collection is sourced from two mining co-ops in Peru, and you can read more about each source on the Fairmined collection page. Because of the low volume of gold generated by these small-scale operations, the items in the collection are produced in small quantity. All Brilliant Earth jewelry is designed and manufactured in the United States.

What do you think of the new collection? I think the styles are lovely, and I’m impressed with the transparency of ARM and their certification process.

News Roundup: October 2013

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Fair Trade Month is almost over—give it one last hurrah by munching on fair trade chocolate on Halloween night and reading the ethical shopping articles and links below!

Excerpt from the History of Authentic Fair Trade by Equal Exchange

Excerpt from A History of Authentic Fair Trade by Equal Exchange

A History of Authentic Fair Trade – Learn how the fair trade movement began and became what it is today through this comic book that focuses on the plight of small farmers. (Equal Exchange)

Hey, Big Fair-Trade Spender  – A thought-provoking article comparing the value of smartphone ethical shopping apps to a broader educational approach. (Slate)

Walmart & Gap: Join the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh – Sign this petition from the International Labor Rights Forum to ask Walmart and Gap to join nearly 70 other countries in committing to factory worker safety.

Copper Candle from the Little Market

Copper Candle from The Little Market

The Little Market – Lauren Conrad gets into fair trade with this marketplace for products created by small-scale artisans.

What were your favorite finds this month? Did anyone else put out fair trade chocolate at work? At my office the chocolate was gone in a flash (no surprise there), and several people took one of the information cards with an Equal Exchange coupon on the back. You never know what little piece of information will help someone start thinking differently about their purchases, so I’m happy that even a few were taken.

How Fair Are You? Quiz from Fair Trade USA

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We’re excited to add a new voice to the blog today: Fair for All co-founder Laura! Learn more about Laura on the Team page. —Julia

If you’re anything like me, you are tempted to take a personality quiz from time to time. Lately, I have been hoping for an opportunity to re-take the Myers-Briggs Personality Type test, because the last time I was assessed was during college. Alas, the occasion hasn’t presented itself to me yet. While I await the chance to take that ultimate personality quiz, there is another simpler one being offered for free that takes only a minute or less to answer. This is through BeFair.org, a new Fair Trade USA website launched on October 1, designed to share the results of a national survey about fairness throughout the fifty United States. Though the nationwide survey has been completed, this website expands upon it through the “How Fair Are You?” quiz — intended to discover the Fairest Places in America.

Be Fair website screenshot

The quiz is comprised of just six questions that cover how you feel about things such as tipping waiters and access to education. Once you finish and receive your result, look through the creative infographic to learn how many Americans do – or don’t do – these “Buy Fair Be Fair” activities. As you continue to scroll down the page, you will find links to Fair Trade Certified products and an “In the News” section that directs you to blogs covering fair trade topics. And the best part? Read the Fair Trade Stories beneath “Learn More” to see how the fair trade movement is impacting individuals and groups around the world.

barkTHINS daily prize

One important thing to mention is that there are prizes to be had! By taking the quiz, you will be entered to win fair trade products. Furthermore, daily prizes are being offered for ten people who share #BeFair through social media. As I write, the daily prize is a gift pack of fair trade barkTHINS snacking chocolate. Who doesn’t like winning prizes? I myself just hash-tagged today to spread the word (and hopefully win something).

I love that Fair Trade USA has made this creative website that introduces ethical standards in such a simple and interactive way. Join both them and us by continuing to celebrate Fair Trade Month and move forward into a lifestyle that echoes the motto: Buy Fair. Be Fair.

Sweatshop-Free Outfit from Head to Toe

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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?

Make Your Halloween Sweet with Fair Trade Chocolate

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Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the costumes, spooky decorations, and a reason to re-watch Hocus Pocus. However, there’s one part of the holiday I wish I could change—Halloween candy, particularly chocolate.

Child labor and forced labor are prevalent in the cocoa industry in West Africa, meaning there’s a good chance that those fun size Hershey bars and other conventional treats were made in part by workers who were enslaved, abused, or unfairly compensated. It especially disturbs me around Halloween when so many kids in the United States are happily eating buckets full of chocolate candy. I can’t help thinking about how children the same age in Africa are mistreated and denied an education to ensure the harvest of that very cocoa.

While most mainstream candy companies make no guarantees about their cocoa coming from ethical sources, there is good news! Fair trade chocolate manufacturers have stepped up to provide ethical options for your Halloween party or trick-or-treat bowl.

Informational card and chocolate display image

Fair Trade Your Halloween kit from Equal Exchange

This year I ordered a Fair Trade Your Halloween kit from Equal Exchange. For only $24, I’ll get 150 bite-sized pieces of tasty fair trade chocolate (I chose milk, but dark is available), plus 150 illustrated informational cards. Cocoa in Equal Exchange chocolate is produced in accordance with International Labor Organization standards on child labor and is sourced from cooperatives of small farmers. Order by Oct. 15 to receive your kit in time for Halloween. (Read more about Equal Exchange’s cocoa practices.)

If you want to share more fair trade information with your friends and family, you can order a Halloween Action Kit from Global Exchange. This kit includes postcards, a sticker, a poster, a DVD copy of the documentary film The Dark Side of Chocolate and more.

Fair trade chocolate is a very important issue to me personally. If you haven’t read much about child labor in the cocoa industry, I encourage you to look into it this year. It’s the kind of knowledge that can turn your view of the world upside-down, but in an ultimately good way, because it enables you to start being part of the solution.

Resources to learn more:

Ethical Holiday Shopping: Fair Tuesday

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In my family, if you don’t have your Christmas shopping done by the end of October, you’re way behind the curve. Many normal people, however, tend to wait until the skulls are at least put away before shopping for holiday gifts. This year, a new movement is working to put fair trade shopping in the spotlight during the busiest shopping season of the year.

Fair Tuesday image from Global Goods

Fair Tuesday is an initiative launched by Global Goods, a fair trade non-profit based in New York. This movement, named in keeping with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, encourages shoppers to purchase ethical and fair trade products during the holiday season, particularly on Tuesday, December 3, and to spread the word using the hashtag #FairTuesday. The goal is to highlight the real social impact that fair trade purchases have on artisan groups and communities.

The Fair Tuesday web page has an extensive list of retailer partners where shoppers can find ethical goods, and Fair Trade Federation members are marked with an asterisk for consumers who want additional verification of ethical practices.

I’ve been trying to get mostly fair trade gifts for the last few years, so I’m excited to be able to toot the fair trade horn this year and encourage others to do the same! (I also love any excuse to use a hashtag.)

How do you usually get your holiday gifts—in store, online, DIY? Will you participate in Fair Tuesday? Share in the comments!

News Roundup: September 2013

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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!

Fair Trade Wedding: Cake

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This post is the fourth in a series about fair trade weddings. Read the previous posts on bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses, and attire for the groom and groomsmen.

Fair trade wedding cake

The cake (or more recently, cupcakes) is a major focal point of most wedding receptions. No matter what dessert you offer, you can substitute traditional ingredients for fair trade alternatives to create a more ethical end to the meal. Fair trade ingredients are free from child labor, which is a major problem in the cocoa industry, and forced labor, which is prevalent in many agricultural regions around the world. Workers on fair trade plantations are paid and treated fairly, working conditions are safe, and better environmental practices are followed. On the day of your joyous celebration, you definitely don’t want abuse and slavery to leave a bad taste in your mouth. So choose fair trade instead!

Communicate with the person baking your cake that fair trade ingredients are important to you, and see if they are flexible about making substitutions. You may have to provide some assistance about where to purchase fair trade baking ingredients. Natural food stores and large chain groceries carry some fair trade supplies, and many more are available online. Here is a list of sources you can provide to your baker, as well as use for stocking your own kitchen:

If you plan to serve coffee with dessert, ask about making that fair trade as well.

Depending on the venue, your amount of influence over the food served at your wedding may be limited. If your venue has a required caterer or baker, talk to them about the possibility of implementing the above ideas. You never know until you ask!

Have you attempted fair trade baking at home? Are you Team Cake or Team Cupcakes for weddings? Share in the comments!

Fair Trade Wedding: Groom & Groomsmen

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This post is the third in a series about fair trade weddings. Read the previous posts on bridal gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses.

Men’s wedding attire is at once simpler and more complicated than women’s. Their uniform is a little more strict, so your options are limited from the start, but retailers of fair trade men’s clothing are also more limited. My first recommendation, as it was with bridesmaids’ dresses, is to start with what the guys already own. See if each groomsman already has a nice button-down shirt and dress slacks—if they have them in the right colors, score! If not, here are a few sources for ethical dress clothes for men:

Ethical Groomsmen's Attire

1: Hector Chambray Jacket in Gray from People Tree (fair trade)
2: Pink Herringbone Shirt from Arthur & Henry (fair trade)
3: Oxford Long Sleeve Shirt from The Union Shop (union-made in USA)
4: Applause Polyester Plain Front Tuxedo Trousers from DeMoulin (made in USA)

I have not yet found a manufacturer of fair trade or union-made full suits for men. Hopefully as the ethical consumerism movement grows, some company will fill this gap in the market (and the gap in the ethical men’s clothing market in general). For now, reusing and recycling existing suits seems to be the most ethical option, either by renting or buying used.

If you want to purchase used men’s formalwear, Tradesy has a section dedicated to grooms and groomsmen. It may be harder to find multiple matching items here, but it’s definitely a great resource for the groom. You can also try your luck at local thrift stores.

Fair Trade Groomsmen's Gifts

1: Handmade Silk Ties from Global Goods Partners (fair trade)
2: Silk Bow Tie from Celia Grace (fair trade)
3: Ethletic Cranberry Red Low-top Sneakers from Autonomie Project (fair trade)

The groomsmen’s gift is an opportunity to have fun and be creative. My brother-in-law gave each of his groomsmen a pair of Converse sneakers to wear at the reception. I thought this was a fun yet practical gift, and it would be easy to do ethically: Ethletic sneakers are fair trade and eco-friendly, plus they come in several colors. Another gift idea is matching ties for the ceremony. Like with jewelry for the bridesmaids, this is a great way to bring some unity to the wedding party if they’re not wearing totally matching outfits. And if you have hipster groomsmen? Celia Grace has fair trade bow ties.

What creative groomsmen’s gifts have you seen? Isn’t it about time some ethical company started making nice clothes for men? Share your thoughts in the comments!

News Roundup: August 2013

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September snuck up on me! Here’s a roundup of ethical shopping articles and links from August.

Fair Trade Federation Fall Guide 2013 coverFair Trade Federation Fall Style Guide – An online catalog of fall items from FTF members. Simply click a product to be redirected to its online listing for purchase. (via Style Wise)

Conscious Consumerism: Talking with the Founders of Ethical Shopping Site Zady – An interview with the founders of Zady, describing their ethical approach and their thoughts on the conscious consumerism movement. A quote from the article (published in TIME):

What we’re trying to do is for each product that we carry, we have a map associated with it. You can click on the map and it shows where the company is headquartered, where the raw materials are sourced from, and where it’s manufactured. We have each brand sign a certificate that attests to those three points. It seems like it’s basic, but in the world of apparel, it’s revolutionary. —Maxine Bédat

Shoppers Abandoning ‘Fast Fashion’ for Ethical Fashion – Real-life stories of people trying to avoid fast fashion by buying vintage and U.S.-made clothing or making their own. (Ryot)

Ethical Consumerism: There’s an app for that. – A list of apps to help consumers buy socially and environmentally responsible products. (Melamed Riley blog)

New addition to the Fairly Friendly directory – Tammachat offers products made from handwoven textiles made by women’s artisan groups in Thailand and Laos.

Have favorite links of your own from last month? Share them in the comments!