Ethical Consumerism

Fair Trade Valentine’s Day Collection

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Whether you prefer Galentine’s Day with the ladies, Vamlumtime’s Day, or regular old Valentine’s Day, here’s a collection of fair trade and ethically-made items to help you celebrate:

Collection of fair trade Valentine's Day products in red and pink

  1. You Bacon Me Crazy card – Sanctuary Spring – Made in the Philippines by survivors of sex trafficking
  2. Polka Dot Loafer – American Apparel – Made in the USA
  3. Flowers Hand-woven Screen Print Pillow – Greenheart Shop – Handmade by the Bodo tribe in India
  4. Suerte Peruvian Necklace – Fair Trade Designs – Made by an artisan cooperative in Peru
  5. 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries – Divine Chocolate – Made with fair trade cocoa, sugar and vanilla
  6. Tagua Tiara Cuff – Fair Trade Designs – Made by craftspeople in Colombia
  7. Satin and Chevron Button Stud Set – Hearts – Handmade in the USA

What do you celebrate mid-February? Since it’s my birth month, I like to think of Valentine’s Day as the world’s pink-themed early birthday party for me. Whether you love it or hate it, I hope your Valentine’s Day is full of affection from your family and friends!

My Latest Fair Trade Purchases

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I love when I get the opportunity to easily sub out a fair trade purchase for a conventional one, especially when it’s something I know I’ll need to buy either way. I’ve had that opportunity several times recently, so I wanted to share my excitement!

1. Birthday cards for coworkers

Our department always recognizes birthdays (as we should, because birthdays are the best!). I had two coworkers with birthdays in January, and I volunteered for card duty so I could get them awesome cards from Sanctuary Spring, carried locally in Indianapolis by Global Gifts.

Sanctuary Spring greeting cards

Sanctuary Spring’s cards are crafted out of layers of handmade paper. They have fun, contemporary designs that are cool enough for your hipster friends but also appropriate for work or family members.

Back of Sanctuary Spring greeting cards signed by producers

The cards are made in the Philippines by women who have escaped prostitution, and each card is signed on the back by the woman who made it.

2. Veggies

I’ve been doing more grocery shopping at Whole Foods lately since my commute now takes me past one. The last two times I’ve been there I’ve discovered fair trade certified vegetables that I didn’t even know were certifiable.

Green peppers and green beans with the Fair Trade USA label

I had never seen fair trade green peppers or green beans before. Both were slightly more expensive than their conventional or organic counterparts, but not prohibitively so. I was excited to be able to spend an extra dollar or two to improve the lives of food producers in disadvantaged situations.

3. Holiday décor

Full disclosure: this was a “want,” not a “need.” I’m not usually one to hit up a lot of post-Christmas sales, but I was drawn to all of these items before the holidays, and after Christmas they were 75% off at Global Gifts. (Just like regular stores, fair trade stores often have post-Christmas sales where you can get great deals.) I took the deep discount as a sign that we were meant to be together.

Fair trade snowflake garland, star garland and star ornament

I was originally drawn to the garlands because they could work as year-round décor items, not just during the holidays. Both the red stars and silver “snowflakes” (which I think just look like shapes) would work either in my living room or bedroom.

Close-up of silver snowflake garland and red star garland

The Palm Leaf Star Garland, handmade by a women’s empowerment group in India, is still available on the Ten Thousand Villages website (though not on sale), along with several other cute garland designs. That particular gold star ornament appears to be sold out, but there are eight others left to choose from if you want to plan ahead for next year’s tree bling.

If you’re local, I highly recommend checking out Global Gifts to see what magical sale items they have left. If you live out in Internet Land, check out the Ten Thousand Villages clearance page instead for discounted gifts and holiday items.

What was your latest ethical purchase? Do you hit up post-Christmas sales for next year’s decorations?

News Roundup: January 2014

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This month I came across a couple of really eye-opening stories, one from a journalist who went undercover at a Bangladesh clothing factory, and one about the relationship between outsourced manufacturing and pollution at home. Read on for some thought-provoking material!

I got hired at a Bangladesh sweatshop. Meet my 9-year-old boss – This article reveals the troubling realities in one Bangladesh factory, including several young girls who do not attend school and envision their only future as moving up from thread-trimmers to sewing machine operators. My heart broke to think about this life being real for who knows how many thousands of girls in Bangladesh. (Toronto Star)

China’s exports linked to western U.S. air pollution – A new study shows that Chinese factories, often producing goods for American consumption, create pollution that blows across the Pacific to the Western U.S. (CNN)

Interview: Carry Somers of Pachacuti on the Fashion Revolution – This interview with Somers, the founder of a leading fair trade brand in the U.K., illuminates the business side of fair trade and the challenges that arise in the course of making ethical production a reality. Fascinating! (Triple Pundit)

Somers is also heading up Fashion Revolution Day (on April 24, 2014, the one-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh), a movement to “raise awareness of the true cost of fashion, show the world that change is possible, and celebrate all those involved in creating a more sustainable future.” This year’s theme is “Who Made Your Clothes?” Visit the Fashion Revolution site to see ways to get involved. I’m considering doing one of the videos they suggest!

The History of Fabric Dye – Zady occasionally publishes short articles on the history of various aspects of clothing production, which I find fascinating. This article covers the history of fabric dye, from ancient natural dyes to modern synthetic ones. (Zady)

Ghirardelli: Love is in the label. Make it Fair Trade! – An easy way to support fair trade! This petition asks Ghirardelli to use fair trade certified cocoa in their chocolate. (Global Exchange)

And to end on an uplifting note, via Pinterest:

Even the smallest voice can make a difference in a big wayWhat are you reading this month? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

 

Great Intentions: Get Fit and Lose Weight

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Title image with woman doing yogaIt’s been almost two weeks since I introduced my new blog series in my post A Year of Great Intentions. Today, I am officially starting the first category of this series, with the topic Get Fit and Lose Weight. When I was writing that last blog, I had just begun taking yoga classes and I was loving it. Later this week I will be checking out a new studio with friends to continue with my practice.

As a reminder, this year is about having great intentions and following through with them so that you will be satisfied with the time you have in this life. Getting fit might mean you will have to purchase some new apparel and gear. Intending to do great things for ourselves has the potential to lead to doing good for others, such as shopping ethically. Below are ethical products I found for three common workouts.

Yoga & Pilates
Studios usually have blocks, straps, and other props available for students to use. Many also rent mats so you do not have to purchase one, especially for your first time. If you are going to practice yoga or Pilates at home, check out thrift shops in order to purchase and then reuse mats and other gear. Or, shop online. YogaAccessories.com has a strict fair trade policy, and sells everything you will need for yoga and Pilates, including kits with the essentials.

Running/Walking
New Balance is an American company that sells American-made or -assembled running and walking shoes. On their website, there is the option to shop for “Made in the USA” shoes, socks, t-shirts, and other apparel. These are produced using at least 70% domestic material.

If you have been a runner for a long time, you might have your favorite brand or style and are now wondering how New Balance might match up. Do not fret. Runner’s World had six pairs – both men’s and women’s styles – of New Balance shoes in their Winter 2013 Shoe Guide.

Hiking
First of all, I haven’t been able to find a store that sells ethically-made hiking boots for serious hikers, but Oliberté is a shoe company that sells somewhat rugged boots for men and women. Made in African countries, the shoes are made in a Fair Trade Certified factory, and the company is open about their ethical practices.

Secondly, you cannot go on a hike without some form of hydration and comfortable clothing. This filtering water bottle is Made in the USA and these cold-beverage bottles are made by EarthLust, a Certified B Corporation.

Finally, WOMbat sells men’s and women’s outerwear and has a strong ethical policy, and PrAna sells a few basic Fair Trade Certified t-shirts for men. Later this year, keep an eye out for Patagonia’s new Fair Trade Certified fall line!

I wish you all the best in your fitness pursuits this year. Moreover, I hope that you think about any purchases you need for those pursuits primarily from an ethical standpoint. What fitness activities do you enjoy and are going for this year? Swimming? Dance? Rock climbing? Please contact us if you have any leads on ethically-made products for your fitness routine!

Fair Trade Sales & Deals

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When I began fair trade shopping several years ago, I experienced a little sticker shock. I was a college student who wasn’t used to paying full price for anything, let alone the “true” full price charged by many fair trade retailers.

It’s not a big secret that fair trade items are sometimes more expensive than their conventional counterparts. It makes sense: when workers are paid a living wage, that cost gets added to the final price of the product. What is a secret is that fair trade items can often be just as affordable (or more affordable) than conventional items.

One way that I eased into buying fair trade—and a practice I still follow today—was to take advantage of sales and deals. Just like any other stores, fair trade shops have periodic sales to clear out old merchandise or promotions to attract more customers. In 2014, I want to share more of these sales with you to help you find ethical goods that are just as affordable as conventional ones.

Fair Indigo, one of my favorite ethical retailers, has frequent sales and happens to be having their big winter sale right now. They sell a mix of fair trade, made in USA, and organic items.

Fair Trade Sales & Deals header with Fair Indigo product images

There’s plenty of cold weather left, so perhaps you could use a cozy recycled fiber cardigan or knit blazer. Or if you’re preparing for spring, check out their adorable organic cotton dresses. (I have professed my love for these before and I will do it again and again, occasionally in song.) Some of the sale prices are even lower than what you would find in a regular store.

Items shown above with sale prices:

  1. Fair Indigo Organic Pima Cotton Circle Neck Dress – $29.99 (50% off)
  2. Green 3 Apparel Reclaimed Tan Collage Skirt – $29.99 (40% off)
  3. World Finds Fair Trade Gold Cuff Bracelet – $16.99 (10% off)
  4. Ethos Paris Organic Cropped Knit Fair Trade Jacket – $39.99 (60% off)
  5. Imagine Hardware Necklace – $9.99 (70% off)

Now that I see them all together, they make a nice little mix-and-match set, don’t they? And don’t worry: when you buy a fair trade item on sale, the maker of that item has already been paid a fair price. It’s the retailer who takes any losses.

What are you shopping for right now? Are you getting ready for spring or still layering on sweaters? (After the Polar Vortex every 30-degree day feels like picnic weather to me.)

A Year of Great Intentions

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A Year of Great Intentions header image

Laura is back on the blog today introducing her new series about new year’s intentions and ethical ways to fulfill them. —Julia

We are into the second week of January, and I just returned home from back-to-back yoga classes. This year, I decided for the first time ever to set new year’s resolutions. One I actually set a few months back, when I decided I needed to travel to Europe in 2014. I am planning on visiting Tuscany and Rome for two weeks in the fall and already have a couple travel books from my favorite travel author, a list of cities I want to visit, and a preliminary budget. My second resolution is to get into a fitness routine. I tried out yoga a couple times in the summer and really loved it, and then found a great beginner’s deal at a yoga studio. I postponed signing up to due to two consecutive foot injuries, but now I am currently acting out this resolution.

As I was thinking about my resolutions in December, I had a question pop into mind. What if one of my resolutions had something to do with fair trade shopping? What if I could make ethical choices when making preparations to fulfill my resolutions?

Recently, my friends and I came up with this concept: that a resolution in the new year can be re-phrased to “being more intentional.” That is, whatever we do now is not just an activity but a practice to contribute more to this short life we have. How it benefits us will look differently depending on what the resolution is.

Here is a proposal I have for your new year resolution, or intention: purely to help improve the lives of others through your consumer choices. Below are some of the top American new year’s resolutions that we are going to explore more deeply this year.

  • Get Fit and Lose Weight
  • Manage Debt
  • Take a Trip
  • Eat Healthy Food

Whether your resolution requires buying new exercise gear or an international tour package, we’ll suggest ethical options for fulfilling your intention. We can make 2014 a more intentional year and I hope to show you how in the coming months.

Year in Review: 2013

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2013 Year in Review party image

Wowza! How did it get to be 2014 already? (I’m pretty sure it was 1998 two weeks ago…)

The Fair for All Guide has grown and changed a lot this year, and I want to thank all of you for being a part of it! The sustainable and ethical fashion movement gained a lot of traction in 2013, and we’re excited to see how it will grow in 2014. And of course, we look forward to sharing the latest with you.

It was kind of unbelievable to look back and see how much we’ve written in 2013—posting once a week really adds up! (We’re definitely at the lower end of post frequency… to every other blogger who posts more than that: you are incredible.)

In case you missed them, here are some of our favorite posts from the last year:

Thanks again for being with us, and may 2014 be your best year yet!

News Roundup: December 2013

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Happy holidays! We’re taking next week off, so this month’s roundup is coming early. Here are some of the articles and features I’ve been checking out this month:

NPR's Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt

Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt – NPR’s Planet Money team follows the creation of a t-shirt around the globe, from the cotton farm to the factory to the consumer. The story is told in five short video chapters—I’ve only watched the Cotton one so far, but it was fascinating and I can’t wait to watch the rest! (NPR)

My Fair Gift Guide – This is technically from November, but can I say how impressed I am by Rachel’s catalog of ethical holiday gifts? (My Fair Vanity)

Amazon UK: A tough place to work, but Brits keep clicking – A BBC documentary reveals the harsh working conditions of an Amazon fulfillment center. (Christian Science Monitor)

Connecting the Dots between Consumerism and Indifference – According to a 2012 survey, consumers in developing countries feel greater guilt about their environmental impact despite it being relatively small, while consumers in developed countries feel less guilt but have a much larger environmental impact. (Green Fudge)

Microsoft’s Stress-Detecting Bra Attempts to Curb Emotional Eating – This story is an oddball, but it’s an interesting idea to use clothing to try to influence healthier behavior. (Triple Pundit)

I hope you have a peaceful holiday that’s not about shopping or Pinterest envy or any “gotta have it!” stress. Enjoy some cozy times with family and friends, and I’ll see you after Christmas!

Ethical Style Blogs

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Ethical Style Blogs mosaic

When we shifted the focus of the Fair for All guide to the blog about a year ago, it was because I was having a hard time finding any blogs that covered shopping and style from an ethical, human-rights-based perspective. There were many blogs covering environmentally-friendly style, but few that addressed the human aspects of fair trade, working conditions and labor rights.

Thankfully, over the last year I have found that I wasn’t the only person thinking this way! I have discovered several excellent blogs focused on style that’s good for the people producing it as well as the earth. Each blogger has a different style and approach, covering the gamut from made-in-USA goods to thrift and vintage shopping to eco-friendly items to fair trade. I’ve found all of them to be helpful and inspiring resources.

Here is my ethical shopping blogroll:

  1. Made-to-Travel — Jamillah serves up boundless positivity, collections of ethical and stylish products, and other inspiring stories.
  2. Stylewise — Leah shares ethical outfits from her wardrobe and explores the spiritual effects of how we consume.
  3. Let’s Be Fair — Dominique showcases fabulous ethical product collections, giveaways, and a new “Manthropologie” series that I can only assume addresses ethical style for men.
  4. My Fair Vanity — Rachel presents a fashion-forward, high-end perspective on ethical style. If you’re a high-powered CEO and need ethical shopping tips, start here.
  5. The Dollar — This blog has a cool post structure where they show “The What,” or the product, and “The Who,” or the person or group who made that product. Great way to show the direct connection between artisans and their creations!
  6. In Tandem Fair Trade Weddings — Tegan focuses specifically on ideas for planning a fair trade and ethical wedding, from the dress to jewelry to gifts and more.
  7. October Rebel — Anna shares gorgeous, ethereal photography and her experiments with ethical style.
  8. Lifestyle: Justice — Hannah and Andrew post about fair trade style and social justice issues like human trafficking.

I recommend checking out any of the above blogs to get more insight and advice on how to shop (and live) ethically and intentionally. I’ve added them to our Resources page for quick reference.

What are your favorite ethical style blogs? I’d love to add some more to my list!

News Roundup: November 2013

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Ethical shopping flow chart

Ethical shopping flow chart via Lifestyle: Justice

Happy almost Thanksgiving! And with Thanksgiving comes the beast of Black Thursday/Friday… I encourage you to skip that nonsense and instead participate in #FairTuesday, one week from today! Simply purchase an ethically-made gift and share it with the hashtag #FairTuesday to show that you care about a different type of consumer culture, one that values the people who create our products.

Here are the ethical shopping articles I’ve been reading this month:

Why give thanks for what you have when there’s so much you don’t have? That’s the new meaning of Thanksgiving: count your blessings, and then buy some more blessings and count them again. — Matt Walsh

If You Shop on Thanksgiving, You Are Part of the Problem – A partly cynical, partly idealistic editorial on the phenomenon of Thanksgiving shopping and our collective power to stop it. (Huffington Post)

Chinese labor camp inmate tells of true horror of Halloween ‘SOS’ – A letter hidden inside a package of Halloween decorations reveals labor abuses in China. (CNN via Stylewise)

Coffee in Crisis: The Silent Disaster You’ve Never Heard Of – I’m not a coffee-drinker, but this article was an interesting look into some major issues that are affecting the livelihoods of coffee producers. (Triple Pundit)

Equitable Origin: Ethical Trade Certification for Oil and Gas Companies – Can oil and gas production be labeled sustainable? This article examines a certification system that seeks to do just that. (Triple Pundit)

Fair Trade Federation 2013 Holiday Gift Guide – Browse holiday decor and gift ideas from over 50 FTF members. (Fair Trade Federation)

Fair Trade Cheat Sheet – Dominique has compiled a “cheat sheet” list of some of her favorite ethical retailers. Super helpful for #FairTuesday pinning, holiday shopping and beyond! (Let’s Be Fair)

Where I’m Donating for Haiyan Relief – Jamillah gives her recommendation on where to donate to typhoon relief in the Philippines. (Made to Travel)

Do you have any exciting Thanksgiving plans? My sister is jetting off to Paris with her husband for their first international vacation… jealous!