Ethical Consumerism Archives

Personal Shopper: Ethical Work Clothes

June 17, 2014 by Julia 3 Comments

This is the first of a new kind of post that may become a periodic feature here on the Fair for All blog. It’s a foray into ethical “personal shopping,” meaning I take someone’s real-life need and try to find an ethical solution that works for them. It’s definitely an experiment, so I hope you enjoy the results!

My first personal shopping guinea pig is my friend Sarah. She’s a youth pastor and the mom of a very active toddler, and she is in need of new clothes for work, particularly pants. Her criteria for the pants were that they be a neutral color and have pockets. She also mentioned she could use some new tops.

Here are the recommendations I came up with for Sarah based on her needs:

Collage of recommended ethical work clothes

Pants

In my research I found that there are not a lot of ethically-produced, work-appropriate pants available currently. I found ethical yoga pants, leggings, pants in crazy patterns, and high-end jeans, but very little in the way of conservative-but-flattering slacks. As a result, my first recommendation was…

1. Thrift shopping

I recommended thrift shopping as the best way to purchase pants ethically for a couple of key reasons:

You get to try them on! Sarah expressed fit as a concern when we were talking, and with her busy schedule, she doesn’t have time to be shipping pants back and forth from the internet to find the right fit. (Pro tip: Make sure the thrift store you’re shopping at has fitting rooms before you start browsing.)
The selection at chain thrift stores like Goodwill is pretty broad, which means your chances of finding something in the right size and style are pretty decent. If you don’t find what you need at a basic thrift store, you can move up to consignment stores, which tend to carry higher-end merchandise.

I also sent Sarah the following online options in case she needed something brand new.

2. Fair Indigo Slim Leg Fair Trade Organic Pant

Made fairly in Lima, Peru, out of organic cotton
Machine-washable
Does not appear to have pockets

3. Halle Pant by prAna

Available in four different neutral colors and has pockets
Cannot find any ethical information about these pants specifically. (PrAna has a line of Fair Trade Certified clothing, but these pants are not part of that line.)

4. Eco-Couture Audrey Women’s Hemp Slacks from Rawganique

Made in a sweatshop-free facility in Europe
Have pockets and are machine-washable
Come in natural or black

Tops

Compared to pants, finding ethical tops was a breeze—I was able to actually take Sarah’s personal style into account instead of just scrounging for anything. Since her need for tops was secondary, I only sent her two online options:

5. Fair Indigo Circle Neck Organic Fair Trade T-shirt

Comes in several colors
Made fairly of organic cotton in Lima, Peru
Machine-washable
Site has several other tops that Sarah might like

6. Ellie Top by prAna

Part of prAna’s Fair Trade Certified collection
Made of organic cotton
Comes in four colors

I also recommended thrift shopping as a great source for tops. If you’re already out getting pants, why not?

The Verdict

I sent my recommendations to Sarah last week and asked for her feedback. Which options sounded like they would actually work? Her response:

“I’ve been wanting to get to Goodwill since you mentioned it! I’m really excited to get there after the mission trip and VBS.”

Thrift shopping was the option that Sarah thought made the most sense for her. I’ll be interested to see if she has success when she goes shopping later this month!

Are you interested in being an ethical personal shopping guinea pig? Leave a comment or send me an email at info@fairforallguide.com! I’m excited to help people find ways for ethical shopping to work in the real world.

Living Your Values at Your Job

June 10, 2014 by Julia 5 Comments

Image of tag inside baseball cap that reads "Made in China"
Over the years, I’ve defined a fairly rigorous ethical shopping process for my personal purchases. I do a lot of research into retailers’ labor practices; I look for used, recycled and made-in-USA options; and oftentimes I decide I don’t need what I’m shopping for at all. But I’ve realized that this process does not really carry over when I make purchases at work.

As a graphic designer, paper is one of the most common things I buy, and I do look for recycled and made-in-USA options. However, when it comes to other types of purchases, I tend to go with whatever my company has historically done. For example, my company has an event in May every year where we hand out baseball hats. This year the ordering of the hats fell to me, and I ordered them the same way we we’ve ordered them every year, which means they were custom-sewn in China.

There were many things I could have done to make sure our hat order was as ethical as possible:

I could have asked our vendor what she knew about the factory where the hats are produced.
I could have found pricing for hats made in the USA (though I had been informed that domestically-produced hats are much more expensive).
I could have looked at the hat options on Ethix Merch, a site I’ve known about for years that specializes in ethical promotional items like pens and branded apparel.

Why didn’t I do any of these things? One reason is that it can be scary to challenge the status quo, especially if you are suggesting that your company’s current way of doing things is unethical. It gets even trickier when you can’t prove their practices are unethical, even if in your opinion it’s highly likely that they are. I can’t prove that the hats we order from China are made in a sweatshop. But even investigating it would raise eyebrows.

I’m betting that a lot of individuals care on a personal level about human rights and the environment but don’t take action through their jobs. Raising questions of ethics at work is definitely a risk and, depending on the company culture, could cost someone their job. I’ve seen friends struggle through long-term unemployment, so I find it hard to blame anyone for not speaking up. The question is: how do we start to make it OK for ethics to be part of conversations and decisions in the workplace? What positive change could we realize if it wasn’t a risk for people to ask challenging questions?

We need to shift to a culture where the ethics of a decision or purchase can be weighed equally alongside other factors like cost and quality. Will the most ethical choice always win? Nope. But sometimes it would, and just having that conversation gives people permission to really think about the ethics and values of their decisions.

Have you experienced anything like this at your job? Do you find it difficult to live your values at work?

My Top 3 Thrift Shopping Tips

June 4, 2014 by Julia 1 Comment

With all of the fair trade topics I have been covering lately, it’s been a while since I’ve mentioned my other approach to ethical consumerism: thrift shopping. While I tend to go fair trade when purchasing gifts for others, when I need something for myself the first stop is the thrift store. Thrift shopping reduces waste by giving old items a new life, and when you buy from a thrift shop, your money does not go to support the companies who produced the items using potentially exploitative practices.

Thrift shopping can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to the structure (or lack of structure) in your local resale shops. Here are my top three tips for finding items you will love and wear!

Infographic of top 3 thrift shopping tips

1. Have a specific item in mind

For several years, I viewed thrift stores as magical wonderlands full of treasures for me to discover, and I would go thrift shopping with no set agenda or list. This approach led to me having a closet full of interesting and eye-catching items that didn’t necessarily work together as outfits and weren’t practical for my everyday life.

Nowadays, when I hit the thrift store I look for one thing. Black pants. Comfortable flats. A tan cardigan. Having a specific item in mind helps me focus in the often overwhelming landscape. The time you save by not aimlessly wandering the aisles is time you can spend really evaluating at every available option that matches what you want.

2. Try things on

For me, one of the major benefits of thrift shopping over buying ethically-produced clothing online is the ability to try things on. I don’t have the patience for the song-and-dance of ordering something, it not fitting, and having to send it back. Thrift shopping is my answer to this problem. The clothes are right there! I can try on 10 pairs of pants immediately!

Before you start gathering things to try on, be sure to confirm that the store you’re at has a fitting room. Of the thrift stores near me, Goodwill has fitting rooms while Value World does not. If you’re at an independently-owned vintage or consignment shop, it could go either way, so be sure to look around or ask a clerk if you don’t immediately see one.

Stores without fitting rooms can still be worthwhile stops depending on what you are looking for. You can try on cardigans, jackets, shoes, and accessories without a fitting room, so if I’m looking for any of those things I include stores without fitting rooms in my lineup.

Photo credit: tome213 @ freeimages.com

3. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it

This is perhaps the hardest lesson to learn in thrift shopping. I used to buy anything that fit decently, regardless of whether I needed it or what condition it was in (other than major damage or holes). As a result I had a wardrobe that looked like it had already been through the wringer and again didn’t always cohere into good outfits.

Now I ask myself a series of questions before I buy something. Is it in like-new condition, or does it already look worn-out? (Cheap knit fabrics can wear out and pill easily, so check for wear even on current styles.) Do I feel good wearing it? Is it flattering on me? Would I buy this item new if I saw it in a regular store?

Those are my top three tips for successful thrift shopping. I’d love to hear yours—post ’em in the comments!

News Roundup: May 2014

May 28, 2014 by Julia Leave a Comment

Happy Wednesday! Another month has gone by, which means it’s time for another roundup of articles and links that caught my interest recently. Check out the links below for some great resources and thought-provoking insights!

Creating a Fair Wardrobe – A four-part blog series from For the Love of Justice

Rendering of solar roadways

Solar Roadways: The Most Groundbreaking Innovation since the Internet (Modavanti)

Why Textile Waste Should be Banned From Landfills (Triple Pundit)

Modavanti has teamed up with Green Tree Textiles for our Modacycle Campaign! – Details on Modavanti’s new textile recycling initiative (Modavanti)

Shopping for shoes is a minefield – This article points out how athletic shoes lag behind other apparel sectors in transparency/sustainability. (Dynamic Business)

The Rise of Conscious Business Needs the Support of Conscious Consumerism — Who should lead the way in ethical consumerism: business or consumers? (Pro Bono Australia)

Free2Work Electronics Industry Trends 2014 – Report on efforts being made by electronics companies to address exploitation and forced labor in their supply chains (Free2Work)

10 Biggest Excuses For Not Paying a Living Wage (And Why They Suck) (Ecouterre)

Fashionably Informed: 5 Ethical Fashion Companies (College Fashion)

Can fair trade clothing prevent the next factory tragedy? (Humanosphere)

Fabric generated from bacteria from The Next Black documentary

The Next Black – Review of a documentary about technology in the future of fashion (The Note Passer)

Youths Sue U.S. Government Over Climate Inaction (Al Jazeera America)

Ifixit – Website that provides resources for repairing items instead of replacing them, which helps reduce waste and unnecessary consumption

I’ll leave you with this excellent pin from Let’s Be Fair:

What have you been reading lately? Let us know in the comments!

The Two Approaches to Fair Trade

May 20, 2014 by Julia 3 Comments

One thing you may have noticed if you are just getting familiar with the fair trade universe is the abundance of logos, certifications, memberships and other marks that can appear on fair trade products and websites. (We’ve provided a short description of some of the most commonly-seen fair trade and ethical shopping labels on our Certifications page.)

Each organization or certifying body comes at fair trade with a slightly different approach, but according to Jonathan Rosenthal, one of the founders of Equal Exchange and the keynote speaker at the recent Fair Trade Federation conference, these approaches generally fall into one of two camps.

Approach #1: Small is beautiful

One approach to fair trade focuses primarily on small businesses working closely with small producer groups. The size isn’t what matters here, but rather the high standards that their small size allows them to uphold. This is the approach embraced by the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), and Fairtrade International (FLO).

Approach #2: Volume creates impact

The other approach to fair trade follows the belief that a greater volume of producers and products will create a greater positive impact. In this model, large corporations and plantations can participate in fair trade. However, to allow these large players to participate, they are sometimes held to standards that are not as high as are found elsewhere in the fair trade movement. The most notable certifier following this approach is Fair Trade USA.

What is the definition of fair trade?

The difference between these two approaches begs the question, “What is fair trade, then?” Is it the high standards upheld by the smaller organizations, or is it the lower standards that allow bigger companies to enter the fair trade landscape? In his keynote, Rosenthal challenged that that’s the question the fair trade movement has to answer. It is our task to figure out what that future of collaboration looks like and, potentially, what it means to reinvent ourselves.

Not being deeply entrenched in the business side of fair trade, I personally haven’t made a hard-and-fast decision about which camp I support. In theory, I lean toward the higher standards followed by the majority of fair trade organizations. In practice, products certified by Fair Trade USA are becoming more and more abundant in stores, and I still buy these products with the assumption that they are ethically superior to their conventional counterparts. The two approaches have become more divided over the several years that I’ve been following fair trade, and to be honest I need to do more research on what specific standards are different between them, in order to make sure my purchases are doing what I think they’re doing. I’ll be sure to share what I learn with you!

What are your thoughts on the two approaches to fair trade? Do you have any helpful resources or articles explaining the differences between fair trade organizations?

Spring Dresses

May 13, 2014 by Julia 5 Comments

On Saturday, I stepped out to Global Gifts with a friend to check out their World Fair Trade Day event. Global Gifts doesn’t typically carry clothing, but imagine my joy when I discovered they were having a special trunk sale with items from Mata Traders and Global Mamas! They had some tops and skirts, but I homed right in on the dresses. I am a sucker for dresses, especially in the spring and summer.

Fair Trade Spring Dresses

1: Flights of Floral Dress – Mata Traders
2: Keyhole Cutout Dress – Mata Traders
3: Retro Shirt Dress – Global Mamas

I’ve written previously about the Mata Traders dress I purchased last year, which I really like but required a lot of alterations to fit well. I was excited to try on some of their other styles to see what the fit was like.

The Flights of Floral dress fit me very well. The yellow and gray print that they had in the store was cute, but I wasn’t feeling it for myself personally—I felt kind of washed out in it. The red and purple version available online might make me feel more vibrant.

I was really excited about the print and style of the Keyhole Cutout dress. Unfortunately, it had the same fit issues that I had with the dress I already own. I think it would possibly fit someone longer-waisted or larger-chested, but for me the proportions were just too far off the mark. They do offer a peplum skirt in the same print, though, which would be just as fun to wear and easier to alter if the fit wasn’t perfect.

I also tried on a retro-style dress from Global Mamas. This photo is a little misleading; in person the blue and green were much closer in shade and the whole print had less contrast overall. It was cute and seemed to be proportional; however I was thwarted by their smallest size still being too big. My only World Fair Trade Day purchases ended up being a birthday card for my boss from Sanctuary Spring and a jar of Swazi Fire Sauce from Eswatini Kitchen.

So why am I telling you a story about dresses that didn’t fit? I think it’s important to be honest about the challenges of ethical shopping. Finding a dress that fits your shape and style and budget can be tough, and then to add your values into the mix? It’s tricky.

But is it worth it? Absolutely. We may not be able to be perfect all the time, but when I think about the experience of a woman sewing dresses for a fair trade company like Mata Traders versus the experience of a woman stitching in an unsafe and underpaying sweatshop, it is 100% worth the extra time to make the best effort I can to support companies who treat people well.

Everybody’s shape is different, so if you’re in the market for a spring dress, definitely check out the links above and see if they work for you. Have you found any great ethical dresses this spring? Share your successes (and failures) in the comments!

A Few of My Favorite Things

May 9, 2014 by Julia 2 Comments

Not to sound like a broken record, but you may have heard that I attended the Fair Trade Federation conference last month. In celebration of World Fair Trade Day coming up tomorrow, May 10, today I thought I’d share some of my favorite items from the conference expo. Consider them inspiration for purchasing a fair trade gift for yourself or a loved one to support World Fair Trade Day!

Necklace from Handmade Expressions

I walked by the Handmade Expressions table a number of times, probably bordering on stalking it. I loved their entire spread, but my eyes kept being drawn to the gold sequin necklace at the front. I’m envisioning it with a royal blue scoop-neck silk blouse… which I don’t actually have, but it would look good with shirts I do actually own as well.

Bags from Fibres of Life

The concept of these bags from Fibres of Life really intrigued me. The bags themselves are unadorned, and then you can purchase the embellishment you want, whether it’s an illustrated panel or felted flowers and leaves. The palette is consistent across the items so you can mix-and-match.

Wool animal baby booties from Silk Road Bazaar

Zooties from Silk Road Bazaar

These are wool baby booties that look like animals! I don’t know what else needs to be said! Other than, “Where can I get these for my pregnant coworkers immediately?!” Felted and stuffed animals were definitely a popular product at the expo, but these Zooties from Silk Road Bazaar topped the cuteness chart. (Edit: Found out that these are available for retail purchase from Greenheart Shop and Uncommon Goods!)

Cuff bracelets from World Finds

I spent another stalkery few minutes hovering around the World Finds table, which was overrun with cute jewelry. These cuffs would be a great way to add some flair to a simple summer tank top or dress.

Bag from Manos Zapotecas

If I had a million dollars, I would buy all of the bags from Manos Zapotecas. They are definitely high-end, with handwoven textiles and leather accents, and many of their products are made-to-order as true works of art. For now, I will just gaze and think about the breezy weekend getaways I could pack for using such a gorgeous bag.

Purchasing an ethically-made item is a great way to support World Fair Trade Day and improve the livelihoods of artisans around the world. Hopefully this post served as good inspiration! Since most of the organizations listed above are wholesalers, it might be tricky to track down these specific products near you, but these items are great examples of the unique designs you can find at fair trade retailers. And if you don’t have any shopping needs this weekend, don’t fret—the Fair Trade Federation has suggestions for other ways to support World Fair Trade Day.

What’s your favorite item in the list above? Can you even handle how cute the Zooties are?

How I Got “Connected by Coffee”

May 6, 2014 by Julia 1 Comment

At the Fair Trade Federation conference last month, I got to attend the world premiere of the documentary Connected by Coffee. This full-length film, produced by Stone Hut Studios, lays out the basics of the fair trade coffee industry and visits four different coffee growers across Central America to show how they are working together cooperatively and creating social change in their communities. Check out the trailer below:

I found the film to be beautifully shot, emotionally affecting, and clear and easy to understand. In addition to showing the fair trade co-op system, the film addresses the plague of coffee rust, a fungus that destroyed 50-70% of the coffee crop in Central America in 2013 and continues to decimate growers’ livelihoods. It was moving to see the commitment of the fair trade coffee importers in the film to helping co-ops find solutions to overcome this huge obstacle.

The film also contributed to me personally getting “connected to coffee.” I had never been a coffee drinker—I liked coffee flavor in desserts, but I’d never sipped on an actual cup o’ joe. Before the premiere there was a reception at Global Gifts (my favorite fair trade store) and they were serving a coffee cocktail inspired by the documentary. As it was a week of trying new things, I figured I’d give it a try, and it was delicious.

The weekend after the conference I was at a swing dancing event where I needed to stay awake and fairly alert until 4am a couple nights in a row. Looking back on my good experience with the coffee cocktail, on a whim I ordered my first cup of straight-up coffee, and by George it did the trick! Coffee kept me fueled the entire weekend… now I see why people drink this stuff! I haven’t made it a daily habit since I want to avoid a caffeine addiction, but the fact that I can now drink coffee and understand why people love it will make it easier for me to share with people why fair trade coffee is so important.

I made sure to hang on to the coffee cocktail recipe to share with you:

Café de Naranja Picante

A sweet and spicy coffee cocktail with a citrus twist

1 1/2 oz. Spiced rum

1 oz. Fair trade coffee, prepared and chilled

1/2 oz. Heavy cream

1/2 oz. Triple sec

1/4 oz. Agave nectar

A dash of red pepper to taste

Shake all ingredients together and pour over ice. Top with whipped cream and an orange twist.

If you’d like to see Connected by Coffee, the filmmakers are offering a free online screening all day on World Fair Trade Day, May 10. On the film’s website you can also order a DVD copy or see if there is a screening event scheduled near you.

Are you a coffee addict? What’s your favorite coffee drink?

News Roundup: April 2014

April 29, 2014 by Julia 6 Comments

Okay guys, for real, I think it’s spring now. No more false alarms like my last roundup. Read on for the articles and links that caught my eye this month:

The Shirt on Your Back – This interactive documentary profiles the garment industry in Bangladesh and shares the stories of Rana Plaza workers. I haven’t watched the whole thing, but what I have seen so far is informative and powerful. (The Guardian)

Jeopardy Contestant Accuses Alex Trebek of Wearing Sweatshop Suits – Contestant Tom Kavanaugh was talking about making a documentary about sweatshop labor and hit Alex Trebek with a kid of harsh accusation about the origins of his suit. It’s an amusing clip, and while it was probably an inappropriate comment, I don’t fault Kavanaugh much for it since I think it just shows his passion for the issue. Kavanaugh even shares his side in the comments. (Gawker)

Celebrate World Fair Trade Day – World Fair Trade Day is Saturday, May 10, 2014! Visit the link for ideas for participating, from wearing your favorite fair trade accessory to giving a fair trade gift to a loved one. (Fair Trade Federation)

The Importance of Organic Cotton – Did you know that cotton producers use as much as 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the world’s pesticides? This post from Modavanti describes the downsides and dangers of conventionally-grown cotton and the benefits of organic cotton. (Modavanti)

World’s Most Ethical Companies – I’d take this list with a grain of salt, as it includes known offender Gap, Inc. (who received a Public Eye “award” earlier this year for failing to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh). (Ethisphere)

The Eco Edit – I just found out that People Tree has a digital magazine! The April/May 2014 issue focuses on Bangladesh and how things have changed there in the year since the Rana Plaza disaster. There are some more fun, fashiony features as well to balance the more intense stories. (People Tree)

The Stories in Your Closet: What Do Your Clothes Say About You? – This article explores the idea of people having meaningful relationships with the things they wear and respect for the craftsmanship it takes to make garments. (Triple Pundit)

Free2Work Coffee Ratings 2014 – This report assigns a letter grade to a selection of coffee companies based on their systems for preventing and addressing child labor and forced labor. (Free2Work)

Who Made This Fabric? – Interesting profile of a company called Thread that works in Haiti and Honduras to turn trash into fabric. (Fashion Revolution)

Former Architect Shows Untold Beauty Inside America’s Textile Industry – Speaking of making fabric, check out these interesting photos from inside American textile factories. Holy spools, Batman! (My Modern Met)

What have you been reading this month? Any plans for World Fair Trade Day? It coincides conveniently with Mother’s Day weekend, which I may or may not have almost forgotten about… (That’s what happens when I buy a card five weeks in advance!)