Events

Upcoming Events in January: Trunk Show and Style Swap

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January looms before us as a barren wasteland of post-holiday gloom. But fear not! I have two free events coming up that are sure to break up your winter doldrums.

Slow Fashion Trunk Show promo poster

Slow Fashion Trunk Show

Thursday, Jan. 7 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.
@ Outpost (Circle Centre Mall, 2nd floor, across from H&M)

Elizabeth Roney from Liz Alig, Sara Baldwin-Schatz from Lux & Ivy, and I are teaming up for an evening of fair trade fashion, secondhand style, and sustainable strategies. Elizabeth and Sara will offer great slow fashion items from their brands, and I’ll speak on the differences between slow fashion and fast fashion, with time for Q&A from all three of us. It’s also a great chance to see the Outpost pop-up shop before it closes!

Women browsing clothes at FairSwap15

WinterSwap16 Women’s Style Swap

Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 6–8 p.m.
@ New Day Craft

FairSwap15 was such a big hit last September that we’re bringing it back in January! Collect any wearable holiday gifts that weren’t quite your style, plus any other unwanted clothing, shoes and accessories you have, and bring them to WinterSwap16. This swap will be bigger and better than the last with more items allowed per person. Plus, New Day’s famous Mead & Knead will be going on at the same time! Sign up and get the full details. Spots are limited!

Check out photos and details from past events on the Events page. Happy holidays and I’ll see you in January!

Now Showing: Events!

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I’m excited to announce that Fair for All is expanding out of the purely digital realm and into the real world with… drumroll please… events!

I’ve been wanting to host events for a while so I’m excited to finally have two on the schedule. Through these events I hope to spark a conversation about ethical and sustainable lifestyle choices in central Indiana.

Here’s what’s on the docket!

Film Screening: The True Cost

Film Screening: The True Cost

Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 6:30-8:30pm
Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company

Join Fair for All at Thr3e Wise Men in Broad Ripple for this free documentary screening. Enjoy dinner and/or a local brew while we watch the film, followed by a brief discussion. You’re responsible for your own food and beverage purchases, but everything you order within the party room helps cover the cost of the event, hooray! The screening will take place in the Fermenting Room and is limited to 20 attendees per our arrangement with the filmmaker.

Learn more about the film in my review or at truecostmovie.com.

Want to attend? RSVP on Facebook to secure your spot!

FairSwap15 Women's Clothing Swap

FairSwap15 Women’s Clothing Swap

Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 6-8pm
New Day Craft Cider & Mead

Everyone loves the thrill of getting a new outfit, but today’s fast fashion industry has high human and environmental costs. Factory workers are exploited, water supplies are polluted, and discarded clothing fills landfills at an alarming rate.

Join us at FairSwap15 to celebrate the fun of fashion in a socially- and environmentally-conscious way. Swap your unwanted clothing and accessories for new-to-you items. Who knows, your castoffs could become someone’s new favorite outfit!

Want to attend? Registration will open soon for this free event.

I’m excited about forming a stronger connection between this blog and the local Indy community. If you’re local, come hang out! For those of you not in central Indiana, I encourage you to find or host your own clothing swap. (You can also find screenings of The True Cost on their website, but they appear to be mostly done for now.)

I’m not sure how to end this post other than saying I’M SO EXCITED a bunch of times… Hope to see you at an event soon! (!!!)

Share Your Style Story

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New York Fashion Week is February 12-19. When I hear Fashion Week I usually think “that thing they do at the end of Project Runway,” but I know it’s also a time when designers debut new collections and fashion in general is in the global spotlight.

To counteract the unsustainable aspects of the fashion industry that will be inherently celebrated this week, the Ethical Writers Coalition has launched Style Stories, a movement that highlights style that is both fashionable and sustainable. Anyone can submit a photo and story of their favorite outfit that contains an ethical component: fair trade, vintage/secondhand, locally made, eco-friendly, organic, cruelty-free, or otherwise ethically produced.

Style Stories information graphic

Ignore the February 12 deadline—you can still submit after that!

 

There are a couple different ways to participate:

  1. Submit your outfit on the Style Stories tumblr
  2. Post your outfit on Instagram using the hashtag #stylestories15

Even if you don’t have an outfit to share, definitely visit the Tumblr and peruse the gallery of photos. Not so long ago, ethical fashion had the stereotype of being hippie-ish and frumpy (or as my sister would say, “Everything has dragonflies on it.”) The Style Stories gallery shows that this is definitely not the case anymore, and there are ethical fashion options for every taste and style. Be sure to check out my submission while you’re there!

Spring Dresses

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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

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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!

Gold sequined necklace from Handmade Expressions

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.

Customizable tote bags from Fibres of Life

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!)

Gold, silver and beaded cuff bracelets from World Finds

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.

Woven textile and leather tote bag from Manos Zapotecas

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”

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Connected by Coffee free online screening on World Fair Trade Day, May 10

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

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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 from People Tree cover image

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!)

Fair Trade Federation Conference Recap

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Thumbnails of conference speakers and exhibition. Fair Trade Federation Conference Takeaways
Wow! I had such an amazing time at the Fair Trade Federation conference last week. I got to meet tons of passionate people involved in various aspects of the fair trade movement, and I also learned a lot about the specific details of putting fair trade principles into practice.

Here are some of my major takeaways from the conference:

  • There are two different schools of thought in the world of fair trade right now. One school of thought says that high standards applied by small businesses (i.e. Equal Exchange coffee grown by small farmers) is the best way to make progress toward a more fair world. The other school of thought says that by loosening standards to allow larger companies to participate (i.e. Great Value brand fair trade coffee at Walmart), we increase volume and thus increase our impact. Both groups have similar goals regarding producer wellbeing but different visions of how to get there.
     
  • Determining a “fair price” is a complicated process! It takes a lot of effort and dedication to work with artisan groups, many of whom don’t have basic accounting skills or tools, to determine their cost of materials, labor costs and overhead to factor into what the fair price for their product should be. Fair traders are committed to doing this legwork to get the price right.
     
  • Fair traders are extremely considerate about respecting cultural identity and partnering with artisans in an equal way. They do everything they can to avoid condescending to artisans or fostering dependency. Their goal is to give artisans the freedom to determine their own destinies.
     
  • One big question fair traders ask is, “How do we measure our impact on artisan communities?” Many speakers shared about the dramatic improvements in self-worth and confidence that they saw in their artisans from participating in fair trade. However there is now a desire within the movement to go beyond those qualitative improvements and back them up with quantified results such as the percentage of artisans’ children who are in school and the frequency of their meals.

I plan to expand on some of these takeaways and others in later posts. In the meantime, be sure to check out our gallery of photos from the exhibit hall below or on Facebook—there were oodles of gorgeous and interesting fair trade products on display!

Disclosure: As a media partner I received complimentary access to the conference and one of the swag bags given to all attendees, which contained some fair trade product samples. I received no other compensation for my promotion of this event.

The Inside Scoop about the Fair Trade Federation Conference

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The Fair Trade Federation Annual Conference in Indianapolis is rapidly approaching! To get all the details on the event, which will be held downtown from April 1-3, I interviewed Suzanne Cotter from the Fair Trade Federation.

Fair Trade Federation 2014 Annual Conference | April 1-3, Indianapolis, IN | Photo of Indianapolis downtown Monument Circle

Fair for All: A main focus of the conference is on the business side of fair trade. What would a person who is not part of a fair trade business get out of the conference?

Suzanne Cotter: First and foremost, the Conference is always a wonderful opportunity for those newer to the industry to meet a special group of people who are doing the very best work in fair trade… the kind of direct, in-depth work the Fair Trade Federation stands for! There’s really no other gathering of fair trade businesses quite like this and the learning and networking opportunities are boundless. We recommend the Conference to anyone interested in working with artisans in specific regions, staring their own fair trade business one day, working in fair trade product design and development, or anything else that falls under the fair trade umbrella… many Conference attendees this year have had foundational roles in bringing the fair trade movement to the U.S.

Who are some of the speakers and presenters you’re excited to have at the conference?

This year we’re thrilled for our plenary speaker Jonathan Rosenthal, Executive Director of Cooperative Coffees, consultant at Just Works Consulting, and co-founder of Equal Exchange and Oke USA. We’re also excited for the expanded list of sessions for businesses working primarily in agriculture — like the agricultural pricing roundtable which will include Michael Skillicorn of Dean’s Beans, Bena Burda of Maggie’s Organics, Kim Lamberty of Just Haiti Coffee, Jonathan Rosenthal of Cooperative Coffees, and Stacey Toews of Level Ground Trading. There will also be an expanded list of sessions for retail stores, including a session on building sales with a regular special events schedule with Rich Howard-Willms of Plowsharing Crafts. We’re also offering some exciting sessions for wholesalers like developing producer empowerment and involvement with Pushpika Freitas of Marketplace: Handiwork of India.

Tell me about the film premiere of “Connected by Coffee.”

Connected by Coffee movie posterConnected by Coffee is a great documentary film covering the lives of coffee farmers and the benefits of fair trade relationships. The film — by Aaron and Chelsea Dennis of Stone Hut Studios — aims to show how coffee farmers and coffee drinkers can work together to create a more just trading future.

The screening during the Conference will be the world premiere, which is really exciting for us! We’ll be hosting it at the Athenaeum Theatre in downtown Indianapolis — a beautiful historic space that’s really walkable for locals. The event is open to the public (we’ll be selling tickets for $8 at the door) and we’ll have a Q&A panel afterwards. This event is another a great opportunity for folks who can’t commit to attending the full Conference to meet some of the attendees and participate in he Q&A; we’ll have the filmmakers, the FTF Executive Director Renee Bowers, Jonathan Rosenthal of Cooperative Coffees, and Matt Early of Just Coffee.

How is the conference partnering with local Indianapolis fair trade organizations?

We’re working closely with local FTF members Global Gifts, Imani Workshops, and The Village Experience to get to know the Indianapolis area a little better and to spread the word about the Conference. Global Gifts in downtown Indianapolis will also be hosting a small reception right before the film screening on April 2nd from 6 – 7:30 pm. All are welcome to attend and browse the store!

Are there discounts on registration? When is the registration deadline?

Yes! Full-time students will receive a significantly discounted registration rate. Anyone can register for the Conference up until Monday evening, March 24th — a week before the Conference starts. You can register online on the FTF website.

Thanks to Suzanne Cotter for sharing the inside scoop on the conference! I know I’m excited to attend and learn more about what makes a fair trade business tick. If you want to know more about the conference, visit the FTF website.

Disclosure: As a media partner I am receiving complimentary access to the conference. I am receiving no other compensation for my promotion of this event.

Fair Trade Federation Conference Comes to Indianapolis

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Fair Trade Federation 2014 Annual Conference | April 1-3, Indianapolis, IN | Photo of Indianapolis downtown Monument Circle

I’m thrilled to be partnering with the Fair Trade Federation to spread the word about their 2014 Annual Conference, being held in my fair city of Indianapolis from April 1-3!

The FTF is a trade association for retailers, wholesalers and other organizations committed to fair trade, and a main focus of the conference is helping its members improve their business. However, the conference would be a valuable and educational experience for any fair trade enthusiast or those who want to learn what fair trade is all about. The conference also includes a documentary film premiere that is open to the public!

For the full details of the conference, read on for a guest post from Suzanne Cotter of the Fair Trade Federation.

Annual Conference on the Business of Fair Trade Coming to Indianapolis!

This year, the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) will be coming to Indianapolis, Indiana April 1-3 to connect entrepreneurs, students, and fair trade lovers at their annual conference on fair trade businesses in North America.

2014 marks 20 years since the organization’s official founding and kick-starts a special time for the organization. Along with a number of special guests and an expanded roster of sessions this year, the FTF will host the world premiere of “Connected by Coffee” — a documentary by Stone Hut Studios exploring how coffee farmers and coffee drinkers can work together to create a more just trading world. This highly-anticipated film is a must-see for anyone who loves coffee or who wants to learn more about global trade. The premiere will be held at the Athenaeum Foundation, Inc. Theater on April 2 at 8 pm and is open to the public. Tickets are $8 and will be on sale at Global Gifts locations in Indianapolis and online. (Tickets are FREE for Conference attendees.)

The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in downtown Indianapolis and also features a Fair Trade Expo, a marketplace of FTF wholesale vendors exhibiting specialty foods, home décor, accessories, clothing, and more. The Expo – held Tuesday, April 1 from 4:45-6:45 and Wednesday, April 2 from 4:00- 6:00 – will give retail buyers an opportunity to make purchases in a relaxed atmosphere and to learn about the special work of FTF members. For more information, local retailers are encouraged to contact info@fairtradefederation.org.

“This is a really exciting year for us,” says Renee Bowers, Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation. “We’re recognizing 20 years since FTF’s official founding and many decades of our members’ hard work.  It’s amazing to look back and see how far we’ve come.” The FTF is also looking forward to hosting in Indianapolis for the first time: “there are lots of wonderful fair trade businesses with supportive local communities in Indianapolis, including Imani Workshops, The Village Experience, and a number of Global Gifts store locations.”

Learn more & register at www.fairtradefederation.org/conference
Student pricing & complimentary tickets for media with press credentials!
Contact: Renee Bowers, Executive Director, Fair Trade Federation, info@fairtradefederation.org

I’m so proud and excited that Indianapolis is hosting this conference, which has the potential to raise significant awareness about fair trade among the Indy community. Stay tuned for more details as the conference gets closer!

Disclosure: As a media partner I am receiving complimentary access to the conference. I am receiving no other compensation for my promotion of this event.