Fair Trade Archives

Ethical Style Blogs

December 10, 2013 by Julia 6 Comments

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:

Made-to-Travel — Jamillah serves up boundless positivity, collections of ethical and stylish products, and other inspiring stories.
Stylewise — Leah shares ethical outfits from her wardrobe and explores the spiritual effects of how we consume.
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.
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.
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!
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.
October Rebel — Anna shares gorgeous, ethereal photography and her experiments with ethical style.
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!

It’s #FairTuesday!

December 3, 2013 by Julia 2 Comments

To celebrate, I’m guest posting at Little Nostalgia as part of Paige’s Handmade Holidays series. I’m sharing a list of holiday gifts that are both fair trade and handmade. Go check it out!

I hope hope hope that you are making ethical and fair trade purchases part (or all) of your holiday shopping this year. If you are, share your purchase with the hashtag #FairTuesday to show your support!

News Roundup: November 2013

November 26, 2013 by Julia 3 Comments

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!

Our Fair Trade Holiday Wish List

November 20, 2013 by Julia 2 Comments

Laura and I are joining forces this week to share our top three ethical wish list items for this holiday season!

Julia’s Wish List

1. Cerulean leather purse from SERRV

Spoiler alert: My mom already bought this and showed it to me to make sure I liked the color. The blue isn’t quite as vibrant as it looks in photos—it’s got more gray in it—but I still like it so I gave her the stamp of approval. It’s the perfect size, has several pockets, and has both padded shoulder straps and a cross-body strap. It’s made fairly by an artisan group in India. I can’t wait to open it on Christmas!

2. Adie Cut-Out Oxfords by Bhava from Modavanti

Work-appropriate, stylish, ethically-made shoes are one of the toughest things to find. These Oxfords are both classy and fun and are not ridiculously expensive, particularly for such a versatile style. The label, Bhava, focuses primarily on environmental concerns, using organic cotton and reclaimed wood in their designs. However, they do meet the sustainability threshold of Modavanti, an ethical shopping storefront that has baseline standards for ethical labor and environmental preservation. Plus, orders from Modavanti have free shipping both ways, which I consider key for buying shoes online.

3. Scoop Top – 3/4 Sleeve from Maggie’s Organics

Sometimes the gifts I appreciate the most are the simple, practical ones. There’s nothing flashy about this black scoop-neck shirt, and that’s what makes it great. It would be perfect with a pencil skirt for work or with jeans at on the weekend. It’s a 95% organic cotton/5% Spandex blend and is grown and sewn in Peru under fair conditions. One of my favorite things about Maggie’s Organics is their openness and transparency about their process for verifying their good labor practices.

Laura’s Wish List

It was a challenge to find fair trade, ethically sourced gifts that I would very much care to have. I have a particular taste and style which some may describe as picky. So I tried to recall items I have seen or thought about wanting for a while. Once the three below came to mind, I began the hunt and am pleased with what I came across.

1. Reversible headband from Mata Traders

For several months, I have been growing my hair out from a very short style. I have had to cut it a couple times since, just to shape it, which basically means I have started the process over again… and again. I keep it up most of the time because I can’t do anything with it, but I really don’t think that is healthy. So, I have been dreaming about owning a headband that will make my hair tidy and cute with very little work. I discovered that Mata Traders has three Reversible Headbands ($16.00) to choose from. I prefer the Black/White one, though I would be happy with any of the colors. Mata Traders is on our Fairly Friendly list, and according to the website, the company works only with producer groups in India and Nepal “that practice fair trade principals.”

2. Highlands Carafe from Ten Thousand Villages

If you come to visit me, one of the first things I will say to you is, “would you like something to drink?” And by saying that, I mean it. You can have anything I have in my home – beer, wine, juice, milk, or of course, purified (or tap) water. In most cases I will pour that directly for you from the container, but at times I wonder about having a nicer presentation. Now, I like carafes more than pitchers. Thanks to Ten Thousand Villages, I found one that is both charming and classy. This is the functional and decorative bubbled-glass Highlands Carafe ($29.00), handmade in Bolivia through Crisil Srl. The glass is recycled. The artisans are poor residents who live near the town named Cochabamba. Ten Thousand Villages is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization and is on our Fairly Friendly list.

3. Warm Welcome Batik Tray from Ten Thousand Villages

Last year, I lived with my sister Kate, who is an artist and a decorator. She has “the touch” when it comes to turning a bedroom into a retreat, a house into home. It is from her that I learned that every item you own can be part of your overall design. This includes one thing I have been seeking for years – the perfect tray. I was stunned to find one at, again, Ten Thousand Villages. The Warm Welcome Batik Tray ($39.00) is just that, and more! It is beautiful. Every inch of it has a purposeful design element. It is exactly what I have been hoping to track down. This tray is designed by artisans in Indonesia who are members of APIKRI, an NGO that “helps organize artisans and provides export marketing services, technical assistance, training and other supports.”

What’s on your holiday wish list this year? Let us know in the comments!

Don’t forget to check out #FairTuesday for even more fair trade, ethical, and eco-friendly holiday gifts!

Fair Trade Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

November 12, 2013 by Julia 1 Comment

For the Harry Potter-themed Halloween party I went to, I wanted to bring a pumpkin-flavored dessert to stand in for the pumpkin pasties served at Hogwarts. I’ve made pumpkin cookies before by mixing a can of pumpkin with a box of cake mix, but I wanted to do them totally fair trade, which meant that conventional boxed cake mix was out. Thankfully, I found that making them from scratch was just as easy!

Fair trade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies ingredients

Here’s the recipe I used:

1 can of organic pumpkin
1 cup white Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade sugar
1 free-range egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk (I used almond milk)
1 tablespoon Frontier fair trade vanilla extract
Sunspire fair trade chocolate chips (eyeball it to your preferred chip density—I used about half a bag)

Fair trade pumpkin chocolate chip cookie batter

Combine pumpkin, sugar and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Add vanilla and chocolate chips.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Fair trade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on cookie sheet

The recipe is supposed to yield two dozen cookies. I ended up with 21 because some of my cookies were bigger than others. The cookies’ texture is similar to a muffin, which I think makes them acceptable for breakfast OR dessert!

Fair trade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies done

I’m not a baking expert, but I haven’t noticed any quality difference between the fair trade ingredients and conventional ones. They were a big hit at the party, so if you’re looking for a fair trade treat to bring to a fall party, I recommend giving these a try!

Have you baked any fair trade fall treats this year? I bought enough ingredients to make a second batch of these, so I’ll be on the road back to pumpkin town in a couple of weeks.

Fairmined Gold

November 6, 2013 by Julia Leave a Comment

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.

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

October 29, 2013 by Julia Leave a Comment

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

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

October 23, 2013 by Laura Leave a Comment

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.

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

October 15, 2013 by Julia 2 Comments

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.

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

October 8, 2013 by Julia 1 Comment

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: