Style

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?

Bohemian Style

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If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you might remember a post about the fair trade quilt I bought for my bedroom. This quilt, which I adore, came from a company called Fair Trade Quilts & Crafts, and as you can see from the photo, you could say it’s a “lot of look.”

Quilt from Fair Trade Quilts and Crafts

My bohemian-style quilt from Fair Trade Quilts and Crafts

It was out of my design comfort zone to get something so patterned and vibrant and handmade-looking, but now that I have it I wouldn’t change it. Fair Trade Quilts seems to have anticipated this kind of hesitation among North American consumers, because their Pinterest is full of inspiration photos of bohemian interiors that would go with the style of their products.

I started following them after I purchased the quilt, and at first I was a little overwhelmed by the colorful interiors showing up in my feed. But now…

I love it.

Obviously these stylized shots take the look to the extreme, but I’m definitely feeling an affinity for the eclectic, multicultural, textile-heavy aesthetic. I would love a hanging lantern, or a dramatic curtain over my living room window, or a carved wooden end table. Just a few accents can give a room a bohemian feel without being overwhelming.

I read an article recently that said that the bohemian style should look like your home is decorated with items you’ve picked up on your world travels. I love the idea of each piece having an authentic or personal story. If you don’t have the time or budget to actually circle the globe, choosing fair trade is an excellent way to accrue a collection of meaningful items from around the world that truly reflect and respect the culture of the people who made them. (For a related train of thought, see my previous blog post about the tribal trend and cultural sensitivity.)

Some of my favorite sources of fair trade home decor items are SERRV, Ten Thousand Villages, Global Gifts (a local fair trade shop in Indianapolis), and of course Fair Trade Quilts & Crafts.

What do you think about the bohemian style? Would you ever incorporate a bohemian element into your home?

News Roundup: March 2014

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Image of yellow tulips with heading "Hello, Spring!"

Springtiiiiime! Let’s ignore the fact that it’s snowing in parts of the country. Spring is technically here, and it’s giving my mood a major boost, merely by the fact that it can’t be winter forever. I’ve even had a few days when I got outside to run and enjoy the sunshine. Of course, when I wasn’t doing that, I was reading ethical lifestyle articles like a boss. Check out my picks from this month below!

(I found several of the articles below in Modavanti’s new newsletter “The Weekly What.” I couldn’t find a subscribe link on their website, but I think if you just register for their site in general you’ll receive it.)

The Opiate of the Masses – Leah shares her thoughts on why ethical consumerism shouldn’t be the only way we express our values and concern for people and the planet. Very thought-provoking! (Style Wise)

Style Is the Way You Live Your Life – Gala Darling is one of my favorite blogs to read for a healthy dose of encouragement and girl power. This post emphasizes how your purchases don’t define your style—it’s more about being creative with what you have than about buying the latest designer item. (Gala Darling)

AllSaints, Urban Outfitters Fail to Address Forced Labor in Cotton Sourcing – This article summarizes a report from the Responsible Sourcing Network which surveyed companies on their policies and practices related to sourcing cotton from Uzbekistan, where forced labor in cotton production has been extensively documented. (Ecouterre)

25 Shocking Fashion Industry Statistics – This list includes statistics on global apparel spending, pollution from the textile industry, and garment industry wages. (TreeHugger)

Why I Invest in Ethical Fashion – This article provides a concise rationale for the ethical shopping movement, comparing it to the dramatic emergence of the organic food movement. (PandoDaily)

Retailers want answers from Cambodian PM over factory shootings – I’m not sure how I missed this… did you know that in January, Cambodian security forces shot at and killed workers who were protesting low wages? (The Guardian)

The Post-Landfill Action Network – This is a great program started by college students to solve the huge problem of waste caused by the year-end move-out purge. Students rescue usable items in the spring and re-sell them to students in the fall when they move back in. I love how this program connects unwanted items with people who want them! It’s such a key part of the sustainable sharing economy.

Organic Equal Exchange Chocolate Easter Eggs – Temperatures are rising (in some places… sort of…) which means the window for ordering fair trade chocolate online is closing. Equal Exchange is offering milk and dark chocolate easter eggs, plus their usual minis. Stock up before temperatures get above 75!

New ethical lifestyle blogs found this month:

New shopping sites found this month:

  • ThredUp – Online consignment store allowing users to recycle clothing from their own closets and purchase high quality used items (found via Style Wise).

What are you reading lately? Is it getting to be spring-ish where you live?

Is Trendy Fashion Ethical?

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This post is an expansion on some thoughts I had while gathering links for last month’s roundup. In particular, my thoughts were brought on by this pair of pants:

High-waisted black overalls from Accompany

I came across them while perusing the website of new high-fashion, ethical retailer Accompany. High-waisted, skinny-leg black overalls. It takes a moment for the mind to fully grasp. Did I mention they’re dry clean only?

My initial question about these pants was whether such a trendy, bizarre, expensive, impractical article of clothing could be truly billed as ethical. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I had bigger underlying questions about the relationship between fashion, trends and ethics.

I have a knee-jerk dislike for overtly trendy items because to me they say “fast fashion.” Whether the item was made by a sweatshop or a fair trade co-op, it’s still destined to be worn only a few times before being discarded into the waste stream as tastes change. Best case scenario, the item ends up being thrifted and loved by several different owners. On the other hand, it could be part of a shipment of donated castoffs sent to a developing nation, undermining local garment production. Or it could go straight to a landfill while the original purchaser orders this season’s latest style, beginning the cycle again.

I realize that this reaction is not necessarily warranted. As an art school grad, I appreciate the artistic aspect of fashion, in the same way that I appreciate the artistry of an expensive meal. And if designers are going to be producing off-the-wall pieces as a matter of creative expression, I’d obviously rather them be made by workers in good conditions than in sweatshops.

Collection of trendy ethical clothing including a fringed t-shirt, reptile shoes, sheer top and blue jumpsuit

A few examples of trendy items found on ethical shopping websites

I think the root of my disdain for these items and the trendy collections they represent is that I see the ethical shopping movement leaning disproportionately toward fashion-forward, high-end designs targeted to young, affluent, educated women. This makes total sense from a business perspective, because that’s the market that is aware of ethical shopping issues, has disposable income, and generally enjoys fashion. I can’t fault these companies for knowing their audience. What I can fault them for is playing into the fast-fashion mentality that this audience has learned from the system ethical companies are supposedly trying to alter.

The truth is that very few people can wear items like these, for a variety of reasons. I’d like to see ethical options be available to everyone, from young to old, fashionable to frumpy, skinny to plus-sized, high-income to low-income.

That being said, I have to remind myself that the ethical shopping movement is young and that every new market served is a victory. We’ve come a long way from every fair trade dress having dragonflies batiked on it. I have faith that eventually there will be options for everyone. We’re just not there yet.

What are your thoughts on ethics and trends? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most fashionable person, so I’d love to hear the opposing viewpoint from someone who actually enjoys fashion.