As a fair trade brand, Mata Traders is passionate about ethical fashion and using our power as consumers to bring about change in the industry. So, we were thrilled to engage with other like-minded individuals at our blogger event hosted by Life+Style+Justice writer Hannah Theisen! Hannah invited local fashion bloggers along with a few Chicago-based social enterprises to come together as a conscious-minded community here at Mata headquarters.
The evening was a great opportunity to connect and learn about the endeavors of these bloggers and businesses. We enjoyed meeting each one of these incredible individuals! Take a peek behind this fabulous event:
Photo Credit: Louis Hintz
Photo: Shannon Jahrling
Photo: Louis Hintz
Photo: Shannon Jahrling
Photo: Louis Hintz
Photo: Louis Hintz
Photo: Shannon Jahrling
Photo: Louis Hintz
Hannah spoke to us about the online community she founded, Ethical Blogger Network: an excellent resource for writers, bloggers and other creatives passionate about living an ethical lifestyle.
Photo: Louis Hintz
Brad from Cause Gear discussed the mission-based company’s 5X Jobs Model (they pay the crafters five times the normal wage), which provides enough money for the life’s essentials of not only the crafter, but for the three others that depend on them also.
Photo: Louis Hintz
Emily from Heshima Kenya spoke about the non-profit’s holistic model of protecting and empowering refugee girls and young women from Africa. Their program includes protection, education and development of economic independence through their Maisha Collective, where the women produce gorgeous scarves.
Photo: Louis Hintz
And finally, Laura from Mata Traders gave some background to the bloggers and other Chicago enterprises on the brand’s journey and mission!
Photo: Louis Hintz
Of course no one left empty handed: all the bloggers took home a fun swag bag along with a Mata Traders piece!
Photo: Louis Hintz
Photo: Louis Hintz
Photo: Louis Hintz
Thank you to the bloggers (Hoda Katebi from JooJoo Azad, Ashlee Piper From The Little Foxes, Zahra Sandberg from Love Zahra, Desirée from Fashion Lingual, Christina Pippin from Finny + Dilland Rebecca from Consciously Styled) that came out to Mata for this event. Be sure to check out each of their wonderful blogs for some great reads!