Welcome to the 2nd ‘Get The Look For Less (Guilt)’! In today’s post we are looking at the beloved trend of black & white stripes.
Ethical Fashion Blog
We all know and love those ‘Get the Look for Less’ segments where you see a designer look and learn how to find it for less money. Well, I am here to give you something even better…The Look For Less (Guilt)! These new posts will help distinguish those great designer looks, but help you source them through fair trade and Eco-friendly companies, so you can feel good about where your clothing and accessories are coming from! It is well known that many clothing companies take advantage of low health standards and cheap labor in developing countries to increase their profits. Mata Traders is here to help!
Our Charity of the Month for August is Chicago Women’s Health Center. Founded in 1975, they have long been a pioneer in the world of Reproductive Justice and Health Care and continue that legacy today. CWHC provides hard-to-find services to over 6,000 people annually, this includes gynecological care, health education, counseling services, artificial insemination, acupuncture and massage– all in a respectful environment where clients pay what they can afford. The services are approached uniquely, focusing on a collaborative provider-client experience that allows for understanding of the individual’s needs.
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The 5th Annual Fair Trade Photo Contest has begun, and we need your vote! The contest is hosted by the Fair Trade Resource Network, voting is free and easy (no sign-ups), and you get to vote for your 5 favorite entries. The winners are featured in the 2014 Fair Trade Calendar, and man, do we want to be in that calendar!
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Here at Mata Traders, India is close to our hearts (you might know that “Mata” means Mother in Hindi). So we found an instant connection to our June Charity of the Month, Namaste Charter School. Namaste is a Hindi word used to greet someone; basically it’s like saying hi. But the literal meaning is “bow to you.” It represents the belief that there is greatness inside each of us.
I just needed an excuse to post these photos from a store front in Nikko, Japan. We love cats around here.
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Meet Shelly Ruzicka, passionate fighter for worker rights, Director of Operations at Arise Chicago, and new Co-chair of the Board of Chicago Fair Trade.
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Here comes Sooners for Fair Trade, one of a growing number of student-run fair trade advocacy groups popping up on college and university campuses across the U.S. and abroad. This group is starting off with a bang, planning an on-campus event called Fair Trade Fest, April 22-26:
Today is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. Last week, Marlo Thomas keyed us in on a documentary airing on PBS entitled ‘MAKERS: Women Who Make America’. You can watch the documentary here.
The next generation of fashionistas walked the runway last week at Northside College Prep High School in Chicago. They rocked the looks, but the coolest thing about these budding style-ophiles is that they are also the next generation of social justice advocates. The students used their passion for fashion to teach their peers and community about fair trade and the way our purchases have an impact on global poverty.
The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, with its 90+ organizational members, works on advocacy and policy development in the maternal and child health field. IMCHC envisions an Illinois that works towards equity and social justice, fosters the development of healthy families, and provides fair access to quality health care – the basic rights of all human beings.
The pre-Inca archaeological site of Chotuna, Peru, is a stunning 235-acre monumental temple complex where several royal tombs have been discovered. Despite the site’s treasure trove of history, the community near the site of Chotuna is one in need, living without electricity, a sewer system, or even clean water.
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Good news! I reached my first pledged goal of $400, so I raised it to $800! Let’s keep the donations rolling in… I’m at $510. Thank you to everyone who has contributed! That $510 raised paid for aftercare packages for 17 survivors of sex trafficking. Every little bit helps end slavery for someone. As a whole, Dressemeber is freeing a lot of people from slavery, having raised over $270K as of yesterday! To see where the money goes once it’s given to International Justice Mission, click here and scroll down to “Your Impact.”
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Hello,
My name is Ashley and I am a journalist at Columbia College Chicago. I am currently writing a story on fair trade accessories and I was looking for some comments to add to the story. I was wondering if you could tell me why you think fair trade is so important. Any information you have will help. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you.
Best,
Ashley
Mata Traders is a fair trade fashion company, and we take both parts of that description very seriously. Our clothes and jewelry are manufactured by women’s cooperatives and artisan groups in developing countries that pay fair wages and provide safe working conditions. Our designs mix old-fashioned processes–such as hand loom weaving and hand block printing–with fashion-forward silhouettes and contemporary color palettes. Mata’s mission is to bring fair trade clothing to the forefront of the fashion industry–and to bring fashion to fair trade.