“Surita Auntiiiieeee!”
This is a common call at our women’s cooperative in Mumbai and is usually shouted out in a high-pitched Hindi lilt. What is Surita Auntie’s job description?
Ethical Fashion Blog
I went to grad school in Brattleboro, Vermont, and I was thrilled when I heard that I was living in an official Fair Trade Town. But to be honest, I wasn't exactly sure what that meant. What does it take to be a Fair Trade Town?
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Meet my friend Jennifer Parsons – she constantly inspires me with her understated hand-made style.
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Our awesome new sales coordinator, Taylor, is also a photographer, and on June 1st she shot Mata’s winter catalog. Taylor jumped into Emily’s position while she’s on maternity leave, and has already proven her ability to juggle a million things at once. We love her hard-working, creative spirit.
Looks like there are signs of improvement in Bihar, one of India’s most impoverished states and the location of many of our bead producer groups. Bihar has one of the lowest wage rates in the country and bead production is a big industry there. The cool thing about the organization that makes our jewelry is that they ensure that even the beads themselves are ethically sourced. They cut out the middle man and work directly with bead producers to pay them a livable wage that is often 3-5 times higher than the minimum wage in the area. They also make sure that health and safety precautions are followed and no child labor is used.
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Do you know where your shirt was made? And under what conditions? Mata Traders is transforming the garment industry, proving it is possible to work with small-scale producers and pay a living wage, all while creating a product that sells.
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Just arrived from India this week, our new line has got us looking forward to warm weather. New dresses, jackets, skirts, and tops in the bold block print fabrics we're known for. Lots of hand-stitched details. Plus cute accessories, like headbands, scarves, and bags. Beautiful new jewelry, too.
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Ohio fair trade boutique, Revive, featured Mata Traders designs on the runway at the Lexus Style Show in Cleveland. Check out some of the awesome pics from the event.
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Welcome to Mata Traders' blog!
We'll use this space so you can learn more about Mata Traders and the women's cooperatives and artisans that make our clothes and jewelry. Please check back here often for stories and pictures from our travels in India, anecdotes about starting up a small business, information on fair trade, and discussion of the latest fashion. We'll also use this space to offer special deals on our fair trade clothing and accessories and to announce events where we'll be selling our line.