Pantone named emerald the color of the year calling it:
“Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.” Sounds pretty wonderful, right? It just so happens to be my birthstone, and is a color that I love to play around with. Below are some inspiration boards that show how easily Mata’s summer line can be worn with it this great 2013 shade
Ethical Fashion Blog
Summer is well under way, filled with bonfires, carefree get-togethers outside, and great meals on patios with friends. While shorts and a cute top are always an easy go-to option, they’re boring! Here’s a hot look for a hot day, and you can take it into night, too!
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Are you scrambling through your closet right now, looking for the perfect outfit for the 4th of July party you have to be at in an hour? Probably not, because then you wouldn’t be reading this post. But, maybe your wardrobe does lack something to express your patriotism. This is where Mata comes in.
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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Hi! Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite Mata dresses, the Pagoda Pocket dress. It’s a great little dress to feel comfortable in the summer heat.
This is the story of what happens when 2 people have babies. Well, specifically, when those 2 people are my best friends, and they get a fair trade fashion business up and running, and through that business they design clothing made of original handmade block-printed and screen-printed cotton fabric. And then I join the company, only for those 2 best friends to turn around and have babies at the same time. It’s soooo awesome for best friends to have babies at the same time, but for business partners, it poses some challenges.
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:
…doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas (Matawear goes anywhere)!
Last week my mom and I escaped to fabulous Las Vegas for some fun in the sun, and of course I brought along some Mata fair trade dresses to strut the Strip in color and style.
It’s a new year! And that means new shows, new trends, and new inspiration!
Here are the hot trends we’ve been spotting for jewelry this spring:
Mint. Want some color? Go for green! Shades of green are big big big, and everyone is especially loving mint and emerald. The Fan Earrings are a perfect touch and look good with practically everything; pair this touch of mint with an all black & white outfit (also popular this season).
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 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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Our delightful intern, Michelle, brings you some delights:
Do you love warm, gooey, and decadent chocolate brownies? I do! But sometimes all that sugary goodness can make you feel pretty bad about your life choices. Why not decrease some of that guilt by choosing fair trade and organic ingredients! Buying fair trade food items is surprisingly simple. Many common baking ingredients like sugar, chocolate, and coffee are available fair trade from stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Just look for the fair trade seal, and you know you’ll be good to go!
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.