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.
Ethical Fashion Blog
They’re not just one of our favorites because they carry a wide variety of our fair trade dresses, tops, and skirts. It’s also because they’ve got a ton of cool stuff from all over the world, “from wondrous to wacky!” And also because we love Nomad’s super-fun owner, Deb!
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.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain
Start here – buy a Lonely Planet Peru and you’re off on your honeymoon! In Dec. of 2011 my husband and I landed in Lima and loved it immediately – check out Second Home Peru, the best bed and breakfast in town and once home to Victor Delfin, artist extraordinaire. His sculpture The Kiss sits smack dab on the ocean in “Love Park” in Lima’s Miraflores district.
Today my grandma is 98 years old! Happy birthday, Grandma Harriet! Aren’t we cute in our twinsie Applique Plume Skirts? Btw, the skirt is on sale for $32. Get it while you can!
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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.
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.
Mata intern, Alex, has scoped out the aromatherapy trend. Might be a fun idea for Valentine’s Day…
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- Aromatherapy seems to be all the rage these days with celebrities, yogis, therapists and now me! I’ve just recently gotten into aromatherapy, and I love the results. I’m finding that I can rely on the scents to uplift my mood if I’m feeling down, or calm my stomach if it’s feeling a bit funny – even to alleviate headaches. I haven’t had to use prescribed medicine for a lot of things since I’ve started using essential oils; both saving me money and boosting my inner (and outer) energy! I always carry a few small bottles with me, and when I need a lift, the scent of grapefruit, lavender, or bergamot will do the trick.
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.
Looking for tips on how to bring your Mata cotton clothing into the chilly winter? Then keep an eye on October Rebel, who has a knack for adding the perfect layers to winterize her Matawear.
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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In this photo, the ladies of sewing center #5 display the garments they stitched from our catalogs. Thank you to all of our customers for helping us bring these talented women more work in the upcoming year!
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!