Designing Women
- Michelle Thomas
- 10 Sep, 2010
I arrived on Wednesday morning at our co-op in Rajasthan to find our Spring 2011 collection well on its way toward completion, since Maureen was... Read More ››
MODESTY A LA MODE
- Jonit Mata
- 06 Sep, 2010
My second day here at the cooperative in Mumbai were were eating lunch with some of the ladies and the topic of shorts came up.... Read More ››
Catalog Appreciation Day
- Jonit Bookheim
- 06 Sep, 2010
This week, Taylor has been creating our Fall/Winter 2011 catalog. As you can imagine, it is quite an endeavor: photographing the samples, writing descriptions, designing... Read More ››
Ladies Who Lunch
- Jonit Bookheim
- 04 Sep, 2010
Michelle and Maureen have lunch with a few ladies from our cooperative in Mumbai. Read More ››
THE RAIN IN BOMBAY FALLS MAINLY ALL THE TIME
- Jonit Bookheim
- 01 Sep, 2010
I’ve had 3 full days now back in India (last time I was here it was 2004) and the main thing to report is that... Read More ››
The Fair Wear Formula
- Jonit Bookheim
- 27 Aug, 2010
Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) is an international verification initiative dedicated to enhancing workers’ lives all over the world. They work closely with a growing number of... Read More ››
Mix and Match Tibetan Fashion
- Maureen Fetscher
- 19 Aug, 2010
I just ended a week in Kathmandu working with our new fair trade partners on Spring 2011 designs. I got so inspired by the colorful... Read More ››
Biggest Turban in the World
- Jonit Bookheim
- 12 Aug, 2010
The biggest turban in the world is in Udaipur, India. Read More ››
As Karma would have it...
- Maureen Fetscher
- 08 Aug, 2010
I’ve never done one of these group e-mails before, but I think now is as appropriate a time as any. I hope you all are... Read More ››
Harshali’s Story (everything is connected)
- Maureen Fetscher
- 04 Aug, 2010
I met Harshali two years ago when she was a shy 17 year old with limited English speaking skills. At that time she was working... Read More ››
Riding on a bus in India is a lot like watching television...
- Michelle Thomas
- 31 Jul, 2010
Only better. As the gray fumes from passing vehicles pump in between the bars on the windows, blurring your vision slightly, the scenes that pass... Read More ››
American Girls Can't Nod
- Michelle Thomas
- 24 Jul, 2010
Here in India – our destination for the next four months – the people have a habit of replying to questions with a sideways nod... Read More ››
Emails from India and a Loooooooooooooooooong shanti letter
- Mata Traders
- 15 Jul, 2010
Michelle, Maureen, and I first went to India in December 2003 and spent 4 months backpacking the country as part of a longer round-the-world adventure. ... Read More ››
Fair Trade Indian tea
- Jonit Bookheim
- 12 Jul, 2010
Up around the hill station town of Munnar in the southern state of Kerala, we ran into these ladies who pick tea leaves. For a... Read More ››
Fair Trade Futures Conference
- Maureen Fetscher
- 05 Jul, 2010
From September 10-12, 2010, the Fair Trade Futures Conference will bring together entrepreneurs, students, advocates, faith community members, concerned citizens, interested individuals, and others in... Read More ››
Everybody needs an Auntie
- Mata Traders
- 02 Jul, 2010
“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... Read More ››
Make your town (or city) a Fair Trade Town
- Jonit Bookheim
- 29 Jun, 2010
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. ... Read More ››
Tiny Pine Press meets fair trade
- Mata Traders
- 25 Jun, 2010
Meet my friend Jennifer Parsons – she constantly inspires me with her understated hand-made style. Read More ››
Mata winter photo shoot
- Mata Traders
- 20 Jun, 2010
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... Read More ››