Ethical Fashion Blog

AMERICA!
AMERICA!
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.  Three day weekends, fireworks, bar-b-ques, freedom.  Mata’s Prairie Top was the perfect top to show my patriotism.  It is such a good summer top – practically all of Mata’s pieces are 100% cotton.  I also wore this earlier in the day.  I get so many compliments on that dress, and I love the chambray.
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FAIR TRADE FEDERATION CONFERENCE
FAIR TRADE FEDERATION CONFERENCE
Michelle and I drove up to the very cool city of Milwaukee in May to attend the Fair Trade Federation’s annual conference.  Michelle is an old hat with FTF conferences, but it was my first.  I really enjoyed meeting other folks involved in the fair trade movement, people who dedicate everyday of their lives to providing a way out of poverty to hundreds of farmers, artisans, and skilled workers all over the world.
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In the Garden
In the Garden
Hello, everyone!  Here I am guest blogging for Mata!  I have always been a fan of this brand, and have a sizable Mata collection in my closet.  I am such a blog junkie, so it’s neat to be writing instead of reading.  
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Welcome New Fashion Blogger!
Welcome New Fashion Blogger!
Laura is a wardrobe and image consultant and first came to Mata as a design intern from the Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.  Besides modeling in our catalogs, she also styled several of them and designed the layout.  She’s got some serious fashion chops, and we love her intuitive sense of style and coolness.
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Lakshmi Bathing Suit Makes a Splash in India
Lakshmi Bathing Suit Makes a Splash in India
Back in May, label Lisa Blue sent a line of swimsuits down the runway at Australian Fashion Week.  One particular suit in the collection had an image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi on the front and across the rear end.  This caused outrage among some devout Hindus in India, who took to the streets to protest.  They ripped up photocopies of the Lakshmi suit and burned the Australian flag.
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Fair Trade Lingerie is Not Easy to Find
Fair Trade Lingerie is Not Easy to Find
Michelle got married on Saturday!  It turned out to be a fabulous event and all of us bridesmaids were looking great in our fair trade bridesmaids dresses.  We’ll be sure to post lots of pics as soon as we get them from the photographer.
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Brown Paper Packages Tied Up w/String
Brown Paper Packages Tied Up w/String
A sari is a single piece of material, wrapped around and around a woman’s body then thrown over the shoulder and draped almost to the heels.  It’s an entire outfit, the brilliantly hued skirt and shawl, with a draw-string underskirt and a tiny undershirt, exposing the entire belly.  The cloth in front is for modesty, and completely hides the shape of the breasts.  Shoulders and back are also covered, but the belly, the glorious belly, is left skin to air.
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1000 Fair Trade Towns
1000 Fair Trade Towns
A few weeks after Chicago was declared a Fair Trade City, several more towns will reach that milestone.  Enough to make 1000 fair trade towns in the world!!!!  Fair Trade is clearly a strong and growing movement, as more people shop for fair trade products and demand fair trade options in their towns.  The fair trade towns campaign really epitomizes that expression, “Think Globally, Act Locally.”
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