I walk the streets of India oftentimes in this very state. Traversing India is like taking a river swim – the fantastic part about being here is that you never know if you’re going to have to swim upstream or down.
Continue Reading
Ethical Fashion Blog
The global marketing firm Edelman conducted their 4th annual good purpose study to explore consumer attitudes around social purpose and their social expectations of companies. The study surveyed more than 7,000 adults in 13 countries (1,000 in the U.S.) and some noteworthy data has emerged.
Continue Reading
9. Sign up for newsletters from organizations in the Fair Trade movement – You can get regular updates from the Fair Trade Federation and the Fair Trade Resource Network.
Selecting Chennai – India’s fourth-ish largest city – as our port of entry into India is comparable to the average European deciding to launch their American tour from Detroit. It is a city one would normally not visit unless, well, unless you had to… We’ve crossed the peninsula from east to west via the Cardamom Hills in the Western Ghats, and our arrival in Kochi, Kerala was much anticipated. Kochi is a seaside town full of travelers (imagine even the western men wearing colorful head scarves to hide the dirty hair days) w/ a Jewish quarter, two churches, and a semi-posh coffee shop to hideout in.
Continue Reading
It’s early November… time to place orders with our producer groups for Spring/Summer 2011. To help us determine what to order, we hosted a focus group on Friday, November 5th at our office/warehouse space. The samples we worked on in India this summer were on display, and our focus group participants completed surveys rating each item’s style and color variations.
Continue Reading
Hello everyone!
Joni, Michelle, and I have finally reached the peace and solitude of the Cardamon Hills in the state of Kerala. We have settled for two days in the town of Munnar, with rows and rows of tea plantations nestled on huge mountains. Munnar is a hot spot for honeymooners from Bombay and a welcome respite because it is about 30 degrees cooler than our last several destinations. Even in the center of the town, horn blowing is kept to bearable minimum and auto exhaust only sometimes gets in your line of smell. It is relaxing, and I am enjoying it.
Wednesday I witnessed 106-year-old Ignacia Garibay de Moya request an absentee ballot to vote for the first time in this election. She became a citizen just months ago on July 19th, 2010. When asked why she wanted to vote, she said, “I’m a citizen now. My children are all citizens. That’s what citizens do.”
Continue Reading
Most Indian women decorate their face, be it w/ yellow facial dye or a multitude of multi-colored dots. We’ve visited enough temples to recognize that the process of getting dotted is much like taking communion in the Methodist church, where everyone is invited. A shirtless Brahmin w/ exposed chest hair and three wide white lines painted on his forehead holds a tray supporting a flaming oil lamp of sorts. The Hindus stand in line, and when it is their turn run their hands lightly through the flame, take a bit of colored dust (rice powder) from the Brahmin’s hand into their own and place a mark on the middle of their forehead, on the bridge of their nose, and also on their neck/throat.
Continue Reading
Something you really don’t see in the U.S. is the family motorbike ride. I was determined to get a few shots this time in India.
Continue Reading
STOP TRAFFICK is a grassroots effort to raise funds for victims of human trafficking. If you’re in/near Chicago, please join us at their annual fundraiser this Saturday, October 23rd.
Continue Reading
Mata means mother in Hindi, and we are always inspired by the strength and dedication of the mothers we meet in India.
Continue Reading
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but more scary than ghosts and ghouls is that our festivities are supporting child labor.
Continue Reading
Udaipur is one of my favorite places in India, especially because of its animal life. It’s like being on safari, without leaving the city. I’ve mentioned the cows, but there are many other creatures wandering the streets.
Continue Reading