Ethical Fashion Blog

From Paper to Print : Behind the Design of the Spring '17 Collection
From Paper to Print : Behind the Design of the Spring '17 Collection
Hello! I’m Katelyn, one of the textile designers here at Mata Traders. With our Spring/Summer ‘17 collection off to such a great start, I thought it might be fun to give you all a glimpse behind the creation process of two of our most popular prints this season! Taking a sketch from the initial concept and developing it into one of a dozen finalized prints in a collection can be a labor of love, but it is always worth it in the long run. I love seeing my work on so many beautiful Mata customers!
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Mata Loves Moms
Mata Loves Moms
In honor of today being Take Your Daughter (or Child) to Work Day here in the U.S., and in anticipation of Mother's Day, we figured some of you might be wondering what it's like to be a working mom at one of our partner cooperatives. You're curious, right?
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10 WOMEN OF INDIA WHO CHANGED HISTORY
10 WOMEN OF INDIA WHO CHANGED HISTORY

Happy Women’s History Month! As March comes to an end, we want to recognize the skilled female artisans who craft many of Mata Traders’ pieces, as well as pay tribute to strong, inspirational women of India who’ve made their mark on history. Below is a compilation of just a few of the courageous women who have broken down barriers and changed their country for the better.

 

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SPRING BREAK STYLE
SPRING BREAK STYLE

Dust off your flips flops and grab the sunnies – your escape from winter doldrums has arrived. Meet Mata’s new Spring/Summer 2017 collection!

 

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WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN HONOR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN HONOR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Today is International Women’s Day, a day to acknowledge the perseverance and determination of women everywhere. What better way to celebrate than by supporting your local and nationwide women-owned businesses (luckily, Chicago is FULL of them)! We compiled a list of just some of the hundreds of thousands of women-owned businesses nationwide, so you know your money is going to a fellow female. Happy shopping/eating/spending!

 

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BEHIND THE SCENES: SPRING 2017 FASHION SHOOT
BEHIND THE SCENES: SPRING 2017 FASHION SHOOT
As we get ready to launch our Spring ’17 Collection (coming soon to stores and our website!), we’re excited to share a little sneak peek of the catalog photo shoot, which took place in September 2016. From the time we start designing a collection to when it hits stores takes more than a year, and the spring 2017 fashion shoot happens before the goods even go into production in India and Nepal!
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BEHIND THE SEAMS: A SPECIAL Q & A WITH KRISTIN
BEHIND THE SEAMS: A SPECIAL Q & A WITH KRISTIN
By now, you’re well aware that we specialize in unique prints and original designs – we create our own clothing and jewelry from start to finish. The prints come from us, patterns for the clothing are developed in-house, and we learn a lot with each collection we launch.
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OUR TEAM’S MATA HOLIDAY WISH LIST
OUR TEAM’S MATA HOLIDAY WISH LIST
While many of our wish lists have some wants (“needs,” really) from other amazing ethical companies, most of us started by looking right in our own backyard – on the Mata shelves! We have lots of favorites. Lots. We just picked a few that would make great gifts:
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MATA TEAM HOLIDAY WISH LISTS: KATIE
MATA TEAM HOLIDAY WISH LISTS: KATIE

Tis the season for peppermint mochas, stockings, and…holiday wish lists! Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing the Mata team’s dream gifts and must-haves this holiday season, so check back soon for more!

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LOOKS MADE FOR MINGLING
LOOKS MADE FOR MINGLING

Hi! I’m Mary, a college student interning at Mata Traders this fall, and I’m here to share some festive looks for the holiday season. It’s a season full of gatherings and good cheer, so I pulled together a few suggestions that will have you ready to mix and mingle.

 

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