If you’ve fished around our site at all lately, you’ve noticed – we have a new look! Our old website had been up since 2007 so we were well overdue for an upgrade. Imagine our delight when we found just the person for the job – Jess from June Letters Studio. Her designs are clean and refreshing, and her hand lettering is to die for. We knew in an instant that she was the perfect person to handle the new Mata look moving forward.
Ethical Fashion Blog
Need a last minute outfit for the holidays? We’ve compiled a collection of ethical and fair trade products that wil...
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Exciting news! The Mata Dressember team has already reached their fundraising goal of $1,000! Thank you so much to all those who have donated – your support will help fight slavery and human trafficking throughout the world. You can still donate to Mata’s Dressember team through the end of the month, and be part of a movement that has already collectively raised over $400,000 in the first two weeks of December!
What are you planning to wear this holiday season? A few of our employees have already picked a theme for this month: Dresses! Why? Because we’re participating in the annual Dressember event, hosted by the Dressember Foundation, to bring an end to modern day slavery and human trafficking. By committing to wear a dress everyday in December, and encouraging friends and family to donate, our employees will help raise money to assist victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and violence. In 2014, Dressember raised over $465,000, and we’re excited to see how much is raised this year!
You’ve got a conundrum. It’s that time of year to start your holiday shopping, and we’re certain there’s one thing you’re probably not looking forward to. It’s not the crowds or anxiously waiting for sales.
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Our newest video, just in time to cap off Fair Trade Month! Meet more of the women who make Mata Traders’ garments and hear from them directly to learn how your purchase makes a difference in their lives. Please excuse my less-than-stellar videography skills. Special thanks to Rick Romanowski for editing the footage and the Andreas Kapsalis Trio for the musical accompaniment.
If you read our blog regularly, you know that one of the perks of being a member of a fair trade cooperative is the opportunity to take classes and attend workshops. One of our artisan cooperatives recently updated us on what they’ve been doing– they’ve been celebrating and learning quite a bit!A
India is the kind of place where a Mercedes Benz will pull up next to an ox cart at a stop light, and a man in an ...
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It’s that time of year again – the long days and warm nights turn into brisk days and chilly evenings. Throw on your favorite cardigan and grab your books. It’s back to school time.
The beginning of fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Though I’m sad that summer (and my internship with Mata Traders) has come to an end, I can’t help but be excited for the crisp air and for feelings of a fresh start to settle in – it’s a new school year for me! Fall wardrobes are an especially big part of my love for this season. I’m a practical girl, and there is so much that can be done with a fall dress with the help of layering and accessorizing. Take a look at these Mata dresses that can easily go from a casual day look in the classroom or workplace to a more sophisticated nighttime look for, you know, dates and things.
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If you know the story of Mata, you know that us Mata folk love to travel. We love it a lot, and I personally try to take advantage of every opportunity I have to go out into the world to explore. I’m the kind of person who will drop everything and move to Mexico for a year (to teach English) or embark on a round-the-world adventure with 2 friends (that’s how Mata started).
If you’ve ever read up on how Mata Traders was started, you know we have a giant soft spot for travel. Giant.
Did you know that today is World Elephant Day?! An estimated 100 African elephants are killed daily by poachers seeking ivory and meat. Today, people all over the world are coming together to protect and celebrate elephants, the largest land animals on the Earth. I love this cute photo of a Mama elephant with her baby:
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I am an intern here at Mata Traders for the summer and despite the cold weather drifting in, this summer has been great! I started here at the beginning of June and have loved it so much. As a college student finding what to do over the summer is always a daunting task. This year I was torn between if I should find a summer job and work to save up for studying abroad or if I should find an internship to continue pursuing what I love. Somehow I must’ve run into a bit of luck because I found two opportunities that allowed me to do both! When I am not here interning at Mata Traders, I am at a hidden gem: The Chicago Botanic Gardens.
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