If you were feeling priced out of the Fair Trade marketplace prior to Covid, you might be hesitant to consider sustainable alternatives to mainstream market commodities now that our economy has started to rebound. The fashion industry has been broken for some time, but now coupled with supply backlogs from the Suez Canal blockage, welfare concerns of workers in Covid-ravaged communities, and a smaller supply chain than 16 months prior, prices continue to climb on many of our shopping staples.As our local communities are rebuilding, so are those of hard working people in small villages and bustling towns in the developing countries where our makers live. The effects of Covid will continue shaping their lives for months, and perhaps years,...

Our mission is built on relationships. Getting to know our makers is one of the true joys of the work we do. As we’ve played a role in helping women rewrite their futures by providing sustainable and safe job opportunities, we’ve grown close to their families, neighborhoods, and communities. Prior to 2020 we regularly visited our makers in their towns and homes, but when that came to a dramatic halt due to the pandemic, we spent time reflecting on the good times we were missing.Our visits went far beyond collaborating on new designs. We sit down for meals together to create connections. We learn more about their community and meet their neighbors. We share stories and learn what inspires each...

It can be hard to find the good when our way of life has been turned upside-down. Many of the Covid struggles we’ve seen here at home are amplified in countries where people live with less. Less opportunities to work from home, less medical staff and vaccines, less access to sanitation, and less reliable food structure only begins to scratch the surface.We wanted to share an update from our makers in India on how they are coping.The rates of Covid infection continue to rise dramatically and less than 1% of the total population (of over 1.36 billion people) have been able to receive the vaccine. The vaccine is being offered in government hospitals at no cost, but the long waiting...

Did you know the average American has a closet with five times more clothing when compared to 20 years ago? Despite the fact that you may only be reaching for leggings during Covid, the size of wardrobes has been made possible, in part, due to the fast fashion industry. Low priced and low quality garments can be tough to pass up.Because of these trends, the fashion industry has grown to become the second largest polluting industry around the globe and the effects it can cause to our environment can be more destructive than you may realize. In certain countries you’ll find workers (many of whom are women) in modern-day slavery conditions being forced to work up to 96 hours per...

We’ve seen gorgeous handcrafted leather bags retail for $500 or more from Fair Trade boutiques and traditional manufacturers alike. Maybe that’s your aesthetic, maybe it’s not. Speaking from experience, if I paid $500 for a bag I’m guaranteed to lose it immediately so I like going for the more economic options. But if I need to treat myself, I know that expensive option is there. The more reasonably priced option at $30 or $50 would serve the same functional purpose and are usually more my style anyways.The Fair Trade market is filled with the same range of choices from more budget-friendly pieces to splurge-worthy styles. Fair Trade isn’t necessarily more expensive and that’s something we’re so proud to play a...