Running a business right now is hard. Running a small business with a give back mission? I don’t have a word to describe it. It’s like trying to run underwater against a current. We are fortunate to not be facing shipping delays (both inbound or outbound) like so many others are struggling with right now but mental exhaustion levels are high. This isn’t a cry for pity or help, but would you keep us in your kind thoughts this season and into the holidays? Our hearts are in this for you, for our makers, for our affiliates, and we want to make an impact on everyone who crosses our path. Some days that’s easy, others it’s not. This year has...
The Fair Trade movement is growing so we think it’s a great time to bust this myth: Fair Trade requires taking jobs from Americans and giving them to people in other countries.The REALITY? Fair Trade products originate from the culture and items in abundance in other countries. Our products highlight the unique creativity and resourcefulness in countries around the world without infringing on any jobs in the U.S. By shopping Fair Trade with us, you are supporting the poorest of the poor around the globe. It’s as if you’re holding the face of one of our Peruvian makers in your hands and saying directly into her eyes, “I see you, I value you, and I support you.”We do more than...
As restrictions are slowly lifting and our way of live is returning to normal, I’m sure you have a wish for wanderlust whether that be a weekend road trip near home or a month-long excursion across the globe. Our mission to bring opportunity to underserved communities leads us to remote villages that can provoke feelings of guilt for our own privilege. Although we practice budget travel ideals, we’re not blind to the fact that life in our country lends itself to opportunities not afforded to many.Our work is not done out of pity—in fact, the villages where we work at some of the most joyful places we’ve had the pleasure of visiting. The way of life in the homes of...
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...
