Wall Street Journal Says Fair Trade Fashion is Now a Trend

The WSJ ran a story on July 7, 2015, discussing the phenomenon of fair trade fashion products evolving into a growing trend. The article starts out: Two years after a garment-factory collapse in Bangladesh killed more than 1,100 people and put a harsh spotlight on fashion-industry working conditions, Fair Trade apparel is gaining ground. The article goes on to note that the volume of apparel and home goods has grown rapidly since 2012, and that certification nonprofits (that certify fair trade products) are being utilized at a fast pace by little known and well known brands.

In addition, fair trade enjoys a much better reputation among consumers as the marketing term “fair trade” has come to mean living wages, much better working conditions for the workers (and their rights) and vastly better environmental protections in the process of manufacturing fair trade home décor items, jewelry, fashion apparel and more.  Where in the past, the term “fair trade” may have conjured up images of your local health food store, it now has a chic and socially responsible vibe to it.

Take advantage of our vast fair trade, eco friendly offerings both new and on sale.

Shop our vast selection in purses, totes and even weekender bags, click here.

Coming soon, fantastic new gift sets, corporate gifts and customizable collections.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to like us on Facebook and recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Meet One of Our Fair Trade Artisans from Awamaki Labs, Peru

Working at over 4,000 meters (over 12,000 feet) at the Kelkanka cooperative in high mountain region Peru, Eustachia Huaman Zuniga is one of the hard-working and interesting artisans who craft our Ivy Hobo Bags in our purses and handbags collection. Eustachia is working for the fair trade, economic opportunity Awamaki Labs company. She is one of 19 women at the Kelkanka cooperative who produce very high quality wool textile items. Her place of work is a rugged two and half hour drive into the mountain region of Peru. Awamaki Labs is headquartered near the famous Machu Picchu U.N. World Heritage site.

Eustachia likes to volunteer for the harder wool crafting orders, and is known for her bubbly and warm personality. When asked what motivates her to work hard each day, she points to her heart and says mi corazon, my heart. She is a mother of six, and alongside of her textile crafting job she helps her husband in his seasonal farm work. She is the main provider for her family.

Below is a picture of Eustachia posing near her home.

Awamaki works with over 150 women and their families across five cooperatives, providing education and skill trainings, enabling them to transform their communities. Awamaki facilitates economic opportunities that give these artisans access to a broader market so they may sell their fair trade products.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

SFAC’s Sponsored Preschools in Bangladesh Loved by Kids, Moms

The two preschools in Cox’s Bazar on the Bay of Bengal coast of Bangladesh that SFAC helps fund are doing very well. The two schools, which are part of the Pebbles knitting centers, opened in February 2015 to great fanfare and anticipation. Seven months later, we’re proud to share this update.

Austin Miller is the Pebbles U.S distributor and he recently spoke to moms with children at the preschools. He reports:

I did speak with a lot of the moms and they were very thrilled to have a pre-school for their children. They see at as a big benefit of their work with Pebble. The concept of pre-school is relatively new in Bangladesh, especially in the rural areas. Kids that are going on to the standardized school system, from these preschools, are performing much better. This is preparing them for a much better future and is key for poverty prevention. Because there is a mass of children from one rural area who are being educated it is also instrumental for community building efforts.

Here are some quotes from the mothers:

"We are very glad our children have the unique opportunity to attend this type of school, where they can study while we work"

They are not only safe at the school but also learning lot of things from the school. Now they can write their own name in Bengali which they would typically not learn for another two years.

"Our kids are cheerful in the morning, reciting rhymes that they learned at school as soon as they wake up"

"Previously our children were disruptive and a bit unruly in the morning and we could not concentrate on our household work, but now they spend their time getting ready to go to school in the morning.

“In mountain areas like ours, we often worry about our children falling or getting accidentally injured, but now we know they are safe because they are in school."

Please enjoy the recent photos of the schools.

Visit our website to shop for the highest quality items available that range from jewelry, accessories, baby and kid products, travel cases, scarves and wraps, and more. Click here for a great summer collection of home décor.

If you’re looking for fair trade gift ideas for this summer, go here.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Some of the Fair Trade Lady Artisans from Acacia Creations

Acacia Creations is one of the many wonderful vendors we’re proud to work with in supplying the jewelry items we carry.  The AC jewelry are fair trade in that their artisan worker are paid a more-than-living wage from monies earned by sales through  online stores such as Shopping For A Change. They are also eco friendly, an important distinction in today’s world of almost all mainstream goods to cause damage to the environment in their manufacture.

The home of Acacia Creations is in Kenya, Africa, having been established since 2007. We have had a relationship with Acacia Creations since 2010, and we carry their beautiful Barefoot Trade Bracelet as part of our jewelry collection.

Below is a picture of 4 of the artists who craft by hand the Barefoot Trade Bracelet and many other jewelry pieces.

Visit our website to shop for the highest quality items available that range from jewelry, accessories, baby and kid products, travel cases, scarves and wraps, and more.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Fair Trade Fashion Markets Helping Women Around The Globe

Daily, women around the world are displaced by terrible tragedies in their lives and face a catastrophic loss of income, especially since many are the sole supporters for their families. Thousand are being afforded a new means in which to support their loved ones thanks to the ever growing world-wide fair trade market. Designers and companies around the world are now purposely employing indigenous, refugee and immigrant women (and men) through the fair trade crafting of jewelry, home décor, accessory and apparel items. Some of these businesses like ourselves based in the U.S., help to provide sustainable work for these artisans from economically disadvanted countries around the globe. The artisans often find their employment though artisan co-ops, and companies that practice fair trade principles providing opportunities for these talented individuals to work out of group locations such as workshops and small factories, while others provide them with the ability to work from home.

 

Visit our website to procure such exquisite items that range from jewelry, accessories, baby and kid products, and apparel to name a few. Now featuring in our Home Décor collection, reclaimed teak wood boards, bowls and utensils.  Each one of a kind in their beauty and marbled grain: teak cheese board with handle, teak flat bowl, teak rectangular bread and cheese board, and teak cheese set. A fabulous addition to your own home, and make great gifts too.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Bristol, England, Is Epicenter of International Fair Trade Conference

Europe has been a pioneer and leader in instituting eco green and fair trade principles and legislation as part of a greater goal of responsible international development. This extends from country to country, and from town to town. Bristol, England, is one of the foremost cities spearheading this movement. It is promoting Fair Trade for Sustainability as a major expression of its European Green Capital events being held in the city in the first week of July 2015.

A central feature of Bristol’s focus on fair trade and its international implications is the International Fair Trade Towns conference being held on July 4^th and 5^th. 300 delegates from 18 countries will be participating as speakers, running workshops or representing the interests of their countries. The intention is to provide insights and solutions toward fair trade in mainstream marketplaces, protecting the environment, sustainable food, climate change, fair trade gold and what are called Sustainable Development Goals.

Attention everyone, it’s not too late for us to ship for Father’s Day. If you need some ideas, look no further than SFAC's Men's Goods section. Or if you’re looking for gifts for all other occasions, be sure to check out our latest additions to the site(link to home page).

For the best discounts you’ll find on the internet for fair trade gifts, please go to our Summer Sale selections.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Wow. Special Offers of Brand New Items & Flash Sales. ChangeMakers!

We’re very excited to announce our new ChangeMakers! Shopping program—starting July 1.

ChangeMakers! is a twice a month shopping event at SFAC. It comes in two opportunities:

A. The first three days of each month (1st-3rd) shop BRAND NEW curated collections of exotic handcrafted, fair trade products only available by special order.

B. From the fifteenth through the eighteenth (15th-18th) of each month shop our exciting FLASH SALES for exclusive deals on in-stock, fair trade items. Great opportunity for quick savings.

This is something to look forward to in the fair trade shopping world, and we’d recommend having a note on your calendar to visit us for browsing the special items we’re sharing with you from the 1st to the 3^rd, and the Flash Sale items from the 15th to the 18th.

Remember ChangeMakers! And tell all your friends.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.