Updates from the Amazon!

In early January of this year, SFAC collaborated with the Faire Collection (formerly the Andean Collection), and put half of the net proceeds from our 2013 sales to good use.  After working together for months, a plan was made and in the middle of May, our program began.  The Ecuadorian artisan groups of Nueva Esperanza, San Pedro, and San Francisco excitedly completed 16 hours of workshops, with a total of 22 families participating.  Each family was able to learn, both in the classroom and the soil, proper building and planting techniques, and the importance of a balanced diet, with the goal of owning their own healthy, sustainable farms.  With a little help, these people who are part of the Kichwa Tribe in the Ecuadorian Amazon are overcoming malnourishment, one lesson at a time.

Families learn the principles of permaculture and discuss the importance of a balanced diet, with emphasis on fruits and vegetables.

Women receive practical, hands-on experience in soil quality testing, soil composition, and setting up garden beds for proper drainage and pest control.

Families take notes on the valuable information they received, ready to implement it into their daily lives.

Shopping for a Change® Partners with Pebble to Build New Preschools in Bangladesh

Part of Shopping for a Change’s mission is to fund community improvement projects throughout the world in our artisans’ communities with a focus on clean water, health-care and education. When you shop with us, your purchases this year will support two new preschools for artisan families working with our partner, Pebble Child. Pebble provides work for  6,800 disadvantaged women throughout 65 rural places throughout Bangladesh. Forty children, ages 3-6 whose mother’s handcraft Pebble’s adorable handknit toys and apparel, will be chosen to attend these two new schools in Sirajgonj and Mouliribazar, free of charge.

Primary school in Bangladesh begins for boys and girls when they are around six years old.The ability to attend one of our new preschools will help these bright young minds get a jump start on their ABCs and numbers, putting them ahead of their peers when they begin primary school. The preschools will be on site of where the mothers will be working, alleviating pressure for mothers who want to care of their children and also do a good job at work. At other workshop locations which already have preschools, the mothers’ income has grown because of the greater focus they mothers wield knowing their children are safe.

Your purchases at Shopping for a Change are invaluable because half of the net proceeds from sales during 2014 will fund this project. When you shop with us you provide employment to the artisans, will help fund these new preschools and will support the U.S. based nonprofit organization of your choice. Go Shopping for a Change.

5 Powerful Reasons for Fair Trade Clothing/Accessories

For our Shopping for a Change friends, here are 5 quick talking points on how fair trade is the powerful purchasing and ethical model to continue following.

1. Fair Trade helps farmers and workers earn a living by allocating more of your money to where it’s most needed.
2. Fair Trade supports women through equal pay and equal rights while providing healthcare and business opportunities.
3. Environmental Fair Trade standards are strict; farmers must set targets and track progress in reducing water, waste and energy usage.
4. Fair trade offers a supportive work environment where employees are fairly compensated, creating a high satisfaction and low turnover rate.
5. Fair trade certified products are readily available online and in stores near you.

Shopping for a Change offers exquisite, environmentally friendly accessories.  This summer, shop our handmade, special occasion items for you or someone you love. SFAC fair trade artisans specialize in the use of natural, sustainable materials.  You will find gorgeous one-of-a-kind purses, scarves and belts crafted from the finest alpaca, cashmere, linen, cotton, and wool. Artisans employ a variety of techniques from knitting, to leather & metal smithing–making your purchase unique. Vintage fabrics, netting and pop-tops are among the recycled materials used in our original collections. At Shopping for a Change, you can feel good about your accessory purchase without sacrificing beauty or ethics.

Independence Day Takes On New Meaning For Me

So many people are suffering around the world today.  They lack many of the things that we often take for granted: a hot shower and clean water to drink, a bounty of food at our holiday BBQs, time off from schools where even the girls receive an education, and SO importantly the freedom we have here in the United States. Though people in the US often like to find things wrong with our government, our communities or their lives, we are truly blessed to have the FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE that others lack in many countries around the world. Let’s truly CELEBRATE what we are blessed to have this holiday weekend, and wish/hope/pray that others who are without may someday, sooner rather than later, experience the same. May you have a safe and enjoyable 4^th of July weekend!

~Stacey, founder of Shopping for a Change®

Youngsters and Youth Driving Fair Trade Philosophy into US Schools

Vivienne Harr, by age 10, had sold over $100,000 worth of lemonade with the aim of ending child slavery. Vivianne's efforts soon manifested a full-fledged business with Make a Stand Lemon-Aid.  Her business specialized in selling Fair Trade Certified beverages to the masses. During that year, Media Elementary School in Pennsylvania bridged the gap between people harvesting our chocolate and the children who consume it, inviting cocoa farmers from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana to address a school assembly regarding the impact of Fair Trade on their lives and communities.

Both of these stories capitalize on fair trade and youth. Young people, under the age of 20, have greatly impacted the Fair Trade movement.  But, as of yet, there has never really been a platform for them to collectively organize around Fair Trade. All of that changed when Emma Willard High School of Troy, New York opted to go Fair Trade in 2010.  The high school utilized the existing Fair Trade Towns and Universities--now Fair Trade Campaigns--model. Soon after, four other schools followed suit. And from there, the Fair Trade Schools campaign was born in early 2014.

Shopping for a Change offers stunning handmade gifts for women.  Choose from over 175 beautifully crafted products in 11 collections. Our curated collections are stylish and made with you in mind. Our fair trade gifts for women feature products that are superbly crafted by worldwide artisans--mostly women.  Our artisans develop designs which capitalize on their unique heritage, historical artistry and handmade manufacturing skills. Shopping for a Change is the socially conscious way to feel good about your purchase and give back to fair trade artisan communities. Our aim to to bring you the highest quality items to choose from--from jewelry, wraps, scarves, belts and handbags to kitchenware and decorative living accent pieces.

Shop Now>

Fair Trade Established in Missouri, Too

We are glad to report that fair trade products are being represented in nearly all U.S. states through stores established even in more rural areas. Even stores in the rural southeast area of Missouri offer a variety of fair trade organic coffee, hand-crafted clothing, bags, journals, pottery, baskets and a plethora of jewelry. People of the town of Cape Girardeau have commented that having fair trade available online has added culture to the town and is good to help others who are living in poverty. The townspeople who are shopping fair trade feel that they are empowering fair trade artisan communities abroad.

Just in time for summer, Shopping for a Change offers gorgeous, handmade purses and accessories.  Shop our unique collection of handbags and totes along with stunning jewelry, belts and wraps.  Our marketplace showcases items from talented artisans in many Asian, African and South American countries. Rich in ethnic traditions and contemporary styling, all products are manufactured with natural and sustainable materials, including alpaca, cashmere, cotton, and wool.  Look good and feel good about your purchase at Shopping for a Change.

Shop today>

Tribal Trend in Fair Trade Jewelry

Lianne Ludlow, director of ethical fashion site Fashion-conscience.com, says "Fashion is looking to indigenous tribes for trend inspiration. Every season you see global influences in fashion from Africa to Peru and beyond on the catwalks, and always in jewelry."  Tribal is a trend that celebrities and fashion editors alike have embraced--from Olivia Palermo at Paris Fashion Week to Jessica Alba at the CFDA Fashion Awards 2011--with the result that it' coming to a store near you. "every year the tribal look returns. People now have the confidence to wear large statement pieces which look stunning with the ever changing fashion," says Caroline Rutter, editor of style website of PrettyCool.com. You no longer have to go to Africa to purchase a one-of-a-kind piece of tribal jewelry.

Shopping for a Change offers exclusive, hand-crafted tribal jewelry.  From bracelets to necklaces, add a splash of color to any summer outfit.  Our handcrafted jewelry makes a statement, coupling modern looks with tribal style and artistry. SFAC artisans use recycled and indigenous materials, including brass, copper, sterling silver, reclaimed wood, fabric, paper, glass, grasses, horn, leather, nuts and seeds. Support fair trade with your unique purchase today.