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.

Father’s Day Shopping—Fab Fair Trade Gifts for the Special Father

The ultimate holiday for Men as Fathers is coming up in 2015 on Sunday, June 21st. And as a special bonus, June 21st is also the summer solstice—with summer beginning on that day at 12:38 in the morning EDT and it is the longest day of the year, as in more daylight for fun times. What a glorious, long, summer day to celebrate our Fathers, Dads, Papas, Papis. The holiday was established to celebrate the deep, forming, bonding contribution fathers and father figures make in the lives of children.

So, you have time to shop for dad and find that perfect gift that tells him you think he’s the best father in the world and you love him for it. And you and he can feel good that these items are fair trade, socially conscious, eco friendly and contribute to an equitable economy. They’re also all handmade by caring artisans.

We’ve recently created a new catchall category on the Shopping for a Change site called Men’s Goods. Here, you’ll find everything from cuff links to computer cases to wallets to bracelets, shirts and travel weekender bags. And quite a few are now on sale too. Check ‘em out for dad.

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.

Mother’s Day Shopping—Great Gifts, Great Discounts Too

Mother’s Day is coming up—one of our most important (if not most important) days of remembrance and loving celebration. And now is the time to shop for fair trade eco friendly gifts that will delight your mother and truly remind her of your love and gratitude. 

Undoubtedly, she’ll feel good that she’s contributing to the socially conscious economics of paying artisans fairly (most of them are mothers too!) and using items that are not damaging to the local environment and ecology. That’s a perfect gift, even for Mother Earth.

All made by hand, we have oodles of options to choose from: purses and totes, accessories, jewelry, home décor, shawls and wraps, even baby clothes and toys for the new mother, and more. Click here to see our collections.

For the best discounts you’ll find on the Internet for fair trade gifts, please go to our Spring 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.

Celebrate With Us World Fair Trade Day 2015, May 9

Annually, the second Saturday of May is World Fair Trade Day, which this year falls on May 9th. Come join us online for some celebratory shopping at Shopping for a Change.

This day is celebrated by special events and festivals, many in the U.S., and held in dozens of countries around the globe. Founded in 2001 by the World Fair Trade Organization, it is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty and exploitation, climate change and the economic crisis that has the greatest impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations. During the past fourteen years, fair trade has come so very far. It has affected our relationship to how food and manufactured goods are produced, marketed and their gain in market share. Today, millions across nearly two hundred countries are deeply involved in fair trade as producers, artisans, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce, policy makers, support organizations and volunteers.

Hop online and see…there may be a World Fair Trade Day event in your area.

Speaking of upcoming events, for the ideal accessory to have in tow at farmers’ markets, street fairs, shopping of all kinds, and yes, even work, check out our newest collection of fun and fashionable tote bags. Each one is fair trade, eco friendly, and handmade by our talented artisans. Indigo blue is a hot color palette this season…perfect for the summer months, and you can find it here.

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

The First World Fair Trade Fair Coming Up May 28-31, 2015, Italy

Book your tickets to Milan, Italy. The first ever World Fair Trade Fair (nice use of double “fairs”) is being held in Milan from May 28 -31 next month. It is another very significant and exciting milestone in the evolution of fair trade manufactured products (clothing, accessories, jewelry, home décor, etc). Milan, as you know, is one of the fashion and shopping capitals of the world. The Fair Trade Fair is being held at the Fabbrica del Vapore on Via Procaccini, and is part of the Milan Fair City celebration taking place to commemorate the 2015 World Fair Trade Week.

 The Fair will feature 200 exhibitors from all compass points of the planet. There will be food and craft products, special exhibits of Italian fair trade, and further display presentations on international cooperation and economic solidarity. Alongside hobnobbing with prominent fair trade vendors, and opportunities to buy, there will be hands-on workshops.

While you’re thinking of fair trade and eco friendly products, please check out our fabulous fair trade accessories page featuring so many gorgeous, handmade items. If you can’t make it to Milan, you might as well shop locally with us.

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