Chicagoland has always had a special place in my heart. I grew up in the suburbs until we moved downstate when I was 10. My sister still lives there, so my family gathers there a few times a year for holidays. And at just over three hours from my home in Indianapolis, it’s so close that it feels like my bustling, skyscrapery neighbor. Chicago also has one more thing that I love: an active and vibrant fair trade scene.
Our friends at Lucuma Designs posted a link to a great article about fair trade retailers in Chicago. We’ve already written about some of the retailers on this site, including Mata Traders and Greenheart, and the article lists several more worth checking out. (Most have online stores as well, so I recommend reading the article whether you are in the Midwest or far afield.)
In addition to having multiple fair trade retail stores, fair trade enthusiasts and organizations in the Windy City can join Chicago Fair Trade, a group that works to promote the local fair trade movement. Chicago has the status of “fair trade city” through Fair Trade Towns, making it the largest fair trade city in North America and the second-largest in the world after London.
Basically, Chicago has it going on when it comes to ethical shopping opportunities. Indianapolis has a long way to go to catch up, but it’s great to have such a strong example of what’s possible so close by. How does your city compare? And does anyone else feel like a road trip?