Not to sound like a broken record, but you may have heard that I attended the Fair Trade Federation conference last month. In celebration of World Fair Trade Day coming up tomorrow, May 10, today I thought I’d share some of my favorite items from the conference expo. Consider them inspiration for purchasing a fair trade gift for yourself or a loved one to support World Fair Trade Day!
Necklace from Handmade Expressions
I walked by the Handmade Expressions table a number of times, probably bordering on stalking it. I loved their entire spread, but my eyes kept being drawn to the gold sequin necklace at the front. I’m envisioning it with a royal blue scoop-neck silk blouse… which I don’t actually have, but it would look good with shirts I do actually own as well.
Bags from Fibres of Life
The concept of these bags from Fibres of Life really intrigued me. The bags themselves are unadorned, and then you can purchase the embellishment you want, whether it’s an illustrated panel or felted flowers and leaves. The palette is consistent across the items so you can mix-and-match.
Zooties from Silk Road Bazaar
These are wool baby booties that look like animals! I don’t know what else needs to be said! Other than, “Where can I get these for my pregnant coworkers immediately?!” Felted and stuffed animals were definitely a popular product at the expo, but these Zooties from Silk Road Bazaar topped the cuteness chart. (Edit: Found out that these are available for retail purchase from Greenheart Shop and Uncommon Goods!)
Cuff bracelets from World Finds
I spent another stalkery few minutes hovering around the World Finds table, which was overrun with cute jewelry. These cuffs would be a great way to add some flair to a simple summer tank top or dress.
Bag from Manos Zapotecas
If I had a million dollars, I would buy all of the bags from Manos Zapotecas. They are definitely high-end, with handwoven textiles and leather accents, and many of their products are made-to-order as true works of art. For now, I will just gaze and think about the breezy weekend getaways I could pack for using such a gorgeous bag.
Purchasing an ethically-made item is a great way to support World Fair Trade Day and improve the livelihoods of artisans around the world. Hopefully this post served as good inspiration! Since most of the organizations listed above are wholesalers, it might be tricky to track down these specific products near you, but these items are great examples of the unique designs you can find at fair trade retailers. And if you don’t have any shopping needs this weekend, don’t fret—the Fair Trade Federation has suggestions for other ways to support World Fair Trade Day.
What’s your favorite item in the list above? Can you even handle how cute the Zooties are?
No, I cannot handle how cute the zooties are! (Know that my phone kept trying to autocorrect that to “zloties,” whatever that is.)
Hey, thanks for the mention! We sell direct to customers, so no wholeseller access for our site. Just stop on by. :) greenheartshop.org