Site Updates

Our new addition to the Fairly Friendly list this week is Bridge for Africa, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing fair markets for the art and crafts of Africa. Their main products are baskets and jewelry, with some additional home décor items and accessories as well.

I love their colorful baskets made from upcycled telephone wire. Perfect for adding a pop of color to a room, and the durable material is washable, too.

Most of the jewelry created by Bridge for Africa artisans is made of beads and wire. I particularly like their series of beaded geometric bangles.

Bridge for Africa also offers a variety of bags, some delicate and beaded, and some in bold, bright fabrics like the tote above.

Bridge for Africa is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and is a Green America Approved Business. (Learn more about different ethical certifications.)

View their full Fairly Friendly listing, or visit the Bridge for Africa website.

Ten Thousand Villages has roots in the fair trade movement reaching back to 1946. A founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization, they are one of the most established names in fair trade. They offer a huge variety of ethically-made products, primarily in the home décor and jewelry categories.

Unfortunately their website fails to make mention of some of our key criteria, including safe working conditions and child labor, so we are unable to list them on our main guide. See their Fairly Friendly listing here.

Here are some of the unique products that Ten Thousand Villages offers:

Ten Thousand Villages has been partnered with Indian artisan group Tara Projects, the makers of this gorgeous Silver Spheres Necklace, since 1986.

Ten Thousand Villages carries many home items that are hard to find ethically, including picture frames and lamps. This eye-catching Copper Silk Table Lamp is made by the Craft Link group in Vietnam, a partner of Ten Thousand Villages since 2000.

Can you say excellent wedding gift? These Embossed Silver-Plated Goblets are begging to be part of a matrimonial situation. Ten Thousand Villages offers a wide selection of goblets, oddly enough, from simple glass to onyx to silver-plated.

Ten Thousand Villages has an online store, and there’s also a good chance they have a physical store near you. Their products are also sold in over 300 partner stores.

People Tree is one of  the best-known brands in the realm of ethical consumerism. Based in London, People Tree has been selling fair trade fashion since 2001, gaining mainstream recognition as a leader in both design and ethics. We’re excited to include them in our guide—see their full entry. (See the standards we require each store in our guide to meet.)

People Tree offers a wide variety of products for women and a decent selection for men. Many styles are classic and vintage-inspired, with some more modern and quirky items available as well. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Francesca Bow Dress is made fairly in India out of 100% organic cotton. And how cute is that bicycle print?

The Jasmine Twist top strikes a great balance between simple and statement. 100% organic cotton, made fairly in India.

These Triangle Earrings are made in Kenya by individuals with disabilities, empowering them to gain skills and contribute to their communities.

The Elvin Weave cardigan is my favorite People Tree sweater for men. Chunky knit, foldover collar, dark gray color… I can only imagine the coziness this sweater must impart to its wearer. 100% wool, made fairly in Nepal.

My only problem with People Tree is that they’re all the way over in Europe. They do offer international shipping, but all of the prices on their website are in GBP, including shipping rates. For prices in USD and a free shipping option (and free returns!), check out the selection of People Tree products on ASOS.

Note: The selection on ASOS is slightly different and more limited than the selection on the official People Tree website. They do have some killer pieces though, such as this stunning red dress.

Did you miss our last post? See it here: Shopping Ethically for Hard-to-Find Items: A Quilt Story

When you’re trying to shop ethically, one of the most frustrating things can be looking for a specific, hard-to-find item, especially one that also fits your personal style. I faced this struggle last fall when I wanted a new bedspread for my room. I looked for ethically-made quilts, comforters, and blankets without success. I found some options, mostly handmade country-style quilts or plain white organic comforters, but nothing that matched the rest of the décor I already had in my bedroom.

Then I discovered Fair Trade Quilts and Crafts, which we have just added to our Fairly Friendly list (entry). Fair Trade Quilts has a wide variety of gorgeous embroidered and embellished bedspreads from Guatemala and India. They also offer pillowcases, wall hangings, and some accessories. My bedroom has always had an eclectic, international vibe to it, and one of the Guatemalan quilts fit in perfectly.

My bed is a double, but I got a queen-sized quilt to allow me to continue using it even if I upgrade my mattress. The larger size also ensured it covered my existing comforter, which erased any concerns I had about the new quilt not being warm enough. (The embroidered surface is heavy but the quilt doesn’t have any internal padding.) At around $200, I feel like it was a steal for how detailed it is.

I’m thrilled with my purchase, and happy to have supported Fair Trade Quilts and Crafts. They are Fair Trade Federation members and pay artisans at least 50% more than they would receive in their local market. Since my purchase I have been receiving their excellent e-newsletter that thoroughly covers recent happenings in the fair trade movement.

Not all quests for ethical products end this way. (Don’t get me started on my mission to find fair trade curtains that actually block sunlight…) But we hope we can help you find more of what you need using our Guide and Fairly Friendly list.

Do you have an ethical-shopping success story? What about something you haven’t been able to find yet?

We’re continuing to catch up on posting stores to our Fairly Friendly list. The two we added today both utilize natural and organic fibers in their clothing.

Indigenous

Indigenous uses a variety of natural fibers including alpaca, merino wool, silk, and organic cotton. Their products are upscale classics including sweaters, dresses, skirts, and tops—they even carry sweaters, zip-ups, and shirts for men. Check out their sale page for serious savings on slightly older designs.

Visit site | Read detailed entry

 

Maggie’s Organics

Maggie’s has been committed to sustainable and ethical apparel since 1992. They recently participated in a pilot program for fair trade certification of apparel by Fair Trade USA, and they use organic fibers in all of their products. They offer mostly loungewear and legwear for women, with some items for men. Their extensive line of socks is made in the USA. A great source for organic and ethically-made tights and leggings.

Visit site | Read detailed entry

We have just added two new entries to our Fairly Friendly list: Equal Exchange and Greenheart. If you are unfamiliar with our Fairly Friendly list, it differs from our main guide in that the Fairly Friendly list consists of retailers that adhere to most, but not all, of our principles. These stores’ hearts appear to be in the right place, but until they are more transparent about their specific practices, we cannot include them in our main guide just yet.

That being said, both of our new additions are well-known in the world of ethical consumerism and fair trade. We encourage you to check out their detailed descriptions and visit their websites to see if their practices align with your values.

Equal Exchange

Equal Exchange is best known for their coffee and chocolate products, as well as their promotion of the small farmer co-op business model. They’ve been on the fair trade scene since the 1980s and work to bring new fair trade products to market, such as bananas and almonds. You can find their products in many natural food stores, fair trade shops, or at their online store.

Visit site | Read detailed entry

Greenheart

Greenheart sells a huge variety of products from women’s clothing to home items to eco-friendly toys. This non-profit operation has a physical location in downtown Chicago in addition to its online store.

Visit site | Read detailed entry