I’ve always been a big fan of TOMS shoes, as I’m sure many of you are. That’s why I was so excited when I heard they just launched a brand-new bag collection! From bright purses to striped travel bags to free-spirited backpacks, there’s something for everyone in the bunch.

The travel bug always hits me hard in the Spring, so it’s not easy to resist shopping online for new fun ways to cart my stuff around airports (and hopefully on to sandy beaches!)

(via)

The best part about the collection is, of course, the lives it changes. This is why I love TOMS and it’s great to see them getting even more creative with their giving! When you purchase a bag from the new collection, you’re helping to support a safe birth and delivery for mothers and babies across the world. From the TOMS Website:

Safe Births

Infection is a leading cause of death for mothers and newborns worldwide. By providing clean birth conditions and skilled attendants, nearly half a million of lives can be saved. TOMS Bags purchases support our Giving Partners in delivering the vital materials and training needed to help provide a safer birth, regardless of the facility.

(Source: UNFPA & Every Newborn Action Plan, 2014)

What your purchase supports:

1. Delivery of safe birth kits
2. Training for skilled birth attendants
3. Healthy delivery for new born baby and mom

With the training and proper materials to provide a safe delivery, mothers are up to 80% less likely to develop an infection and almost half of newborn deaths can be prevented. (Source: UNFPA, 2015)

It’s wonderful to see a huge company like TOMS highlighting the simple fixes that can be made to make birthing conditions safer around the world. So often, I know I personally take healthcare for granted and wish everyone could say the same.

Let’s get a glimpse of the gorgeous designs!

Saffron Ikat Travel Duffel

Chili Chevron Canvas Reef Drawstring

Natural Chevron Straw Islander Tote

Are you excited about the new TOMS collection? You can check out the rest of the bags here!

XO,

Casey

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Even though the fair trade movement has gained so much steam over the past few years, it’s still been a little difficult to find fun, fashionable fair trade clothing items. They haven’t seemed to be as plentiful as fair trade jewelry and accessories. But happily, that is no longer the case—introducing our brand new collaboration with ethical clothing company Passion Lilie!

We will begin carrying items from this fair trade, high-quality clothing line this month. From the ladies at Passion Lilie themselves:

Passion Lilie began with a desire to change the fashion industry, so that ethical fashion is affordable and accessible for everyone. We are a New Orleans based women’s fair trade clothing line that gives individuals, mainly women, in remote villages a unique opportunity to live a dignified life.

Mission: 

Our mission is to empower artisans across the world by creating dignified employment opportunities that give fair wages and safe and healthy working conditions. We believe that these positive job opportunities lead to sustainable societies and a better world. 

By purchasing fair trade garments, you are helping to reverse the cycle of poverty and to improve the world you live in. And the best part is that neither Passion Lilie nor our artisans are asking for a penny of your charity. We just want you to make a conscious purchase when you go to buy your next outfit.

Our product is for those who want to make a global impact while looking fashionable!

We are committed to:

Not only does the company have a wonderful mission and focus, but the designs and patterns of their items are whimsical and beautiful. Check out a few of my favorite pieces below:

That’s the Bahia Dress, Fleur de Lis Scarf in White, and Breton Shirt in Blue. Aren’t they perfect for Spring?

You can purchase the full line of products from our Website here, but before you go on a buying spree, why not try to win your fave item? Over the course of this month, Seven Hopes is doing a Pin It to Win It contest with our Passion Lilie products, and you’re invited!

During the entire month of February, pin on Pinterest as many Passion Lilie products from 7 Hopes as you would like with the hashtags #7hopesunited, #pinittowinit, and #ethicalfashion. We will choose one winner on March 1st, 2015, to receive the Passion Lilie product of their choice!

Are you excited about our new collaboration? Good luck pinning!

XO,

Casey

The post Passion Lilie Collaboration {Fair Trade Clothing!} appeared first on All That's Fair..

If every American made just ONE Fair Trade purchase a year, it would lift ONE MILLION families out of poverty.

That really makes you think, doesn’t it? We hear the words “fair trade,” “ethical shopping,” and “social responsibility” a lot these days. But sometimes what they actually mean gets lost in the shuffle. Here’s a breakdown to help:

Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to create greater equity and partnership in the international trading system by:

•Creating opportunities for economically and socially marginalized producers: Fair Trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation & sustainable development.

•Developing transparent and accountable working relationships: Fair Trade involves relationships that are open, fair, consistent & respectful.

•Building long-term trade relationships: Fair Trade is a means to develop producers’ independence.

•Paying a fair and living wage in the local context: Fair Trade empowers producers to set prices within the framework of the true costs of labor time, materials, sustainable growth & related factors.

•Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context: Fair Trade means a safe & healthy working environment free of forced labor.

•Ensuring the rights of children: Fair Trade means that all children have the right to security, education & play.

•Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices: Fair Trade seeks to offer current generations the ability to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

•Respecting cultural identity: Fair Trade celebrates the cultural diversity of communities, while seeking to create positive & equitable change.

•Promoting the principles of Fair Trade: Fair Trade encourages an understanding by all participants of their role in world trade.

What does fair trade mean?

The word “fair” can mean a lot of different things to different people. Fair Trade is about more than just paying a fair wage, it is based on trading partnerships that give reciprocal benefits and mutual respect. Wages paid to producers reflect the work they do, workers rights are upheld, and healthy and safe working conditions are enforced.

By approaching global trade as a relationship that has the ability to create change, Fair Trade offers exploited producers dignity, respect, and a means to a fair wage. Beyond providing a living wage to marginalized producers, revenues from fair trade cooperatives are invested in global communities to support development projects like clean water wells and clinics that are able to provide health care for thousands of families.

Fair Trade uses an ethical system of exchange to empower producers to create sustainable and positive change for their families. When we as consumers choose fair trade products over products produced in a market where workers are often exploited and left without resources to provides for their families, we are choosing to shop for change! When we choose products from Fair Trade Organizations, we can be assured that children’s school fees are paid; nutritional needs met; health care costs are covered; the poor – especially women – are empowered; the environmental impact of production, sourcing, and transport is mitigated to the fullest extent possible; and, so much more.

What are fair trade products?

Consumers can choose from a myriad of products, including fair trade jewelry, crafts, home decor, housewares, handbags, personal accessories, clothing, toys, and more. Fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate are also widely available, if not, ask your local grocer to carry fair trade certified products.

Do fair trade goods cost more than comparable non-fair trade goods?

Generally, fair trade goods do not cost more than other goods, because fair trade organizations work directly with producers – cutting out middlemen who raise the price along the way according to traditional trading practices. In the fair trade market, the cost to consumers typically remains the same while a higher percentage of the price is returned to the artisans who make each product.

Does fair trade make a difference?

In producer communities, schools are built, wells constructed, children attend school, and other signs clearly indicate that the income generated by fair trade sales positively resonates in a community. In intangible ways, one can note the impact of fair trade, as well. Cultural techniques are revived; women become valued members of their societies; alternative production methods preserve biodiversity; small and medium sized enterprises in the developing world increase their capacity. Through this and other evidence we know that lives have been positively changed, because of fair trade.

What can you do to support fair trade?

Shop fair trade, learn more, and spread the word. Individuals can support fair trade by educating their friends and family about the fair trade options available, by buying fair trade gifts, bringing fair trade products into their home, office, church, school or other group, by asking local stores to carry fair trade products, and much more.

Since 2000, fair trade sales and consumer awareness have increased tremendously, as the range of fair trade products have also expanded. In 2002, the first World Fair Trade Day was celebrated to heighten consumer awareness and to strengthen connections among fair traders and ethical consumers around the globe. In 2009, the Fair Trade Foundation reported that total fair trade sales passed $1.1 billion in the US alone.

While this is wonderful news, and we continue to see growth for US sales of fair trade, so much more needs to be done.

•According to the World Bank, an estimated 2.7 billion people in the world exist on less than $2/day.

•According to a 2000 US State Department report, 15,000 children aged 9 to 12, in the Ivory Coast alone, have been sold into forced labor on conventional cotton, coffee, and cocoa plantations.

•In addition, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture reported 284,000 children in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon are working in hazardous tasks on conventional cocoa farms.

There are over 7.5 million individuals directly benefiting from Fair Trade production today, and we as consumers need to provide a voice for thousands of others that need our help. Please help us empower and protect marginalized producers around the globe by becoming a globally conscious shopper.

If every American made just ONE fair trade purchase a year, it would lift ONE million families out of poverty. It is because of the efforts of entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, and people like you that we are able to make a difference. By choosing fair trade products, you are not only accessing beautiful handmade goods, you are making a difference in the lives of the people who grow and craft each product. Shop fair. Give Fair.

Fair Trade Links

For more information about Fair Trade and the principles we adhere to, please visit the following websites:

Fair Trade Federation
The Fair Trade Federation is the trade association that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to Fair Trade.

Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade USA, formerly Transfair USA, is one of twenty members of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, and the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. Fair Trade USA audits and certifies transactions between US companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods are paid fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions, protect the environment and receive community development funds to empower and uplift their communities.

Fair Trade Resource Network
Fair Trade Resource Network is an information hub designed to grow the fair trade movement.
Other fair trade friends, supporters and resources:

Green America
Green America is a national nonprofit consumer organization, promoting environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic justice through marketplace strategies including green living, responsible shopping, fair trade, green business, corporate social responsibility, and socially responsible investing — for consumers, businesses, workers, investors, and everyone.

TreeHugger
Partial to a modern aesthetic, it shares sustainable design, green news and solutions.

Mother Nature Network
MNN is the leading resource for daily environmental news, green commentary and simple steps to save money, stay healthy, and support the planet.

Global Exchange
Shows actions and how to accomplish change on such far ranging issues as curtailing sweatshop practices to improving the environment.

I hope this helps shed a little light on the fair trade movement and what it means for us!

XO,

Casey

The post Why Fair Trade? appeared first on All That's Fair..

Mother’s Day

This weekend marks two special dates, World Fair Trade Day (May 10, 2014) & Mother’s Day! I love that these dates fall on the same weekend, because so many of the artists we support are Moms. What better way to honor your Mom by purchasing a gift that helps support a mom in need, like Layet Monica pictured above?

Layet Monica is a single mom of three, and this 31 Bits beneficiary is a beautiful example of a mother’s love! She works hard to provide for her children, send them to school, and care for their needs. And she does it all with a smile! Isn’t she stunning? Support Monica, and other moms by giving a fair trade gift this Mother’s Day! Click here to shop some of our favorite gifts for Mom!

World Fair Trade Day

World Fair Trade Day is a time to celebrate and be inspired by the work that’s being done to support a fair economy. Fair trade is about people and the planet, and about purchasing products we love that are fair to both! When you buy fair trade products, you can be sure that your purchases are directly benefiting those that made it. For farmers and the artists that we at Seven Hopes United partner with, that means getting paid a living wage for the work they do, in addition a portion of those fair trade premiums are helping to better their communities. Purchasing fair trade products is a step toward an ethical and sustainable marketplace.

This weekend, join 100,000 people around the United States and Canada in learning about and promoting fair trade! Help us support economic justice for farmers, workers, and artisans around the world. To get started, click the educational video below from our friends at Fair World Project. Then, help us spread the word & share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter #WFTD2014!

In honor of these special celebrations, SevenHopesUnited.com is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders through 5/11/2014 with the coupon code “ILOVEMOM”. Woot woot!

We’ll also have our booth set up with all kinds of fair trade products at the Little Italy Mercato on Saturday 8am-2pm, and the Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market on Sunday 9am-1:30pm. Be sure to stop by and say hi if you’re in San Diego!

The post Celebrate World Fair Trade Day – May 10, 2014 appeared first on All That's Fair..

On May 1, 1886, more than 300,000 workers across the United States walked off their jobs in the first May Day celebration in history. We must remember that people fought for the rights and dignities we enjoy today, and there is still a lot more to fight for.

Photo: Ghetty Images – International Worker’s Day Rally in Bangladesh on May 1, 2013.

May Day (Today) in:

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
One thousand factory workers and opposers to the Cambodia National Rescue Party gathered on the streets outside the Cambodian capital’s Freedom Park. These workers are fighting for a higher minimum wage and labor rights.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA
Around 50,000 workers intend to hold rallies in the Indonesian capital over the next two days and police have deployed nearly 20,000 officers to maintain order. Workers are fighting against stagnant incomes, poor retirement and health insurances and rising transportation and housing costs.

There are many other protests and rallies occurring right now all over the world. We must let the origins of May Day serve as a reminder – many lives were sacrificed so that we could have the 8-hour day, include Saturday as part of the weekend, as well as safe working conditions and child labor laws.

There are many workers in the developing world (like Phnom Penh, Jakarta, and many others) still fighting for these rights, and we must do our part to support them. Whether you vow to not shop at stores that purchase from sweatshop factories, or choose to support fair wages by shopping fair trade.

Image: fortheloveofjustice.com

Companies like Seven Hopes United support artisan cooperatives that are Fair Trade Federation members. Fair Trade Federation members are held to a higher standard, insisting that workers be treated with dignity and respect, have safe working conditions, no child labor, and fair wages. There are many other fair trade principles that ensure the rights of workers and better their communities as well.

We as consumers have the power to create change – we can demand better working conditions and fair wages just by purchasing fair trade products. It may seem like such a small gesture, but it makes a world of difference to the artisans, farmers, and their families. This is why we celebrate and remember May Day.

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Calling all summer brides—have you heard about our fair trade wedding registry? Have you created a registry yet? Yes, you and the husband you have to bribe with promises of popcorn and Pizza Hut at checkout before he’ll even glance Target’s way. This blog post is for you.

There’s no getting around it—registering for wedding gifts can be kind of stressful. At least for me personally, it was. My husband wasn’t really into it, and he gets uncomfortable buying (or in this case, asking other people to buy us) stuff. Both of us feel strongly that spending excess money on household items isn’t something we want to get into a habit of. Enter Seven Hopes United.

When you register for fair trade wedding gifts, you’re still giving your guests a helpful list of things you want for your new home (after all, they will buy you a gift anyway and it’s nice if it’s something they know you truly want). But you can feel good knowing exactly how the items are made and how your loved ones’ dollars are benefiting the lives of others.

Here’s a little bit about how it works:

With a Seven Hopes United Fair Trade Gift Registry, you are not only receiving gifts you’ll love, your gift purchases ensure that our artisans are paid a living wage for their work, working conditions are safe, and no children are exploited.

The principle behind Seven Hopes United gift giving is that your gift works in two ways:

1. You are giving the gift of hope and a future to people who need it most.
2. By making giving fun, innovative and convenient, your friends and family will feel good about the help their gift is giving.

It’s easy to register—just head to this section of our Website and start clicking away! If you need some ideas, we have a list here of some of our most popular items. We have all the categories you would see at say, Bed Bath and Beyond—-kitchen items, serving dishes, bedding, towels, decorative wall art, etc.

It’s also fun because you do the whole thing online—no more dragging your husband (or maybe you have to drag yourself!) around with a little registering gun. And then once you’ve registered, you can have your bridal party send the link to guests or upload it on your wedding Website.

And here’s a great extra:

For every 10 items purchased from your gift registry, we’ll make a donation in your honor. Your gift of mosquito nets will help protect a family against malaria and other deadly insect-borne diseases.

UNICEF reports that Malaria is an endemic in 90% of sub-Saharan Africa and is one of the main causes of mortality for children under the age of 5. Only 22% of children under the age of five years old are sleeping under a mosquito net, and only 5% of those nets are the insecticide treated mosquito nets. With your gift, we can help save lives.

I know that when I registered for wedding gifts with Seven Hopes United, it ended up being one of my favorite aspects of my wedding! This bride agrees:

“A progressive alternative to typical bridal registries, Seven Hopes United brings together eco-conscious brides with artisans from around the world…a portion of the proceeds from every item sold is invested back into artisan communities, helping to further promote the economic freedom and social development made possible by the fair trade movement.”   — Carolina Bride

So brides, what are you waiting for?

If you like this idea, feel free to pin/tweet/share the link to this post! This Spring, let’s get a fair trade wedding registry movement going that will impact the lives of millions of families across the globe!

XO,

Casey

The post How to Make Your Fair Trade Wedding Registry appeared first on All That's Fair..

Photo Courtesy of Half the Sky

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Equality for women is progress for all” emphasizes how gender equality, empowerment of women, women’s full enjoyment of human rights and the eradication of poverty are essential to economic and social development. This years theme truly embraces the meaning of Fair Trade, empowering and enriching the lives of those living in poverty around the world.

Many of the women Seven Hopes United helps support are not only the head of the household, but leaders in the community, women creating change to provide a better world now and in the future.

Seven Hopes United helps support:

• Young women in Uganda working toward their college education – to pursue their dreams & create change! To date, with our partners Sseko Designs, we’ve enabled 47 women to continue on to university.
• Women in Cambodia that are in need of healing & are working to rebuild their lives after being victims of sex trafficking. Through our partners Malia Designs and Five Accessories we are helping to provide a life of dignity and respect, as well as the opportunity for a sustainable income.
• Women in India and Bangladesh that have suffered the effects of extreme poverty and sex trafficking, living in the slums. Through our partners ConneXions, we’ve received some of the most beautiful kantha quilts, and we’ve helped provide a better life for hundreds of women through a sustainable fair income.
• Women in the far-reaching parts of the world like Kyrgyzstan – in a part of the world where there are few opportunities for women we’ve helped support small felting businesses that provide food, shelter, and education to their families .

Please join us in watching this short video from Half the Sky, for an excellent example of how women are empowering one another and inspiring change within their communities:

One thing all of these women have in common is that they have overcome poverty through fair trade, by coming together, and they are using the opportunities given to them to provide a better life for their families.

All over the world people on March 8th will celebrate women and their accomplishments for International Women’s Day. We hope that through sharing the stories of the women who inspire us we will also inspire something in YOU. These women are our mothers, daughters, and sisters, and our community’s small business owners, teachers, political leaders, farmers, community health workers, activists, and more.

Please join us in the fight against poverty, hunger, and injustice by empowering our sisters through Seven Hopes United and in your own community.

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Well friends,

February is somewhat of a drab month. I don’t think anyone’s denying that at this point. Why not spice it up a bit with a night in with friends? If you’re trying to incorporate more ethically produced goods and products into your everyday life, including fun evenings at home, today is your lucky day. It just so happens I’ve rounded up a few big-hearted buds to help us out with a festive winter soiree! It’s been a while since we featured some Friends With a Mission, so here we go!

What elements make up a fab foodie party? Well, the dinner is an obvious place to start. We’re serious about our food around here! And the hostess with the mostess, you can leave all the hard work to Global Grub and concentrate on enjoying your own party!

Here’s how it works, from their Web Site:

• Choose a cooking kit, stocked with high quality non-perishable ingredients that are pre-measured for you, and step-by-step instructions
• Pick up a few fresh/basic items from the included shopping list
• Begin your cooking adventure 
• Enjoy your homemade dish with loved ones!

Pretty easy, right? And the best part: for every food kit sold, they donate the cost of a meal (based on the Feeding America Formula) to someone in need through their local food bank. Eat good, do good!

And what dinner party is complete without a little wine? I’m glad you brought that up:

OneHope Wine makes an impact with every bottle sold by donating HALF of the profits to
charitable partner causes. (And it’s good wine, people … it does come from California, after all!)

From their Web site:

ONEHOPE’s motivation began as a personal mission to help a
friend with her fight against cancer and evolved into a thriving business that
always remains focused on a very basic, but compelling principle: giving back is
good business. Eight founders came together in 2007 and created,
ONEHOPE Wine, with the goal of selling a quality wine that
would enable them to donate to worthy causes all year round.

So your dinner party is off to a great start! The key missing ingredient here, it seems, would be fair trade products to serve your delicious meal and wine in … and Seven Hopes United can definitely take it from here! Serve your yummy global grub on these Asanta reclaimed serving platters, pour the wine into these earthy red clay wine cups, and set the scene with this cheery paisley table runner.

Enjoy your “do good” dinner party, and don’t forget the fair trade chocolate and coffee for dessert!

XO,

Casey

The post How to Have a “Do Good” Dinner Party! appeared first on All That's Fair..

Last year was the first I had heard of Fair Tuesday and I am happy to say that I did buy fair trade items on that day.  The nice thing about Fair Tuesday is that it sort of encompasses all of the other days.  You can buy online or in a store, several small local shops have fair trade, fair trade items make great holiday gifts and you are supporting producers in the developing world.

Check out some of my favorite Fair Tuesday gift items from Seven Hopes United.  They are unique and would be great for any number of people in your life.

1. Tree of Life Wall Tapestry

2. Dream Bean Market Basket

3. Eva Hand Painted Tiffin

4. Cascade Necklace

5. Recycled Pop Can Giraffe

Enjoy – Dawn

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October is winding down, and Fair Trade Month will go out with it. But never fear, you can continue to buy fair trade year-round on our Website!

If you happen to really, really like shopping (ahem, I wouldn’t know anything about that), then you may already know that the end of October and November are prime time for retail to go on sale! Getting ready for the holidays means stocking new products and making room for future goodies to come. So in short–=SALE TIME on all the lovelies still needing to find a good home!

We’re no exception and we love a good sale. Doing some shopping for fair trade Christmas gifts? Allow us to help you out with that! Here are some of our favorite fair trade sale items below:

1. Hand-woven scarves

2. Cascade necklace

3. Cocoki Yoga Bag

4. Kantha Weekender Bag

5. Lyrical Hammered Earrings

To see all of our fair trade sale items, head to the Specials section of our Website. And check back soon for a full holiday gift guide featuring new Seven Hopes products!

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Casey

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