Ethical Fashion Blog

Just in time for the holiday coming up, we’ve got some style inspiration for all of your 4th of July festivities (plus we have a fun giveaway going on – win your very own red, white, and blue Mata to wear for the 4th!). Though they may not have stars or stripes, quite a few pieces from our spring collection really fit the bill when it comes to a patriotic look. See for yourself!

This past Saturday a horrific natural disaster struck the heart of Mata Traders’ artisan community. A magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook Nepal just after noon, with a strong aftershock occurring an hour later. Buildings were flattened, centuries-old temples were destroyed, and an earthquake-triggered avalanche on Mount Everest killed 17, injuring over 60 others. Smaller jolts hit the region for hours afterwards, leaving many buildings unstable, and causing panic among the people. Thousands have taken to the streets, sleeping outside in the rain and cold to avoid further building collapses, and access to drinking water and food remain a huge problem. With survivors still being pulled out of the rubble, it will take days until we know the full impact of the quake. It will take many years until the densely populated, and largely impoverished Himalayan country can come back from such a horrible event.

World Fair Trade Day is in five short weeks, and we want to get you amped up!

Give a gift that gives back. This year we asked our very own employees to make a holiday gift list filled with gifts from companies with heart.

Give a gift that gives back. This year we asked our very own employees to make a Christmas list filled with gifts from companies with heart.

Give a gift that gives back. This year we asked our very own employees to make a Christmas list filled with gifts from companies with heart.

For your mom? A yummy scented candle from Bright Endeavors. For your dad? A bottle of delicious olive oil from Canaan Fair Trade. For your sister? The coolest earrings from Sandpiper Imports. For your brother? Bamboo iPhone speakers from Greenheart Shop. For your niece? The softest mofo teddy bear you’ve ever felt in your life, also from Greenheart Shop.

Last year I found out about Dressember too late. It was already the end of December, just a few more days to go for the hundreds of women raising money for the International Justice Mission by wearing a dress every day for a month. I thought to myself: that sounds like a lot of fun, for a great cause, and I want to do it next year. So here I am, December 1st, embarking on my Dressember journey.

Here’s the deal. You spend over $25 on our site in the 5 days between Black Friday and Fair Tuesday, you use the code 5DAYS, and you get 25% off your purchase plus a free gift. It’s a pretty good deal.

Big news this year for Chicago Fair Trade: we passed an ordinance in Chicago that will restrict the use of sweatshops in the production of apparel purchased by the city.

We’re winding down our favorite month of the year, and though it’s a bummer, there’s still a week left!