Ethical Fashion Blog

Mata Loves Moms
In honor of today being Take Your Daughter (or Child) to Work Day here in the U.S., and in anticipation of Mother's Day, we figured some of you might be wondering what it's like to be a working mom at one of our partner cooperatives. You're curious, right?
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WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN HONOR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Today is International Women’s Day, a day to acknowledge the perseverance and determination of women everywhere. What better way to celebrate than by supporting your local and nationwide women-owned businesses (luckily, Chicago is FULL of them)! We compiled a list of just some of the hundreds of thousands of women-owned businesses nationwide, so you know your money is going to a fellow female. Happy shopping/eating/spending!

 

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MATA TEAM HOLIDAY WISH LISTS: KATIE

Tis the season for peppermint mochas, stockings, and…holiday wish lists! Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing the Mata team’s dream gifts and must-haves this holiday season, so check back soon for more!

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Behind the Seams: A Special Q & A with Jonit
When our founder Maureen started Mata, she had two best friends, Jonit and Michelle, by her side on a ’round the world trip. While she knew those relationships would last a lifetime, it was anybody’s guess that those friends would be her business partners at a thriving fair trade fashion company over a decade later!
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MATA AND 360° FAIR TRADE
As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Mata is happy to use Fair Trade Month as an excuse to introduce a new way of talking about what fair trade is and what it means for the people who are doing this work: 360° fair trade. Our commitment to social, economic, and environmental responsibilities goes beyond fair wages and safe conditions. Fair Trade Federation members are also committed to building long-term and holistic partnerships with small farmers and artisan producer groups. These meaningful relationships in turn empower small farmers and artisans to sustainably grow and develop their businesses and communities.
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BEAT THE HEAT WITH THESE SUMMER STYLES!

If your summer style inspiration has dried up in the August heat, fear not – Mata is here to help! We’ve got outfit ideas for everything from your weekend getaways to your at-home adventures. All of these great looks start with some fabulous Mata staples, but we also featured our favorite conscious choices from other like-minded brands. Take a look!

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FAILURE AFTER RANA PLAZA

Retailers and Factories Fail to Live Up to Promises to Improve Worker Conditions

Three years after the infamous Rana Plaza factory collapse killed over 1,100 garment factory workers in Bangladesh, reports show there are many significant safety hazards that remain in the country’s garment factories, as demonstrated by the recent Bangladesh factory fire this past February. 

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