Ethical Fashion Blog

Dog Days of Mata
Dog Days of Mata
It’s getting hot out there! The dog days of summer are upon us, but if you work in our office, the dog days have already been here for a while.
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three inspirational women you should know
3 Inspirational Women Who Empower Me
At the inaugural Women’s Convention in Detroit last October, I was fortunate to meet hundreds of inspirational women. Many of these women now have a spot on my “women who inspire me” list. Learn about three particular women you should know!
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What a Difference a Dress Makes
What a Difference a Dress Makes
There's no better time than Fair Trade Month to celebrate all the good that comes from a fair partnership between producers and consumers. Throughout October, Mata is inviting fair trade fans and enterprises to share an image on Instagram of what fair trade looks like for them, with this hashtag: #whatfairtradelookslike.
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Mata's Guide to Summer Fun
Mata's Guide to Summer Fun
Summer is finally upon us! And lucky for us, there is no shortage of fun things to do in Chicago during these next few hot weather months. If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to do, check out one (or all) of the things below! And, of course, we’ve provided you with some cute styling suggestions. Whatever you decide to do this summer, do it in style.
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From Paper to Print : Behind the Design of the Spring '17 Collection
From Paper to Print : Behind the Design of the Spring '17 Collection
Hello! I’m Katelyn, one of the textile designers here at Mata Traders. With our Spring/Summer ‘17 collection off to such a great start, I thought it might be fun to give you all a glimpse behind the creation process of two of our most popular prints this season! Taking a sketch from the initial concept and developing it into one of a dozen finalized prints in a collection can be a labor of love, but it is always worth it in the long run. I love seeing my work on so many beautiful Mata customers!
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10 WOMEN OF INDIA WHO CHANGED HISTORY
10 WOMEN OF INDIA WHO CHANGED HISTORY

Happy Women’s History Month! As March comes to an end, we want to recognize the skilled female artisans who craft many of Mata Traders’ pieces, as well as pay tribute to strong, inspirational women of India who’ve made their mark on history. Below is a compilation of just a few of the courageous women who have broken down barriers and changed their country for the better.

 

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WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN HONOR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
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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BEHIND THE SCENES: SPRING 2017 FASHION SHOOT
BEHIND THE SCENES: SPRING 2017 FASHION SHOOT
As we get ready to launch our Spring ’17 Collection (coming soon to stores and our website!), we’re excited to share a little sneak peek of the catalog photo shoot, which took place in September 2016. From the time we start designing a collection to when it hits stores takes more than a year, and the spring 2017 fashion shoot happens before the goods even go into production in India and Nepal!
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BEHIND THE SEAMS: A SPECIAL Q & A WITH KRISTIN
BEHIND THE SEAMS: A SPECIAL Q & A WITH KRISTIN
By now, you’re well aware that we specialize in unique prints and original designs – we create our own clothing and jewelry from start to finish. The prints come from us, patterns for the clothing are developed in-house, and we learn a lot with each collection we launch.
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