Ethical Fashion Blog

MATA MEETS INSPIRATION
Here’s a pic of me and my friend Rian out to lunch at the new Inspiration Kitchens that opened up 2 months ago in Garfield Park.  The restaurant is the newest social enterprise of Inspiration Corporation, a non-profit homeless service organization.  The delicious “contemporary American cuisine” is prepared and served by students and graduates of their food service training program.  Of course, there is an obvious connection between Inspiration Kitchens and Mata Traders as organizations with a double bottom line:  a sustainable, self-generating income and a social mission of being a vehicle providing people a way out of poverty.
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AMERICA!
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.  Three day weekends, fireworks, bar-b-ques, freedom.  Mata’s Prairie Top was the perfect top to show my patriotism.  It is such a good summer top – practically all of Mata’s pieces are 100% cotton.  I also wore this earlier in the day.  I get so many compliments on that dress, and I love the chambray.
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FAIR TRADE FEDERATION CONFERENCE
Michelle and I drove up to the very cool city of Milwaukee in May to attend the Fair Trade Federation’s annual conference.  Michelle is an old hat with FTF conferences, but it was my first.  I really enjoyed meeting other folks involved in the fair trade movement, people who dedicate everyday of their lives to providing a way out of poverty to hundreds of farmers, artisans, and skilled workers all over the world.
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