Ethical Fashion Blog

Baltimore's Local Global Boutique
My mom was in Baltimore visiting my aunt recently and they popped into Milagro, one of the cutest shops on the eastern seaboard.  Milagro (meaning miracle in Spanish) specializes in unique, globally-inspired pieces from Baltimore and around the world.
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A Star is Born (Again)
Our little fair trade skirt is breaking away from her humble beginnings and making the rounds at the ABC wardrobe department.  After her show biz debut in ABC’s hit family drama, Pretty Little Liars, our Arbor skirt has starred on the small screen yet again – this time in ABC’s hit family drama, The Middle.  (Turns out that fictional teens shop Mata.)
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A Heroine's Heroine
Hillary Clinton is thought of as a heroine to many women, but who are her heroines?  One of them is Ela Bhatt, founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India and one of the world’s most remarkable pioneers and entrepreneurial forces in grassroots development.  Now over a million members strong, Bhatt formed SEWA in 1972 as a trade union for poor Indian women who make a living by selling vegetables, recycling trash, hand-rolling cigarettes and working in other marginal occupations.
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Festival Fashion
Going to any festivals this summer?  You can count on Mata to have some of your must-have festival looks.
Mata Traders got its start in festival booths!   So, being the veterans that they are,
Mata doesn’t disappoint when looking for festival gear (made from 100% cotton so you can breathe!).
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RECOMMENDED READING

India has more child laborers than any other country in the world (somewhere between 12 to 45 million between the ages of 5 and 14), and trafficking or kidnapping is often part of the equation (32,000 children were reported missing in 2011).  Rather than improving the situation, India’s growing middle class has only exacerbated the problem with the demand for domestic workers (1 household in 20 employs an under-age servant).

 

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WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOR

Today is World Day Against Child Labor.  India has more child laborers than any other country in the world (somewhere between 12 to 45 million between the ages of 5 and 14), and trafficking or kidnapping is often part of the equation (32,000 children were reported missing in 2011).

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My Fair Wedding

Pig roast and potluck?  BYOB?  Patsy Cline cover band?  These were some of my husband’s early suggestions for our wedding plans.  A picnic affair he called it – I settled on ‘casual elegance.’  We went with open bar, affordable yet outstanding catering, Gatsby inspired attire, and yes, a Patsy Cline cover band.  Guests couldn’t have been happier and we did it all with fair trade flair!

 

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Get ready…

Our Fall ’12 collection is due to launch in stores mid-July and online early-August.  We shot the catalog back in the first week in April, on a brisk day, traipsing the streets and alleys of Chicago.  Now it’s 100 degrees here today, but perhaps a behind the scenes look at the Fall ’12 photo shoot will take you, at least momentarily, to a cooler place.

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20% Off Jewelry Sets!
To all the brides out there, Mata jewelry sets make perfect bridesmaid gifts.  To all wedding guests out there, Mata jewelry sets are the perfect thing to wear to a wedding.  To anyone else out there, you still get 20% off jewelry sets.
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