Dating back many centuries, Ajrakh block-printing is a traditional Indian craft that uses vivid natural dyes and wooden blocks to print unique patterns on cotton fabric. The process is elaborate and laborious, requiring numerous stages of printing, dyeing, and washing to achieve the gorgeous designs.
Ethical Fashion Blog
Up the stylish vacation vibes with our newest addition of handmade jewelry, the Resort Collection!
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Amanda Caronia is an artist whose colorful graphic prints are inspired by her love of all things outdoors – ...
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What to do when your body is telling you "Baby, it’s cold outside" while your heart is still singing "Climb every ...
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We have a debate around here at Mata: fall – the beginning of our favorite season, or the end of it? We are of two...
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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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Fall is the perfect time to get back to the books, whether you’re headed to class or not. Grab one of our recommended reads, your ethical backpack and a notebook and hit up a cozy spot to give your mind some me-time.
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Ladies with a yen for compassionate fashion make a statement with both their wardrobes and their dollars. They set high standards for style (unique), quality (impeccable) and fit (flattering). And they celebrate the talents and traditions of artisans like those who handcraft Mata apparel and accessories in India and Nepal.
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Fall is fast approaching, but don’t fret! That means the season of pumpkin spiced lattes and cute winter booties is...
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It can be hard shopping as a petite! While everyone has challenges when searching for new clothes, petites have to be on the lookout for items that are the right proportions – the proportions of the bodice and skirt must be short enough, and the length of a dress is often too long.
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![Red, White, & Blue Giveaway 2017 [Giveaway Closed]](http://matatraders.com/cdn/shop/articles/blog_RWB_giveaway.jpg?v=1508668420&width=1)
As temperatures rise here in Chicago, so does our excitement: Summer is finally here! That means donning some flirty sandals, floppy sunhats, and your favorite sundress while you soak up the warm sunshine. Here at Mata we are rejoicing the return of our own favorite time of the year: dress season!
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It’s that time of year again: beach season! But just because your mind might be on summer vacation, doesn’t mean your ethical shopping habits have to be! Support local, sustainable, and fair trade companies when you hit the beach this year.
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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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Dust off your flips flops and grab the sunnies – your escape from winter doldrums has arrived. Meet Mata’s new Spring/Summer 2017 collection!
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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