Ethical Fashion Blog

Red, White, & Blue Giveaway 2017 [Giveaway Closed]
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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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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SHOP CHALLENGE: SUMMER STYLE
Mata-carrying shops, we appreciate you! If it weren’t for you we wouldn’t be in 48 states and 11 countries around the world, with customers donning our dresses from the sidewalks of Brooklyn to the streets of Perth. One of our favorite parts of having stockists is that each of you has your own unique style; we love to see the way you showcase Mata and the individuality you bring to our brand.
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AT HOME IN HONG KONG
What’s one thing all of us at Mata love? World travel. Most recently you’ve read about how our Communications Director, Jonit Bookheim, visited Greece, and a lot of our employees and interns have been all over the world, from Europe to Asia to South America. But it’s not just our employees and interns who travel. Our products have recently made their way across the globe to contemporary women’s clothing store Marco Visconti in Hong Kong. After meeting the owners of Marco Visconti, a Hong Kong couple, at a trade show, we loved hearing their cute back story of how they met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Not only is Madison a beautiful city, but it also has plenty of stores that carry Mata!
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TALKING SHOP

With the weather finally warming up here in Chicago, it’s hard to believe our Spring 2015 collection has been in stores for a few months! We’re always excited to see how the shops style and display Mata, and so far this season, they have not let us down.

 

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THANKFUL

We have soooooo much to be thankful for this year!

Our customers who support us and sustain our growth as a company.

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RETAIL THERAPY

They’re not just one of our favorites because they carry a wide variety of our fair trade dresses, tops, and skirts.  It’s also because they’ve got a ton of cool stuff from all over the world, “from wondrous to wacky!”  And also because we love Nomad’s super-fun owner, Deb!

 

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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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Window Shopping
Bliss, in Knoxville, Tennessee, is known for its artful display of inventory throughout the store and in its window displays – which is pretty evident here:  how cute do the Frida Loves Diego and Dahlia dresses look in their window?
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POOL IS COOL
Emily and I recently got back from the Pool trade show at Mandalay Bay in Vegas.  Happy to say we made our sales targets (woot!).  We also saw some seriously fresh fashion.  My brain was a buzzin’ with all the trends –  totally ahead of the curve and everyone’s bringing out their true style sense.
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VISIT DONNA’S DRESS SHOP!
If you’re ever in Kansas City be sure to stop by Donna’s Dress Shop.  Situated in KC’s hip Midtown neighborhood, you can shop new & used clothing, books, and more all in one block.  Donna’s is carefully curated by the lovely Donna herself (check out her awesome aesthetic in the photos below).  The Shop is filled with vintage curios and new Fall styles from Mata Traders fair trade fashion and other brands we love like NooworksGlobal Mamas, Many Belles Down, and Tulle.
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Spot a Mata (Online Edition)
San Francisco fashion blogger Modelina Michelle found us in local boutique Marmalade, and if you’re in the Bay area, you can, too!  Entitled “Sweet Bohemia,” Michelle’s post features the Edgewater dress, Lakeshore dressSkylark skirt, and Symphony skirt from our new Spring line.  She notes Mata’s bright colors, bold patterns, and laid back bohemian vibe, but she’s just as impressed with the line’s social impact – empowering Indian women.  She asks, “How often can you buy a dress for yourself and help empower other women at the same time?”  Thanks for the shout out, Michelle!
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