Earth Divas' Blog

As I write this, the sun is just starting to make its way into my office windows, which are thrown wide open to let in the sounds of birds and rustling leaves. Yesterday, it was 80 degrees here, and I know many parts of the country are starting to see summertime temps.

There are so many things I love about summer: open windows (I thankfully don’t have air-conditioning!), bare feet, thunderstorms, colorful flowers, sunny afternoons, music festivals, and easy summer fashion.

When the weather turns warm, I know I’m not the only one who feels relaxed and easy. And, I always change out my winter bag for a large hippy boho-bag that’s perfect for slinging over my shoulders. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites that I think are perfect fair trade summer bags: they’re colorful, relaxed, and boho-style.

Our fair trade Peace and Love Young and Fun bag is perfect for summer music festivals and lazy afternoons with friends. This boho bucket bag is incredibly soft, and it can hold a lot, which is kind of a necessity when you’re at a festival. You need sunblock, wallet, phone, sunglasses, as well as a sleeve or even a scarf to ward off the night chill.

Of course, you might not want to carry a ton of stuff. If this is you, then you might be better off with one of our fair trade Passport bags. I love this one particularly, because it’s so very Southwest style, which hothothot right now.

Our Recycled Wrapper Bags are also perfect for summer because not only are they eco-friendly, but they’re extremely colorful and fun.

If you’re looking for a hobo that’s a bit more low-key, our Blue Strip Hobo fits the bill perfectly. This fair trade bag is incredibly soft, and richly colored.

Personally, I’m going to be toting my 1980s-inspired Rocker Bag around this summer. I have a serious love-affair with this bag because it’s punky and edgy, and holds a lot. I’ll be taking it along with me to Detroit’s Movement Festival, a 3-day dance festival taking place over Memorial Day weekend. It’s definitely a perfect festival bag!

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags on May 16th, 2012 | No Comments »

Do you think you could get by wearing just six items of clothing for a month?

Although I love the idea of streamlining my clothes, and creating a challenge to limit my consumption of new items, I’m not sure I could get by with only three tops and three bottoms. However, there are people who have successfully winnowed down their wardrobe to just six things (not counting underwear, socks, outerwear, gym clothes, and accessories).  The New York Times wrote about the idea back in 2010, and there’s actually a website, Six Items or Less, devoted to the challenge.

Gabrielle Karol is one person who successfully took up the 6-item challenge, and she wrote about her experience on LearnVest. In the image below you can see five of the six pieces of clothing she chose to wear for a month (the only item not pictured is a black mini-skirt).

According to Gabrielle, most of us have a small handful of clothes that we truly love and feel great in. The rest of our clothes are ones we barely wear, and simply can’t bear to part with. And, she’s so right! I know I’ve worked hard to narrow down my clothes so that I’m only keeping things I wear regularly, but I still have too many.

The thought of having only six, though, is pretty extreme. And I admire Gabrielle for being able to do it! According to her article on LearnVest, choosing which six items to wear wasn’t easy.

I did a lot of reading to see how other people winnowed down to their six. Some went for all black, so as to camouflage frequent wear … but that seemed drab and too depressing for springtime, which happens to be one of my favorite seasons (mostly on account of the opportunity to start breaking out cute sundresses). Others did three tops and three bottoms they could mix and match accordingly, giving them nine different combinations.

The bottom line? There’s no wrong or right way to choose items, but it is important that they be 1) versatile, 2) appropriate for your lifestyle and the current season, and 3) items you feel really good wearing.

So, what do you all think? Could you wear only six pieces of clothing for an entire month?

Filed under: Eco Living on May 10th, 2012 | No Comments »

I’ve written about upcycling a denim skirt before, and with good reason. I love denim skirts! They’re tough, they’re breezy, and they look great with cowboy boots. They’re also incredibly versatile; they can easily go from working in the yard to out on the town.

The only problem with denim skirts is that they can be a bit boring, which is why I love looking for cool, eco-friendly ways to dress them up and make them a bit funkier than they normally are. And, the denim skirt below is one I created just yesterday.

This is a skirt I picked up for $1 at Salvation Army. And, it was bland as only a bland denim skirt can be. So, I started by lightening it with a bleach/water mixture (I think I did 2 cups of bleach to 3 or 4 cups of water). I left the skirt in there only around five minutes; you have it watch denim carefully, because at first it looks as if nothing is happening, and then all of a sudden the fabric will practically be white.

Once I had lightened the denim I threw it in the wash. While it was washing, I prepared a pot of liquid Purple RIT Dye on the stove. You can purchase RIT dye in powder or in liquid form; I’ve noticed I get brighter and deeper results with the liquid dye, so it’s definitely worth it to spend a bit more for liquid. I’ve also noticed that dying clothes works better on the stove, using very hot (but not boiling) water. This is what I did for this skirt, and you can see the color is really deep and vibrant.

All I did was dip the lower half of the skirt in the purple dye for about 10 minutes. The top part of the skirt turned light purple in the wash, when it bled out. I also soaked a pair of denim shorts that I splashed with pure bleach, and those turned out really cool.

The best part about transforming a denim skirt (or a pair of denim shorts) is what comes next; you can easily upcycle old fabric into the skirt or shorts to create something new. This is what I’ll be doing next. My plan is to find some great old shirt or jacket at the Salvation Army to cut up and sew in patches, or along the top, of the skirt.

There are some amazing ideas on the Internet if you need inspiration. Take a look at some of these great upcycled denim skirts!

Photo courtesy: http://pinterest.com/pin/254171972689954460/

Photo courtesy: http://pinterest.com/pin/115193702939158665/

That last one is a work of art; it looked as if she used fabric from a 1960s dress, cutting out and sewing each flower individually. It’s breathtaking!

Filed under: DIY/Upcycling on May 9th, 2012 | No Comments »

If you’re like most people, then you likely spend a fair amount of time shopping for bargains. Heck, we’ve all done it at some point; seeing a sign that says “60% off” causes many of our hearts to quicken. However, shopping for bargains may not be all that it’s cracked up to be, and I read a fascinating article in EcoSalon that breaks down how this all works. These bargains have hidden costs that are hidden in plain sight.

For instance, when you buy a bargain you never see the human cost in that ultra-cheap shirt or jacket. Clothes can be made cheaply only buy using cheap material and cheap labor. The people who work in sweatshops in China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to name a few work in deplorable conditions. Many are actually locked inside the factory, and forced to work 16 hour days with few breaks.

Here at Earth Divas, we are adamantly opposed to sweatshop labor, which puts workers in unhealthy and unsafe conditions, and pays workers a pittance for their labor. This is why everything we sell is fair trade, and we make sure every artisan who works with us has a clean, safe room to work in. Many work out of their home, but others work together in a collective space.

Another cost to buying bargain clothing is that nine times out of ten, they’re not well-made. And, this includes “designer fashion” that’s bought at discount stores like TJ Maxx. Although we think that designer clothing is a higher quality, this is often not the case.

Most consumers don’t realize that most designer brands have several tiers of product quality in their clothing. The top tier, where the most attention is paid to fabric and product quality, is also the most expensive. When you buy a brand-name designer at their own house (like the Dior clothing store), you’re getting an authentic Dior piece that has been carefully made, with the highest attention paid to product quality.

The middle-tier of product quality is for shoppers who are looking for value, but don’t want to buy the super expensive full price. Often, this tier of clothing is carried in stores like Belks or Macy’s, or other department stores that carry many brands.

The last tier is for the bargain shoppers. These clothes, commonly sold in stores like TJ Maxx, are made with the lowest quality fabrics. Often, corners are cut in design and manufacturing. Most of the time, these pieces are made by licensed factories. The goal is to make cheap, easy to product clothing and then stitch the designer label on.

The EcoSalon piece goes into much, much more detail on how the fashion industry turns a profit by cutting corners and negotiating licensing agreements with manufacturers to sell cheap clothing. It’s a fascinating read, and I highly recommend you give it a look. My quick rundown, however, gives you an idea of how much you’re really not saving when you buy a bargain piece of clothing. Sure it may look cheap, but you always get what you pay for.

Filed under: Eco Fashion on May 3rd, 2012 | No Comments »

No matter where I go, or how long I go for, I take only my purse and a backpack with me on my travels.

The reason I love packing uber-light are many: it’s cheaper (I don’t have to pay a suitcase charge), it’s easier (I don’t lug suitcases around an airport, or around the subway or Metro whenever I arrive), and I look like a local the moment I arrive (which is important in big cities and foreign countries for avoiding pickpockets and scammers).

For instance, last year I went to Greece for two weeks. I packed everything I needed in our Recycled Rice Backpack, shown below. And, it worked out great! By now my Recycled Rice Backpack is comfortably broken in, and it had more than enough room for all my clothes and other items.

This is a great backpack to consider because it’s fair trade, it’s extremely well made, it’s very roomy, and it’s comfortable to wear on your back.

Tips for Packing Light

Going from several suitcases down to one backpack can feel a bit overwhelming. But chances are you often pack way more than you need when you travel. The trick is that you pack just a few outfits, using clothes that all work well together. And, you simply do laundry while you’re away.

There are some essentials that I never leave home without, however. For instance, a scarf is invaluable (unless I’m traveling to a tropical climate). Even in the summer and early fall, many places get cool in the evening. And, we all know that planes can resemble refrigerators. Our fair trade Moyar Wool Scarf is a travel essential because it’s made with wool; which can keep you warm on frigid days, yet doesn’t get you too hot on warmer days. It’s also elegant.

Another travel essential is a passport bag. I’ve taken several of our passport bags on trips and find them to be useful for carrying just the bare necessities out with me when I’m walking around a city. I never leave my passport in my room (since I often stay at hostels or pensions); it stays with me. So, having a small bag I can tuck under my shirt or jacket is essential for staying safe. One of my favorites is our Hemp and Wool Skinny bag, shown below.

This bag is great for travel because it will hold your passport, credit cards, money, cell phone, and even a map if you need one. And, it’s lightweight and will fit under a shirt or jacket to keep these essentials out of sight.

What essentials do you not leave home without when you travel?

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags, Fair Trade Living on May 2nd, 2012 | No Comments »

I’ve been on a wonderfully fun DIY kick lately, and most of it has revolved around transforming my wardrobe. I’m not much of a sewer, and I’ve always let this weakness hold me back from doing projects I was really interested in. But, not anymore! I finally dived in and started doing alterations on my own clothes. And so far, they’ve turned into my favorite pieces!

Today’s DIY I wanted to show you was how I transformed a denim jacket and denim shirt into something really personal and cool. I got the idea from Free People’s DIY on Personalizing Denim Shirts. Their instructions are really clear, so I’d highly recommend checking out their post for pictured, step-by-step instructions.

This upcycle DIY is pretty simple; basically, all you do is find some fabric you love, and sew it onto your favorite denim shirt or jacket. You can see what I did below. And if some the pictures look retro or vintage, it’s because of my photo filters! I can’t resist.

The denim shirt, pictured below, was picked up at Goodwill. I used pieces from a Mexican serape blanket.

The denim jacket is another Goodwill find. I modified it with fabric from an old 1980’s pastel striped jacket.

The trickiest part is lining up the pieces of fabric within the seams; the fabric should be folded under, and then sewn, so it doesn’t fray. You’ll need safety pins to hold it in place securely into you get it sewn.

This is a wonderful upcycling project to do on a sunny afternoon; I did both of these projects sitting out in the sun in my backyard. And again, I have no real sewing experience; thanks to the good instructions over at Free People, I was able to easily do this myself. This is a great way to upcycle some old fabrics and give new life to a boring denim shirt or jacket!

This week’s find was a vintage denim vest from Express. I’m guessing…early to mid 90s? It’s like a blank canvas, and I can’t wait to find some great vintage fabric to dress it up with!

Filed under: DIY/Upcycling on April 27th, 2012 | No Comments »

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13. Many people love doing something special for their moms on this day because, put simply, we just wouldn’t be around without them!

If you are planning on buying something special for your mom on Mother’s Day, then one of the best things I think you can do is to choose a gift that also helps support other mothers around the world. And there are several ways to do that.

One of the easiest ways you can find a whole slew of gifts made for women, by women, is at our Divas4Divas site. We started Divas4Divas with one purpose: to help people find fair trade retailers that sell products made by women. The list of fair trade products at Divas4Divas is amazing; baskets, jewelry, clothing, art, soap…the diversity of products made by these women is astounding. And each purchase means you’re helping a mother, somewhere else in the world, put food on the table for her kids.

Fair Trade Gift Ideas

Here at Earth Divas, our primary mission is to help women in India and Nepal rise above poverty and start earning a living wage. We do this by selling the bags they make for us, but we also provide our artisans with training that will help them earn higher wages for the rest of their life.

Our Light Green Hemp Handbag would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift. Of course it’s fair trade, but it’s also roomy, very well made, and since it’s constructed with hemp it will last forever. The lovely light green shade is also perfect for spring and early summer!

Another bag that I think would make a great Mother’s Day gift is Kashmir Wool Crewel Workbag. I know I’ve highlighted our Crewel Workbags several times, but it’s been for a good reason. The detail on these bags is incredible, the colors are rich and vibrant, and you can just tell someone put a lot of time into these bags. The embroidery is amazing!

I love that so many of our bags are perfect for spring and summer. We love using bright colors, and so do our artisans! Whatever you decide to do to say “thank you” to your mom on Mother’s Day, keep in mind that you can also help support other women around the world, whether it’s through Earth Divas, our Divas4Divas site, or another fair trade retailer!

Filed under: Eco Living, Fair Trade Bags on April 25th, 2012 | No Comments »

Image courtesy Wikipedia

Last year I wrote a post on how to dye fabric with natural dyes. And there’s no doubt that using natural dyes is one of the safest, most environmentally-friendly ways to add some wonderful color and character to your clothes and fabrics. For instance, the marigold pictured above is common in many yards and gardens, and it produces a pretty yellow orange color.

One of the most interesting aspects of using natural dyes with clothing is that you often get some unexpected results.

Natural Ingredients for Dyes

Here’s just a short list of what you could use to dye fabric.

• Acorns (brown color)
• Oak bark (tan or oak color)
• Ivy twigs (yellow brown color)
• Sassafrass leaves (orange color)
• Butternut husks (orange color)
• Raspberries (red color)
• Strawberries (red/pink color)
• Cherries (pink color)
• Dandelion root (red color)
• Hyacinth flowers (blue color)
• Marigolds (yellow/orange color)
• Red Maple, inner bark (purple color)
• Purple Iris flower (purple color)
• St. Johns Wart, whole plant soaked in alcohol (red color)
• Cabbage (purple color)

I could go on and on, but as you see there are tons of wonderful plants you could be experimenting with, and many of them are likely right in your backyard or neighborhood park! There’s a really wonderful, comprehensive list over at Pioneer Thinking that lists many more options. And there’s a fantastic article on natural dying techniques written by The New York Times.

What to Dye with Natural Dyes

I love using natural dyes at home because not only is it a really fun process, it also is creative and organic. I think we all get so used to seeing perfection in everything we buy; things made by a machine or a standardized process are often “perfect.” However, when you dye something yourself it’s very often not perfect. There are subtle changes in color saturation where the fabric folded or where the dye was more concentrated. Or, you might get a color you didn’t expect at all!

This is incredibly fun, though. And, it can give you results more beautiful than you could ever get from a machine.

So what can you dye with natural dyes? Here are some things I’ve dyed, or that are on my to-dye list in the months to come.

• Curtains (mine turned out fabulous!!!)
• Tea/dish towels
• White t-shirts
• Dresses
• Rugs
• Jeans (bleach to lighten them first)
• Blankets and sheets

What about you? Have you ever used natural dyes at home? If so, what did you use? What did you dye? I’d love to hear your story!

Filed under: Eco Fashion on April 18th, 2012 | No Comments »

I lovelovelove when Ed visits our artists in Nepal and India, because it means I have wonderful pictures to share with all of you!

Here are some more lovely images from Ed’s latest trip to Nepal.

Filed under: Fair Trade Living on April 13th, 2012 | No Comments »

So, Ed just got back from an amazing trip to Nepal. He worked with our artisans on new designs for Earth Divas, and he took a ton of amazing pictures and video of how our bags are actually made!

Below, you can see some of the dyed garments drying in the sun.

The fabric is dyed by hand, in large wooden drums like you see below.

In the next post I’ll share some more amazing images that show how the fabric is dyed and printed by our artisans!

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags, Uncategorized on April 4th, 2012 | No Comments »