Earth Divas' Blog

It seems like we just got done with Christmas, so it’s hard to believe Valentine’s Day is just over two weeks away. Yes, really!

I wanted to compile a quick list of things I’m loving around the Internet right now, with the focus being on things that would make wonderful fair trade and/or upcycled Valentines Day gifts.

1. Woolen Wrapped Bracelet

I lovelovelove this braclet from nanoukiko on Etsy. I actually just bought it for myself a few days ago. It hasn’t yet arrived, but I can’t wait until it does! Most of nanoukiko’s jewelry is made from recycled materials, so you can feel good about this bracelet because it’s likely giving old materials a new life.

At just $14 (with an additional 20% until the end of January), this would make a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift.

2. A Fair Trade Handbag

I love our new line of fair trade, hand-stitched butterfly bags! This fair trade bag is a great transition bag for Spring. It’s bright, cheerful, and full of flowers and butterflies. It’s a delightful, unique bag and would make a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift!

3. Recycled Gold Earrings

All I have to say about these earrings is, “Yes, Please!” These wonderful earrings are made by ChristineMighlon, and sold in her Etsy store. They’re made with pink druzies (I don’t know what that is, either, but they’re pretty) and wrapped in recycled gold.

If you want to go with a tried and true Valentine’s Day gift, you can’t go wrong with chocolate. The good news is that there are a ton of fair trade chocolates out there. You can find fair trade chocolates, and other fair trade goods, easily by downloading the new Fair Trade Finder App.

Filed under: Fair Trade Gifts on January 27th, 2012 | No Comments »

So, some fun and exciting news this morning!

Fair Trade USA has unveiled a new logo for fair trade certified products. The new logo, on the left there, is brighter and more modern looking than the old one.

However, it’s not just the logo that got an update. Fair Trade USA’s labeling policies also got revamped.

The reason (I think) why Fair Trade USA revamped their labeling policy is because they started a firestorm last year. How? By proposing that foods and body care products with up to 20% non-fair trade ingredients can be labeled as “fair trade”. This is even if fair trade alternatives are available. This, according to Food Navigator.

However, the new policy is more stringent. Only products with 100% fair trade ingredients will be labeled as fair trade, using the new logo on the left.

Products with mostly fair trade ingredients, but not 100%, will be labeled with the logo below, only it will say “Fair Trade Certified Ingredients” at the bottom. The product must contain at least 20% fair trade certified ingredients in order to carry the label.

Here’s what Paul Rice, president and CEO of Fair Trade USA has to say about it:

“The revised Ingredients Policy reflects our organization’s commitment to include more farmers and workers in the Fair Trade model, and our desire to raise the bar for certification transparency. It’s designed to offer more Fair Trade farmers the opportunity to sell their products into the global market, enable more companies to make a meaningful impact through responsible sourcing, and accurately communicate to shoppers the social and environmental benefits of purchasing Fair Trade Certified products.”

I applaud Fair Trade USA’s new policy. It’s going to be much more informative for shoppers, and reflects greater clarity, and fairness, in the labeling. It’s one more step forward for fair trade!

Filed under: Fair Trade News on January 19th, 2012 | No Comments »

Thanks to the growth of the Internet, and the gaining momentum of fair trade, there are a lot of really wonderful fair trade stores and retailers out there. And, this is a big reason why we started Divas4Divas; we’re trying to put all these amazing fair trade sellers in one place so that shopping ethically and sustainably is really easy.

One of my most favorite fair trade stores is World of Good. They have an incredible selection of fair trade goods that range from men and women’s clothing, to jewelry, to home goods. They’re Fair Trade Certified (just like us here at Earth Divas!), and they’re also a member of Green America.

What’s most unique about World of Good is how they break down every item on their site in terms of where it’s made, why it’s fair trade, and the good it does for others when it’s purchased.

Here’s a good example of one of my most favorite items in their store, the Wool Hand Embroidered Belt (which was worn by Julia Roberts in “Eat, Pray, Love”!

Aren’t they amazing? I crave one like I crave hot chocolate on cold days. They’re just too beautiful not to have one!

Anyway, here’s the breakdown on the Wool Hand Embroidered Belt.

The handcrafted items come from an organization called Jenny Krauss and are all made according to fair trade guidelines. This means the artisans are paid a fair wage, work under conditions of their choosing (usually in their homes) and are not exposed to hazardous materials. These women also create dolls, bags, and pillows.

Your Purchase Impact Exceeds Fair Wage Guide minimum standards Supports improved nutrition Supports health care Supports education or training Made using traditional materials or techniques Crafted in a community setting See all »

Your Verification Guide Seller verified by Learn more »

I think this is a wonderful way to give consumers a look at the difference they’re really making when they buy fair trade.

Whenever you have time, pop on over to World of Good and give them a look. The information on their site is fascinating, and they have a wonderful selection of fair trade items that really can’t be rivaled anywhere else on the web.

Filed under: Fair Trade Gifts on January 13th, 2012 | No Comments »

If you’re at all into the green movement, then you likely have a pile of reusable shopping bags in your kitchen. I know I do. Some of mine are so cool that I actually hang them on the wall in my kitchen; not only does this decorate the wall, but it also helps me remember to take them along when I head to the grocery store.

Since the reusable shopping bag trend hit several years ago, many designers have hopped on the wagon (including Earth Divas!) and are now making reusable shopping bags that are so cool that can serve as an everyday bag as well.

Apolis’s Market Bag is one of these bags. What I love about these bags is that they use jute, which is an amazing plant that’s also 100% biodegradable. It’s also easy on the earth, because it grows to maturity so fast.

What Apolis has done well, though, is to bring jute, which is normally rough and course, up a notch. These bags look very sleek and chic.

What I love most about Apolis is their mission. This company is committed to creating a better world by providing women in Bangladesh with good jobs. They make the bags, they get paid a fair wage, and they’re able to sustain themselves, and their family, on a long term basis. To date, they’re employing 21 artisans in Bangladesh.

Apolis also has initiatives in Nepal and Uganda. In Nepal, there are 50 knitters in a women’s co-op that Apolis uses for their sweaters. These women have stable, safe jobs through this co-op.

This closely represents what all of us at Earth Divas stand for. I love it! I highly recommend checking out Apolis’s site; they have wonderful sweaters, bags, and jackets that are helping contribute to a better world.

Filed under: Eco Fashion on January 6th, 2012 | No Comments »

Image courtesy Elvis & Kresse

I love it when people find new ways to upcycle and reuse material that would otherwise go to waste. And, one of the most innovative ideas I’ve heard of yet is in the picture above.

Just take a good look. It’s a standard leather belt, right? Wrong. That belt used to have another life as a firehose. Really.

This innovative idea was dreamt up by Kresse Wesling. When she met the London Fire Brigade, she fell in love with their firehoses. The problem with the firehoses is that once they’re decomissioned there’s no way to recycle them, or turn them into another hose, because of the nylon fibrous core. It’s this core that makes the firehose so strong and leak-proof. But the core also means the hose gets one use as a firehose, and that’s it.

Up until now, all these firehoses were just being thrown into the landfill. Until Wesling got the idea to turn them into luxurious fashion accessories. So, she created (with her partner, Elvis), Elvis and Kresse, a design shop making and selling firehose goods. And, these accessories are amazing! Take a look.

Amazing, right? I love that these bags and accessories are not only eco-friendy, but they’re also very luxurious and classy.

I also love that Elvis and Kresse didn’t stop with firehoses. They’ve expanded their line to include materials from coffee sacks, parachutes, sail cloth, and air traffic control straps. All of these materials would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.

So, go check out Elvis and Kresse. They have a lot of really innovative things at their shop (including these amazing, industrial candlesticks made from metal firehose pieces). You’ll love it!

Filed under: Eco Fashion on December 30th, 2011 | No Comments »

Take a quick look at the jewelry you’re wearing. Look at your rings, your earrings, your necklace, and your bracelet. Unless you specifically bought jewelry labeled “fair trade”, there’s a darn good chance that the gold you’re wearing was mined with child labor and/or unsafe, unethical, and environmentally damaging mining practices.

It’s heart wrenching to think about, but the gold mining industry is notorious for unethical and unsafe practices. And, it’s far more common than you might think.

For instance, just a few weeks ago MSNBC broke a story about gold mining in Mali; a four ton supply of gold was released purchased by two large companies, one in Switzerland and one in the United Arab Emerates. But, this gold was mined using child labor. This gold will likely be mixed with other golds, and then sold around the world.

The problem is that there are often so many middlemen in the gold buying and selling process that unless a jeweler (or a consumer) buys gold that’s specifically labeled fair trade, it’s very difficult to find out whether or not that gold was mined responsibly.

The good news is that the Fairtrade Foundation partnered with UK fair trade activist Greg Valerio to establish a system jewelers can use to trace their gold. This would enable them to see if the gold they were buying came from a company with a past history of child labor practices. And, the system went into effect last year. An even better piece of good news is that Valerio is now working with jewelers in the United States to create similar system.

What We Can Do

Americans consume the most gold in the world. And, there’s an easy way that we can make a big difference in the mining industry, and its use of child labor. All we have to do is purchase fair trade gold, or recycled gold.

I know it’s easy to ignore a problem like this. After all, these kids are thousands of miles away. But all you have to do is see one image, like the one below, for the problem to really hit home.

Image courtesy FightSlavery.info

When you purchase fair trade gold, or recycled gold, you’re making a statement that you’re not going to tolerate the use of child labor or unethical labor practices. If enough of us make this statement, by not sending our money to these mining companies, then they will take notice. And, they will make a change.

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 28th, 2011 | No Comments »

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only two days away. Two days! How did the countdown get down to two?

December has been a whirlwind here at Earth Divas. We got a ton of amazing new bags up on the site, and we launched our Divas4Divas Campaign to help promote fair trade holiday gifts. Both very good things!

If you’re like most people, then you’re probably going to be out and about today and tomorrow, picking up a few last minute gifts for the Christmas holiday. Much of the time, these little extras are tiny stocking stuffers and gourmet food gifts. At least, those are the things I usually end up picking up!

I wanted to create a quick list of some fair trade items you could consider for last minute gifts, for any hostess gifts you need before the holiday. And don’t forget, there will be another round of parties next weekend for New Year’s!

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a fair trade item, use FairTrade USA’s new Fair Trade Finder App. This cool app for your smartphone allows you to search for fair trade items in your area. So, if you have no idea where to find fair trade coffee, or chocolate, or whatever, this app will tell you the closest place to pick it up.

So, ready for some last minute gift ideas?

1. Fair Trade Chocolate

Picking up a bar of fair trade chocolate is a wonderful, last minute gift. Fair trade chocolate is delicious, and it also does a lot of good in the world since farmers are paid fairly for their goods and labor.

2. Fair Trade Coffee

Do you have a coffee lover on your list? Picking them up a pound or two of fair trade coffee would make a wonderful, last minute gift. You can find fair trade coffee at most grocery stores, or at any Starbucks (who happens to have a very impressive selection of delicious, fair trade coffee).

3. Fair Trade Toys

If you pop into any organic grocery store (like Whole Foods), you’ll likely find a tiny display of wonderfully made, fair trade toys. These little toys and stuffed animals have character, and are a refreshing change from the mass-produced, glossy toys you can pick up anywhere. And if you do decide to hit up your local Whole Foods, keep an eye out for Earth Divas bags!

4. Fair Trade Scarves

Although you’re out of luck for online ordering anywhere, popping into a store like Ten Thousand Villages will offer you a ton of wonderful options, including gorgeous, handmade, fair trade scarves.

Well, I hope that short list gets your creative juices flowing. That’s it for me; I’m heading off to pick up my own last minute stocking stuffers (and yes, they’ll be fair trade!) Have a wonderful Christmast everyone!

Filed under: Fair Trade Gifts on December 23rd, 2011 | No Comments »

Here at Earth Divas, we’re passionately committed to fair trade practices with our artisans. Our owner, Ed, frequently travels to India and Nepal to meet with our artisans, and the co-ops they work with, to ensure that everyone is keeping their word and commitments to fair trade practices.

What’s scary is that sometimes, illegal practices still make their way into the fair trade circuit. Recently, a story broke on Bloomberg about this issue. The agency reports that Victoria’s Secret had been trying to do the right thing by purchasing fair trade, organic cotton for their lingerie line. However, Bloomberg discovered that the Burkina Fasa program, which sells certified organic and fair trade cotton, forced child labor is the norm.

It’s a heart-wrenching story. Bloomberg interviewed Clarissa, a 13-year old girl forced to work in the cotton fields in West Africa. The field manager frequently beats her with sticks if she goes too slow planting or picking. Instead of an ox, like most farmers use (and this farmer couldn’t afford), girls like Clarissa do the work digging the rows, picking the weeds, and picking the cotton. All by hand.

And, the “certified fair trade cotton” that 13 year-old Clarissa helped plant, grow, and harvest ended up in the panties and bras American women are buying at Victoria’s Secret.

The fair trade market is growing by leaps and bounds; according to Bloomberg, it grew 27% just last year alone. But this exponential growth has serious pitfalls. Namely, subsistence farmers are so eager to get a higher price for their goods by certifying it fair trade, that they’re illegally using child labor in order to cut costs and take advantage of the program.

A lot of times, even the most vigilant fair trade agencies don’t catch it all. FairTrade International had even certified the Burkina Faso program, saying that their practices met their standards.

Really?

As someone who cares deeply about fair trade, it’s astonishing to me that something like this could have slipped through the cracks. However, many certifying agencies are large. Like any bureaucracy, there is red tape, delays, paperwork, and probably under the table dealings. And the deeper I read into the in-depth Bloomberg article, the more I began to realize that stories like Clarissa’s aren’t that uncommon. Other than gold, cotton uses the most child labor, and forced labor, than any other commodity.

I encourage you strongly to read the Bloomberg article, which was incredibly thorough, fascinating, and sad. Only be exposing such organizations will the fair trade industry continue to improve, and ensure that every fair trade worker and farmer is treated fairly.

Filed under: Fair Trade News on December 20th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Here at Earth Divas, we specialize in handmade, fair trade bags. But what you might not know is that our artisans also make many unique, handmade accessories like scarves, necklaces, hats, belts, and mittons. Yep, really!

I love the accessories we carry because they’re truly unique. So, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite fair trade accessories we offer.

1. Moyer Hand Crocheted Scarf

I love this scarf so much, and if you look at the picture above you can see why. I love that our Moyer Scarf is handmade, and it’s created by a fair trade woman’s group in Nepal. Also, because it’s wool, it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Wool is just neat like that.

2. Hemp Belt

Our hemp belt is another favorite of mine because it’s so earthy looking. Purple is one of my favorite colors, and I love that it turned out so bright in the hemp cording our artisans used to make this belt!

3. Holiday Birds Stocking

We offer a wonderful variety of handmade, fair trade stockings! These stockings are created by a working woman’s fair trade group in Nepal. And, I love their simple and striking design!

4. Black Tegua Necklace

If you love handmade, fair trade jewelry, then you’ll love our Tegua Necklaces. These necklaces are made by a group of artisans in South America. I have one similar to this beautiful black one, and it’s so striking!

We have a limited number of these necklaces; they’re not something we will continually be carrying (like our hemp handbags) so if you like this one, don’t wait! They sure won’t be around forever.

Filed under: Fair Trade Gifts on December 16th, 2011 | No Comments »

I learned a valuable lesson a few weeks ago: water and laptops don’t go well together. As a result of an unfortunate accident involving these two elements, I had to upgrade my laptop. The good news is that the death of my old laptop meant I had a good excuse to get the new MacBook Pro, which I’m passionately in love with.

However, getting a new MacBook meant I needed to upgrade something else: my laptop case. So, I’ve been on the prowl for a fair trade laptop case that was funky, elegant, and well made. And, I figured if I was searching for something like this, then perhaps you were too! So I thought I’d share some of the wonderful cases I’ve found so far.

1. The Della Soaring MacBook Case

I love this case so, so much! It’s the Della Soaring MacBook Case.

The wonderful part of the Della case is that it’s handmade, and fair trade, by women in Ghana using sustainable materials. The fabric is also locally made.

The bad part? It only comes in one size, and that size happens to be too small for me. Otherwise I would buy this beautiful fair trade laptop case in a heartbeat! However, you can get this beautiful case for your iPad as well.

2. Awava’s Eddembe Macbook Sleeve

Awava’s Eddembe Macbook Sleeve is gorgeous, and comes in a variety of different vibrant fabrics. Awava’s products are made by women in Uganda, and they have some truly wonderful products on their site (including jewelry!). So, check it out!

3. Labudde Coffee Bag Laptop Sleeve

I love these upcycled coffee bag laptop sleeves by Labudde, on Etsy. I love that this artist is upcycling materials that might otherwise be thrown away. I also love the variety; each of these laptop sleeves is different, depending on the coffee bag. They’re very unique, and eco-friendly!

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags on December 15th, 2011 | No Comments »