Earth Divas' Blog

Earth Divas is most well-known for our fair trade bags. However, many people don’t realize we have a wide variety of fair trade gift bags and note cards. All the paper products we offer through Earth Divas are hand made, and I love them because they’re very earthy and natural.

Here are a few of my favorites!

1. Three Flowers Note Cards

Our Three Flowers Notecards are perfect when you want to write something special to someone, especially to say “thank you.”

We also have several other handmade notecard designs. My personal favorite is our Bodi Leaf notecards, which you can see below.

2. Fern Gift Bag

When you have a super special gift to give, our Fern Giftbag is the perfect way to wrap it up in a thoughtful, earth-friendly way! Like all our paper products, this gift bag is hand made and very sturdy, which means it can be reused many times. We also have a Bodi Leaf Giftbag, below, which I love too!

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags on March 27th, 2013 | No Comments »

Last year Earth Divas become a recognized fair trade organization through the Fair Trade Federation. This was a happy day for us because it meant we’d achieved a high standard of excellence and fairness in the eyes of this worthy organization.

This recognition also showed the world that we truly care about fair trade, and that it’s at the core of everything we do at Earth Divas. But, what is the Fair Trade Federation, and what does it do?

The Fair Trade Federation – Supporting and Promoting Fair Trade

The Fair Trade Federation is a non-profit trade association who’s goal is to strengthen and promote North American organizations who are fully committed to doing business by fair trade practices.

Fair Trade Princples

One of the most important things the Fair Trade Federation does is provide a framework businesses can use to guide their decisions, and support fair trade principles. Every member of the Fair Trade Federation must abide by the following principles:

• Create Opportunities for Economically and Socially Marginalized Producers – Fair Trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development.  Members create social and economic opportunities through trading partnerships with marginalized producers.  Members place the interests of producers and their communities as the primary concern of their enterprise.

• Develop Transparent and Accountable Relationships- Fair Trade involves relationships that are open, fair, consistent, and respectful. Members show consideration for both customers and producers by sharing information about the entire trading chain through honest and proactive communication. They create mechanisms to help customers and producers feel actively involved in the trading chain. If problems arise, members work cooperatively with fair trade partners and other organizations to implement solutions.

• Build Capacity- Fair Trade is a means to develop producers’ independence.  Members maintain long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust, and mutual respect, so that producers can improve their skills and their access to markets. Members help producers to build capacity through proactive communication, financial and technical assistance, market information, and dialogue. They seek to share lessons learned, to spread best practices, and to strengthen the connections between communities, including among producer groups.

• Promote Fair Trade- Fair Trade encourages an understanding by all participants of their role in world trade. Members actively raise awareness about Fair Trade and the possibility of greater justice in the global economic system. They encourage customers and producers to ask questions about conventional and alternative supply chains and to make informed choices. Members demonstrate that trade can be a positive force for improving living standards, health, education, the distribution of power, and the environment in the communities with which they work.

• Pay Promptly and Fairly- Fair Trade empowers producers to set prices within the framework of the true costs of labor time, materials, sustainable growth, and related factors. Members take steps to ensure that producers have the capacity to manage this process. Members comply with or exceed international, national, local, and, where applicable, Fair Trade Minimum standards for their employees and producers. Members seek to ensure that income is distributed equitably at all times, particularly equal pay for equal work by women and men. Members ensure prompt payment to all of their partners. Producers are offered access to interest-free advance payment for handmade goods, or pre-finance of agricultural harvest with favorable terms.

• Support Safe and Empowering Working Conditions – Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment free of forced labor. Throughout the trading chain, Members cultivate workplaces that empower people to participate in the decisions that affect them.  Members seek to eliminate discrimination based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, age, marital, or health status. Members support workplaces free from physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal harassment or abuse.

• Ensure the Rights of Children – Fair Trade means that all children have the right to security, education, and play. Throughout the trading chain, Members respect and support the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as local laws and social norms. Members disclose the involvement of children in production. Members do not support child trafficking and exploitative child labor.

• Cultivate Environmental Stewardship – Fair Trade seeks to offer current generations the ability to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Members actively consider the implications of their decisions on the environment and promote the responsible stewardship of resources. Members reduce, reuse, reclaim, and recycle materials wherever possible. They encourage environmentally sustainable practices throughout the entire trading chain.

• Respect Cultural Identity – Fair Trade celebrates the cultural diversity of communities, while seeking to create positive and equitable change. Members respect the development of products, practices, and organizational models based on indigenous traditions and techniques to sustain cultures and revitalize traditions. Members balance market needs with producers’ cultural heritage.

Promoting Fair Trade

Another important role of the The Fair Trade Federation is promotion. The FTF works tirelessly to spread awareness about fair trade, and how important it is for consumers to consider the rights and lives of the workers and artisans around the world that produce so many of the goods we take for granted.

People who work in the fair trade industry see fair trade as common sense: something we must practice, as human beings. However, many people in the world have never heard of fair trade, or they might give little thought to where their goods come from and how they’re made.

Highlighting the plight of foreign workers and artisans is probably the most important role of the FTF. Education is the only way to change things long-term. Once people become aware of the problem, and they make an emotional connection to people working two-thousand miles away, they realize they have to change their behavior.

The FTF lights these little fires of awareness all of the world. And, one tiny flame leads to another, which leads to another…and that’s how real change happens.

So, we give thanks to the Fair Trade Federation for the incredibly important work they’re doing around the world!

Filed under: Fair Trade Basics on March 26th, 2013 | No Comments »

Spring is starting to make herself known in many parts of the country right now. And with Easter only a week away, it really does feel like winter is over and done with. Where I’m at in New Mexico I can see pale green buds opening up on the trees, and tiny purple flowers are slowly popping up around the streams and lakes. Yay!

To celebrate this happy occasion, I wanted to highlight some of our wonderful fair trade kids’ bags that remind me of Spring. Hopefully wherever you are, Spring is creeping in slowly and surely!

1. Ladybug Bag

I love the friendly face on our fun Ladybug Bag. Her little smiley face is simple and sweet!

2. Froggie Bag

Our Froggie Bag would make a wonderful companion for a child. Like all of our animal bags he’s friendly and ready to go on his next adventure. And with that jaunty red vest, who wouldn’t want to take this fine fellow along?

3. Yellow Butterfly Bag

To me, our Yellow Butterfly Bag is the Springiest of the lot. This wonderful fair trade bag is so bright and cheerful!

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags on March 25th, 2013 | No Comments »

Did you know that the average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar every day? That’s 100 pounds of sugar each year. Yeah, it’s a lot.

Much of the world’s sugar comes from Africa, where it’s easy to grow sugarcane. The problem is that because the sugarcane industry is so huge there, workers are largely unprotected. Child labor is often used, wages are low, and conditions are dangerous.

This is why it’s so important that we buy fair trade sugar. We eat a lot of sugar in this country, and the sad fact is that we eat more every year as retailers and food industry giants slip more and more of the sweet white stuff into processed foods. Africa’s sugar production is expected to grow by 4% over the next decade.

The good news is that according to the Fair Trade Federation, the fair trade label is slowing having a positive effect on African sugarcane workers. Here’s an excerpt from a wonderful article on AllAfrica.com, about how fair trade is helping sugarcane workers in Malawi:

Although its presence in sub-Saharan Africa’s sugar industry is recent – Swaziland and Malawi sugar companies have only received their Fairtrade label in the last few years – the conditions of sugar farmers and mill workers have significantly improved here since the late 90s. One such example is the Kasinthula Cane Growers Cooperative in Malawi.

As one of the larger sugar companies in the region with a collective of over 500 farmers, it is an example of the benefits that Fairtrade labeling can bring. According to a Fairtrade case study of the cooperative, the ethical label has resulted in increased financial remuneration for farmers and workers; development projects to improve access to clean drinking water; the addition of new machinery to aid workers and minimize hard labor; and future plans to build schools, clinics, and roads.

This is just one small example that shows buying fair trade really does have a positive effect in the world. We might not ever get to see it here in the US, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Buying fair trade anything makes a positive difference to someone else, whether you’re buying a fair trade bag, fair trade bananas, or fair trade sugar. Your purchase helps directly support a farmer, not a multi-national corporation or export industry. And often, the profits from that fair trade purchase are used to enhance the quality of life for an entire village or reason.

So, the next time you’re in the grocery store, please stop and consider buying fair trade sugar, and what that purchase might mean to someone living an entirely different life thousands of miles away. T

Filed under: Uncategorized on March 16th, 2013 | No Comments »

World Fair Trade Day is May 11. And to celebrate, this year the World Fair Trade Organization is coordinating events with hundreds of retail outlets around the world.

The theme for this year’s celebration is Fair Trade Relationships, and this is an issue that hits home with us here at Earth Divas. We believe that the relationships with our artisans is the heart of our business; without their trust and craftsmanship, we wouldn’t be where we are today. This is one of the reasons why we give 100% of our profits back to them. Their skill and dedication is what makes Earth Divas possible!

We’re really excited about World Fair Trade Day, as I’m sure every fair trade retailer is. The retailers that are taking part in the celebration will be offering free product samples, talks, and demonstrations. You’ll also be able to enter to win a fair trade trip for two to Peru at the locations hosting these celebrations.

As World Fair Trade Day gets closer I’m sure that they’ll be releasing the retailers that will be hosting a celebration; surely Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Markets, and Earth Fare will be involved, and probably 10,000 Villages and other fair trade retailers. You can find more information about this exciting event here.

Filed under: Fair Trade News on March 15th, 2013 | 1 Comment »

When I stumbled into this interview with Chris Haughton on Digital Arts I knew I had to share it with all of you because it’s just amazing.

Chris Hauton is an author, but he’s also the owner of Node, a company that helps connects artists with fair trade artisans in Nepal. Put simply, the artists create these incredible, eye-popping designs, and then the artisans in Nepal, who are connected with the organization Fair Trade Nepal, make the rugs.

The work these artisans do on behalf of Fair Trade Nepal supports a school of 260 children, and an orphanage of 19 children. Amazing. You can find out more on how these rugs are made, and how they benefit Fair Trade Nepal (and the school and orphanage,) here. Below is a picture of the children that are able to attend school because of these rugs:

Here are some examples of the rugs Node has for sale right now.

Aren’t they fabulous? Not only are the designs creative and fun, but I love that they’re handmade in Nepal, and fairly traded.

Filed under: Fair Trade Living on March 5th, 2013 | 1 Comment »

It’s hard to believe that South by Southwest (SXSW) starts March 8. I’m so happy for all of you who are getting to go! Stevie Nicks is speaking at the festival this year, and as she’s one of my favorite artists I would love to have the chance to see her.

The wonderful thing about SXSW is that it’s so much more than just a music festival. There are whole sections of the city devoted to artists/creativity venues, film festivals, speakers, comedy, startups…you get the picture. Austin turns into a hotbed of thought leaders, artists, cool musicians, and educational activities. I would lovelovelove to go not only for myself, but to showcase some of our wonderful fair trade bags!

In honor of one of the country’s greatest and most diverse music festivals, I wanted to highlight two our bags that I think would be great to take to this event.

1. Rustic Cotton Corduroy

I can see our Rustic Cotton Corduroy bag at SXSW because it has that hippy, southwestern vibe. There’s also plenty of room in here to stow a sleeve (when it gets chilly in the evening,) a bottle of water, your sunnies, plenty of sunscreen, and even a light blanket for the lawn shows. Perfect!

2. Embroidered Passport Bag

The opposite end of the spectrum for festival bag is our Embroidered Passport Bag. This bag is roughly 8 inches by 6 inches, which means it’s lightweight and super easy to carry around on long days. Personally, when I’m at a day-long (or several days-long) festival I opt for a tiny bag like this one…just big enough for your wallet, cell phone, and sunglasses so your shoulder doesn’t get sore!

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags on March 4th, 2013 | No Comments »

So yesterday I wrote about some of the great Spring styles that one of my favorite companies, Tom’s, has come out with recently. However, I had no idea they were involved with a really exciting and wonderful social awareness campaign.

It’s called Ticket to Give. Here’s what’s happening: Tom’s wants to take 50 people with them on their next shoe giving campaign. These 50 people will get to experience what it’s like to be part of the Tom’s team, and give away shoes to children in need.

Think about what an experience like that would do for people. They would get to see what conditions are really like in these countries…many of which are just like India and Nepal, the two countries we at Earth Divas work with most. They would get to see a child’s face light up with joy as they get their first pair of shoes, which now means they can attend school.

These people will learn gratitude, humility, and have an opportunity to reflect on just how fortunate we all are in the country. I love that Tom’s is doing this!

How to Enter

Entering Ticket to Give is really easy. You take a photo that means something to you; a great example is the first image in this post, created by Amber. You title your entry (such as Ticket to Hope, Ticket to Humility, Ticket to Grow, etc.), and then write one paragraph explaining why you want to go with Toms on a giving trip. The 50 people with the most votes wins.

Here’s another entry photo I really like, from Tessa.

Anyway, I’m encouraging all of you to go enter if this is something that speaks to your heart. At the least, browse through some of the current entries and vote for your favorites. And Kudos to Toms, again, for providing such an amazing opportunity for people!

Filed under: Uncategorized on February 21st, 2013 | No Comments »

Tom’s is one of my favorite companies, for several reasons. First, their shoes and flats are wonderfully stylish and comfortable; any company who can marry comfort and style get an A+ in my book.

However, a more important reason why I love Tom’s is because they have huge heart, and they are committed to making a real difference in the world. Whenever you purchase a pair of Tom’s shoe, the company donates a pair to a child in a developing country.

So, I wanted to spread the word about this great company I love and highlight some of their new flats for Spring!

1. Gray Chambray Trim

I love Tom’s new Gray Chambray Trim flat because it has just a hint of the Southwest style that has everyone (including myself) swooning right now.

2. Essien Classic

I lovelovelove Tom’s Essien Classic flat. It’s vibrant, stylish, and would perfect with a pair of skinny jeans and a simple white top.

3. Turquoise/Purple Vegan Classic

So, how would you possibly pick between these two? Turquoise, or purple? I admit I’m lusting after both pairs, and it’s amazing that they’re made with zero animal ingredients…even the glues are vegan! I really don’t know how I’d choose.

Filed under: Uncategorized on February 20th, 2013 | 2 Comments »

February is often the longest month to get through, even though it’s the shortest one of the year. Every time this month rolls around I start dreaming of traveling some place exotic like Nepal, Costa Rica, India, or Thailand. I yearn for different foods, different cultures, different dress, and different people. This world is so wonderfully diverse, and I want to see all of it!

In the spirit of my adventurous gypsy spirit today, I wanted to highlight some Earth Divas bags that I would love to take traveling with me. To me, these bags all have the same rugged, earthy, gypsy feel (and, you can see more of my favorite gypsy bags here.)

1. Recycled Rice Bag Backpack

Our Recycled Rice Bag Backpack is one of my favorite bags for traveling because it’s really roomy and made to last. I’ve hauled this bag all over, from San Francisco to Barcelona, and it’s never let me down. So, it’s my #1 pick for a travel bag!

2. Sanskrit Hobo Bag

Our Sanskrit Hobo Bag would make a wonderful adventure bag because again, it’s roomy, and the strap is long enough to work well as a cross-body bag, which is always safer to protect against thieves.

3. The Weekend Getaway Bag

I call this the Weekend Getaway Bag because it’s the perfect size and style for a quick weekend adventure! This is the kind of bag you’d take for a few nights in a sumptuous bed and breakfast, or a night away with someone special.

Where is your next adventure going to be?

Filed under: Fair Trade Bags on February 14th, 2013 | No Comments »