Banana Fiber Earrings from Kenya, $8.00
Black Soapstone Earrings from Kenya, $8.00
Hello! It's been awhile since I posted on here, but I thought I would take the time to share with you about fair trade. Fair trade is the idea that artisans should get paid a fair wage for the work that they do. A lot of big apparel corporations have gotten into trouble for ignoring ethical issues and paying their workers below the minimum wage (also known as sweat-shop labor). HandCrafting Justice is one of many fair trade organizations that promote dignified work for women in 20 developing countries. The women receive a sustainable wage for the work that they do so that they can provide food and education for their families.
Here are some interesting facts:
Absolute poverty is defined as living on less than $1 a day.
1.5 billion people around the world live in absolute poverty.
70% of the poor in the world are women.
HCJ works with mainly with women because women are more likely to invest in their children and they are the main caretakers in the household.
I've been working for HandCrafting Justice for about six months now, and it has been a pleasure learning more about what the organization does. We work closely with the artisans to achieve high-quality products and to provide a constant flow of income for them. Buy fair trade and make a difference. (There's nothing better than some shameless promotion.)
Silk Carryall Bag from Thailand, $40.00
Ilse's Backpack from Thailand, $25.00Photo credits: www.handcraftingjustice.org
