5. Lotus Chime Everyone's favorite Lotus chime (as well as our other chimes) is made from repurposed flat sheets/pieces of scrap metal and are created by using basic hand tools and machinery. This craft is practiced in Behat in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Do you have a favorite product that we didn't include? Tell us in the comments below!
Here's the deal - when you use our direct link shopmira.faire.com you'll receive:
In addition to all of that, we are also running a promotion for FREE Shipping on orders over $500! This special promotion only runs until November 11, 2019.
What are you waiting for? Get shopping! :)
]]>— SHOP FAIR TRADE —
I know - that's a given, but knowing where your dollar is going to end up is very important. As a consumer, it's your responsibility to make sure you research a company before purchasing from them. Looking for fair trade certified companies is a great way to know right off the bat that they're motivated by helping others in less fortunate circumstances. This applies not only to food but clothing and home goods as well. Below is a list of some of our favorite fair trade companies:
— TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA —
We live in a time where people are easily influenced by what they see on social media. An easy way to show your fair trade support is to share it on these platforms. You don't have to be a social media guru to do this - simply take a picture of your fair trade purchase and share it! The more people get used to seeing the labels and knowing the term fair trade - the more likely they'll recognize it when they're out shopping!
— HAVE A FAIR TRADE HALLOWEEN PARTY —
Everyone loves a good Halloween party so why not make even better by having fair trade goodies and decor? You can find some fun and delicious Halloween chocolate from brands like EMVI Chocolate, Equal Exchange, and Divine Chocolate. And of course, you can always count on us to have cute and ethically made decorations!
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"Maplewood" hook being crafted!
"Take Me Home" hook in its finishing stages.
"Maine" desk art before being coated with bronze coloring.
Watch as this artisan preps the bike chain links to be used as functional products!
]]>The Logo
The first impression we make on you as a customer and the way we represent the company. We wanted to keep our chili pepper in the design of the logo as it was a staple when the business was first created. This can be seen in the first flame of our new logo! The second change is more noticeable in that our "icon" is now a beautiful flame that represents a new beginning, like a phoenix rising from ash. Fire is also a wonderful element that resides in the rituals and lives of many of our artisans - a full circle decision that ties our artisans to the amazing crafts that they create for us.
The Messages
From "Fair Trade" to "Trading Fairly." This positive message inspires us to continue our effort to trade goods fairly and consistently within the principles of the Fair Trade Federation. It also encourages others to think how they trade - are you being fair? Do you know how to be fair in your purchasing and trading?
From "Handmade, Socially Responsible Shopping" to "Love How You Buy." You're going to shop, to trade. Its inevitable, so why not love how you do it. This slogan truly touches at the core of the goals we are working towards. If you are being fair and just in what you buy, then buying items that are wholesome, skillfully crafted and made from those who are receiving fair wages and benefits from their work should make you love how you buy! No guilt here - our products are also made from mostly recycled and upcycled materials!
The Brand
We strive to be a wholesome, fun and unique company that brings skilled craftsmanship and traditional artforms to our customers. With this new image, we want to be even more transparent than we were before in how we design, connect and trade with our artisan partners. We want to bring you stories and achievements from our partners to show that our (you and I) efforts are working!
There's the short and sweet on our rebranding adventure! To those that made 2018 a successful year, we thank you. And to those who will make 2019 an even more successful year, we thank you too!
All our love,
The Mira Team
Meera, Emily and Cori
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Our best selling Silver Wrapped Wire Birds are too big of a hit not to introduce these antique-colored birds. Their color is perfect for for a fall scene on your mantle! Hand-wrapped by our artisans at Johra & Bohra Handicrafts in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
This weighted napkin holder fits small and large napkins for all of your cookie needs! Made from mango wood, its light, grainy texture make the white wash stand out. The weighted bar is made from painted aluminum.
Imagine practicing yoga in your home, with your fuzzy socks and a warm drink next to you. Now imagine it with this zen-ful Buddha Bell hanging in your yoga room! Made from recycled sheet metal, this bell is a work of art. Watch how it's made here!
Our copper coated bells are great for any season. Their resounding tones are peaceful and melodic to relax you throughout the day. These bells come in 6 different sizes!
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In my previous blog post, I covered the impact that transparency has on consumer interactions with fair trade products. We discussed how explicitly labeling an item as certified fair trade not only increased a buyers confidence in the legitimacy of the item, but lowered their hesitancy for paying a noticeably higher price. With this in mind, how can we recontextualize the role a customer has in the purchasing of fairly traded merchandise? There are a multitude of directions in which we could take this dilemma. One would be to pull apart the philosophy of a business transaction. Another take would be to analyze the ethics of selling fairly traded goods and what responsibility is gained (or lost) upon leaving the artisans hands. To begin, however, I would like to examine why we are asking this question in the first place.
Within the fair trade community exists a common, yet radically unique occurrence of story-telling in terms of how products are marketed and often sold. Websites, banners, and the anecdotes of sales people are filled with images of smiling artisans and the impact that supporting their company has on producers. I say this is common not only because it is a cornerstone of fair trade marketing, but because you will see the same kind of marketing at many other non-mission driven enterprises. Step into an engineering convention and you will see a scientist smiling with her hands crossed over her lab coat and safety goggles over her eyes. A slogan might appear which highlights how buying her engineering solution will “advance the field of material science into the future and beyond.” It is clear that marketing products to advance the commonwealth of some field (Indian metal workers, material sciences, etc.) is a customary marketing tool for any business sector. How then is the fair trade community radically different in this regard? The difference lies in the depth of impact a customer’s purchase has in the lives of the producers.
It is common knowledge that without the networking of fair trade distributors and retailers many disenfranchised artisans would be unable to make a constructive living from their craft. They might be able to peddle goods at tourist traps or in local markets, but the majority of craftsmen would be unable to provide a categorically different life for their family. With the introduction of Western markets, they can dramatically expand their business circle while concurrently honing their abilities. On one level, this is a very similar experience for people all around the world. Take a model living in the mid-West United States for example. They might be able to make a living working for local Nebraskan agencies, but the level of income potential in places like New York or Los Angeles would be nearly incomparable. Being able to tap into those markets could theoretically change their life forever. We see, therefore, that access to more active markets has the potential to thoroughly alter a producers business whether or not they are poor Indian artisans or American models. This begs the question: If the situation in small town Nebraska and Behat, India are the same, how does the marketing of one product differ from another? Why is selling a fair trade product fundamentally different from any other commodity? The answer lies in the standard of living present for each producer.
I do not need to explore this facet thoroughly as any person familiar with fair trade understands how appalling working situations can be for foreign producers before fair trade principles are enacted. Uneducated communities, societal norms, and geographic isolation are all circumstances which actively prevent progressive improvement in the lifestyle of any artisan. Holding this fact in mind, there is a contextually different experience brought to the marketing and sales process when describing the fair trade artisan versus any other “regular” product or service. This intuitive dissimilarity expresses itself through the importance placed upon artisan identity and cultural uniqueness. The radical difference in marketing styles is thusly a response to the understanding of how impactful a purchase is in the life of a craftsman. Buying a new nano-coating will not directly improve the lifestyle of the scientist who designed it, yet buying hand-dipped candles will undoubtedly improve the lifestyle of that producer. With this knowledge comes a near-proselytization of story as it relates to a company’s merchandise.
Might it be that the customer’s role in purchasing fair trade products is not to only carry on the item, but to pass on the story of how impactful that item was? Could it be that the true impact of fair trade is not wholly derived from the material transaction of money for product but in the proliferation of what power that exchange had in itself? If so, this would be a real world example where the pen is mightier than the proverbial sword. Fair trade companies would consequently bear a responsibility to readily communicate the influence of trade as a tool for change. Power lies not within the product but within the person. The better a company can embody this fact, the better they will be at including consumers within the fair trade process.
One of the concepts carried throughout this post was how the marketing process of fair trade businesses are impacted by their influence over producers. Next month we will look at how the idea of competition is changed when the priorities of these businesses shift from consumer satisfaction to producer empowerment.
]]>Perhaps one of the most fundamental attributes of the fair trade movement, transparency is the cornerstone for any successful enterprise within our field. The need for this virtue stems from the intentional obstruction large corporations have historically made in getting to know their supply chain. The ability for the average consumer to know how their products are being produced was not even available until a few decades ago. This is mostly due to large businesses pulling from massive pools of unskilled foreign labor. The uptick in modern consumer consciousness, however, has necessitated openness in terms of how a business functions across multiple levels.
Environmental awareness has been on the rise among the majority of buyers for the past two decades. This is not just in regards to pollution, but in terms of overall sustainability. A modern example of the overlap between transparency and environmental sustainability has been shown by Loren McClenachan with her team’s research on fair trade fishing. Published in 2016 by the journal Fish and Fisheries, their research discovered a viable market for socially responsible and ecologically protective fishing. Fair trade fish is probably not at the forefront of everyone’s mind when looking at global labor practices, but this research does highlight an important factor when it comes to the direction of fair trade.
The article demonstrated that explicitly labeling a product as certified fair trade causally relates to an increased willingness to pay a higher price and continuously patronize the establishment. As stated by McClenachan, “Specific or certified labels carried a premium over the vague labels across all three types of sustainability, suggesting that certification and specificity are valued by consumers” (McClenachan, 833)Seeing that the intuitions of many fair trade business people have been scientifically validated, what does that allow us to take away and apply to our stores and companies? For one thing it demonstrates that consumers are affected by the lucidity of how we market our company and products. Simply stating that something is “socially responsible” will not carry the same weight as being “certified fair trade.” Assuring our customers a transparent process from artisan to store will help increase overall sales. Maintaining this transparency will also promote repeat customers which every store owner knows is the best kind of buyer. If we now see how to develop consumer trust in our brand and products, how do we begin to involve them in that process?
One of the themes I have carried through these posts is that consumer involvement in fair trade is crucial for its global development. Artisans and producers cannot be involved in our customers lives until the customers are involved in the suppliers’ life. Next month we will look at how important consumer involvement is for socially responsible shopping and what practices will optimize that activity.
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Source: McClenachan, Loren, Sahan T M Dissanayake, and Xiaojie Chen. "Fair trade fish: consumer support for broader seafood sustainability." Fish and Fisheries, vol. 17, no. 3. 2016, 825-838.
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Father's Day was first talked about after a mining accident killed 361 men in Monongah, West Virginia in December 1907. A Sunday sermon was held in honor of these men, thus becoming the first fathers-only memorial event in the U.S.
Getting her inspiration from the woman behind the Mother's Day movement, Sonora Smart Dodd pushed to have an official day to honor fathers for their hard work and commitment to their families. Dodd and her 5 other brothers and sisters were raised by only their father, hence her inspiration to honor her dad.
The first Father's Day was celebrated in the state of Washington on June 19, 1910.The holiday spread around the country and in 1924, Calvin Coolidge urged state governments to observe the holiday. It wasn't until Nixon that the holiday became permanent in 1972. Today the holiday is observed on the third Sunday of June.
Now that you have a little bit of history, don't you think dad is a little more deserving of just a card and some Snickers bars? We've compiled a list of gifts your father, grandfather, father-in-law, step-father or any father figure in your life will love!
Sold in an assorted set of 6 different mustache styles, these coasters are unique in design and also keep water marks off of your furniture. Made from sustainable mango wood.
Made from upcycled bike chains, these frame is eco-friendly with a rustic touch! If dad likes motorcycles or just a casual bike ride on a trail, he'll love this frame with your picture in it!
Even dad needs to organize! Our Flex Bowls come in both small and large sizes depending on your needs. These bowls can bend into 5 different shapes based on what you hold in each. Try it out! Customers love them!
Recycled Keys Hook
This hook, made from once-used keys, gives dad a space to hang his jacket, keys and hat! This sturdy hook hold enough weight for all that dad needs to hang. Surprise him by hanging this by a door or in an entry way!
Mr. Mustache Eyeglasses Holder
Does dad have glasses that he keeps setting down and "losing"? Help him remember where they are with these sustainable eyeglasses holders!
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There are countless reasons to do away with the consumptive model, yet what if there was nothing wrong with consumerism but the way in which it was directed? How might our perception of consumption shift if it was directed with a purpose? Would buying a product be seen as polluting and empty if it was sustainably sourced and attached to a cause? Based on the work of thousands of fair trade participants, it would appear not.
Our consumer mentality is currently ingrained with a penchant for immediate gratification. We crave the possession of that which we desire in as little time as possible. This desire has grown from a luxurious byproduct of mass production to a ravenous necessity of the modern era. Speed and efficiency are the measure by which all modern-day enterprises judge their success. We are so wrapped up in the desire to be immediately rewarded that we have begun to believe we can successfully apply that evaluation to all aspects of life. If you look at the truly monumental achievements of human culture, however, you will see that they must be experienced at a sustainable pace to derive their intrinsic benefit. Symphonies are not meant to be played forte and prestissimo throughout their entire duration. Great paintings are not meant to be scanned like a resume. The beauty of a rose cannot be appreciated through a deep gasp of its aroma. Fundamentally, a true appreciate of life in art and the art of life comes about by purposefully experiencing the situation before us. To live otherwise will be as confusing as a 3-minute rendition of Bach’s Tocatta and Fuge.
Let us take the previously mentioned statement as fact. Let us assume that fulfillment and beauty are not necessarily linked with speed and efficiency. What does that leave us with when understanding our society? What aspects of our daily life are able to be experienced slowly and with meaning? Looking at the average lifestyle of countless human beings, we are left with very few moments that contain a sense of purpose. Things are done for no other reason than that they must be finished before the next situation presents itself. Living a life filled with this rapid change undoubtedly makes everything seem meaningless. A sustained experience of emptiness will leave one with a sense of disconnectedness, antipathy for one’s surroundings, and a restless desire to fill that empty space in our life. All of these outlooks are characteristic of modern consumerism. We are a society without purpose and therefore regard for the experience of those around us due to our dependency on efficiency. This is readily apparent by the horrid working conditions in Amazon distribution centers. All of this is a byproduct of blind consumption. How might we be able to shift from senseless purchasing to an action that fulfills our life? How can we restore the sight of the trading experience? Simply by bringing meaning back into a purchase, by connection consumerism with poverty alleviation.
I briefly covered the impact fair trade principles could have on producers in my last article “Fair Trade Made Simple: Pt. 2,” yet I never touched upon what changes that might have on the person who buys the product. An individual who deeply resonates with the spirit of fair trade is likely to feel an inner satisfaction that results from making their purchase. This is not related to the selfish gratification that plagues our society, but is a recognition of the meaning attached to what they did. Value can be derived from an act that previously held no more meaning that microwaving a meal or driving to work. This is not something to be underestimated in a world filled with aimless growth. Fair trade business practices have the ability to reconnect an individual with their humanity in a very small way. Even though this may play a minor role in the overall scheme of a person’s life, it will undoubtedly evolve into a habit which draws them back and continually supports the lifestyle of foreign artisans. If we of the fair trade community made it a point to demonstrate the impact consumers had on the lifestyle of impoverished artisans, it might act as an accelerant for the expansion of fair trade business models. In fact, recent studies show that consumers are more likely to purchase fair trade items if they are presented with avenues which directly redress economic injustice.
We can therefore see a two-fold connection between fair trade and the benefits it has on the consumer. On one level it provides them with a high quality, handcrafted product. On the other it imbues a sense of meaning into an action which would have otherwise added confusion to their daily existence. The next time we display a product or order a new collection, we should stop and think about how we can help others derive a sense of meaning from what they might buy. We should ask ourselves, how can I use this to inspire meaning in the life of another?
]]>As for my own perspective on these topics, I do not think any of them will produce the change we seek because all of them are wrong. From my experience at the conference, it appears that the FTF community has fallen prey to a form of divisive, bifurcated thinking which plagues stagnating organizations. No one is to hold blame for this occurrence, however, as this is a natural result of the circumstances.
Fair Trade as the Core of the FTF's Uniqueness
In a community which lacks identity, the strongest impulse is always to condense that which is scattered, to ground that which is flighty, and to solidify that which is abstract. The definition of fair trade is all of the latter and more. The 9 principles we abide by and our commitment to 360° fair trade are enough to govern the machinations of an individual business. Nevertheless, if you go deep enough within the philosophy of the Federation, you will find that the very words we use to denote our existence (the FTF) lack a stability appropriate for an endeavor of this caliber. According to the Fair Trade Federation, we understand the definition of “Fair Trade” to be:
An approach to business and to development based on dialogue, transparency, and respect that seeks to create greater equity in the international trading system.
I am not debating the importance or validity of dialogue, transparency, or respect within the definition but the use of the word “approach” when attempting to define fair trade. Approach has many different connotations depending upon it’s setting, yet the meaning important for this discussion is the one equivalent to ‘method’ or ‘perspective.’ Inherent within these synonyms is the concept of subjectivity as the root of its being. Every individual within the fair trade community has their own approach for how exactly they should conduct fair trade business. The three pronged definition acts as a guideline which allows them to develop a uniquely tailored perspective when deciding how to run their company. This method is different between every member of the FTF and, if you were to ask each member to define fair trade, you would probably get a different definition every time. When looked at from the broadest perspective, we are essentially a community running on fair trade spirit. There is something beyond us which guides the entirety of our Federation. Every person has a unique micro-approach that collectively works to dictate how the whole organization is to move. As Chris Solt often says, “This is your organization.” The direction of this collective cannot be and has never been dictated by a single person. Essentially, we have a general understanding of the fair trade movement which we are trying to interpret through our specific experiences. I believe that this disconnect is the cause behind why the FTF has failed at raising their membership over the past few years. We lack a truly shared understanding of fair trade, something which would act as a unificatory force within the community itself.
Collaboration as the Solution to Stagnation
There is a famous allegory which tells of numerous men who walk into a darkened tent with a single candle. Their goal is to understand what an elephant is. With his limited perspective, each man grasps onto the first thing he sees and proclaims “This is an elephant!” One man says it is rigid and white, one man says it is rotund and gray, and another says that it is flexible and breathing. Each man is correct, yet each man is wrong. The Fair Trade Federation is stuck within an identical predicament. Every single one of us has some amount of familiarity with the elephant, yet no one possesses the knowledge of it in its entirety. Each individual recognizes that the other is describing an elephant, yet everyone disagrees on what constitutes the thing we are describing. Without a doubt, some members have a much brighter light than others. Those luminous years of experience can guide us towards a better understanding of the creature that is fair trade, yet if someone knew enough to show us fair trade in its entirety it would have happened within the past quarter century.
My purpose behind writing this article is to have people wake up and recognize that the Fair Trade Federation, in fact the fair trade movement itself, cannot flourish within the next 25 years if we do not begin sharing our light. The majority of members seem to be garnering their experience within this movement and promoting their own understanding of what fair trade should be. How can we say what fair trade should turn into if we do not even know what it is? Attempting to do so is to embrace that divisive thought I mentioned before. The Fair Trade Federation requires a crystallization of its community experience if it is to make the change it wishes to see. We can no longer exist as partially enlightened business people and expect a radical transformation of the consumer market place.
The current demand for fairly traded goods is little more than the unconscious pull of that “fair trade spirit” I mentioned above. A consensus reached by many visitors to the conference was that we are hotly debating a topic which truly affects very few people. To metaphorically understand our position, we are an ember of change within the dead forest of consumptive industrialism. Just because this ember exists does not mean it will transform into an indomitable fire. Our organization can survive within this global market place, however, if we stop chasing the next small twig and focus on cultivating the ones we have already ignited. Pooling our efforts and concentrating on the potential within the Federation will manifest the transformative blaze we all uniquely possess. What implications does this have for the practical endeavors the FTF has to undertake?
For one thing, it should reorient our attention from the markets and possibilities outside our control towards the ones within and between us (something that has already begun to happen). This means that our Federation must shift from being a conglomeration of loosely allied organizations into a consortium of interacting units. Such a transition will only be capable through a self-dedicated commitment to collaboration between various competing and unrelated members. We can no longer grow as a federation which holds itself together by similar ideals, but must learn to stand together through committed action. This also means that we should consider granting the Federation’s leaders fiscal autonomy for completing decisions which will assist in the clarification of a distinguishable and coherent brand identity. Whether it be by volunteer sub-committees or a paid marketing expert, FTF members must have expert direction if they can effectively promote the FTF logo. As unappealing as the truth may be, public change often requires a stronger brand image than operating philosophy. The third action an inwards shift requires is the concerted effort of individuals and groups to begin discussing an active definition of "fair trade." I am not saying we redefine the definition which is used by the FTF, but that we begin to reinterpret that definition as something applicable to the Federation as a whole. We have been using the definition of fair trade to delineate our actions outside of the FTF, but how can the definition be applied to what goes on within it? How should we understand fair trade when it is a philosophy between multiple companies and not just underprivileged producer groups? Does dialogue, transparency, and respect still maintain its importance when we deal with our fellow members or are we somehow outside of that requirement? As stated within our Organizational Vision we are, “a collaborative community whose members and partners support each other, learn together, and harness their power to grow.”
The Federation’s Interaction with the Average Consumer
A reality which every FTF member must understand and embrace is that we are currently making a negligible difference in the fate of the planet. This is not a pessimistic observation but a realistic fact. As a whole, the realm of fair trade has been reduced to in-fighting, squabbling, and outright competition over something which has less financial power than the world’s top 3 companies. I am not devaluing the influence we have at the individual or communal level, and I am not trying to underestimate the potential within this movement. What I am saying is that is it imperative we collectively gain a perspective on what we are actually doing. If we lose sight of the forest for the trees, we will self-destruct before we ever sway the machinations of large corporate entities. With our commercially trivial position understood, we must begin to comprehend the nature of our interactions with the consumer marketplace.
No American fair trade organization is currently at a level where it can artificially create the demand for its products to facilitate perpetual growth much less foster meaningful development. In other words, you will not see a FTF advertisement at the Superbowl or the Grammys. The fair trade community is not even at a level where it can hold substantive talks between disparate organizations. How can it expect to engineer or foster a major change in consumer mentality? This reality dictates that fair trade, to some degree, should be exactly what the average consumer expects it to be. Due to the relatively blind movement of consumption patterns within the U.S, a movement such as fair trade is largely at the whim of the masses. There are a number of awakened individuals who are actively funneling their time, money, and attention towards this movement, yet their influence is no match for 300 million consumers. If we are to survive this challenge of the global market place, attempting to define and instruct a buyer on exactly what fair trade is (or should be) will get us absolutely nowhere. If consumer consciousness was at a level where it could be dramatically impacted by lofty ethics and an acceptance of human value over financial value, I would not have to be writing this post. In order for us to foster continuous growth towards the center of global commerce we must “ride the wave,” so to speak, of purchasing trends and constructively respond to them at every opportunity. If people believe that fair trade is expensive, we work to give them affordably priced products. If people believe that fair trade means low quality, we provide high quality items as a counter. If fair trade is connected to uninspired designs or brands, we come out with the most modern and relevant products possible. This will seem obvious to anyone with half a business sense as we all seek to provide the items which do best in our markets. What I am proposing is that the way the FTF promotes its “Consumer Knowledge” organizational value is by reaching out and asking the consumer what they understand fair trade to be. The accurate interpretations can be reinforced, the uncertainties can be answered, and the incorrect assumptions can be corrected. Such a process will educate the consumer about fair trade and educate the fair trader about the consumer market place. This provides a direct connection to what 300 million people understand our market to be and lets the community members adjust their businesses accordingly, ergo we take our first step in navigating the domestic marketplace as a true federation.
Conclusion
The most important facet I want the reader to take away from this letter is that our development and survival is dependent upon the FTF community choosing to grow together. We need to look at how the separation within the FTF has stymied our development as a community and ask what we can to do overcome this delay. We must see that consolidating the FTF’s collective knowledge will be a tremendous help for guiding new business and discerning the next steps the FTF should take. Something that is clear to our members is that a unified brand image is essential for proper consumer interaction. However the change may be enacted, directed marketing campaigns based on consumer feedback will go a long way in helping us understand what new changes to embrace and which ones to rebuff. All of this is dependent upon us trusting the other members of this organization and being willing to collaborate for the benefit of the producers.
Fundamentally, nothing about working in this field is easy and, as demonstrated by numerous speakers at last weeks convention, it takes tremendous effort and discipline to materialize the right kind of change in the world. Yet as maintained within our commitment to Community: “We value the global fair trade movement, recognizing that we are intrinsically interdependent, and believe that our unified voices convey a powerful message.” In order to have a lasting impact on the world, we need to come together and craft a unified message which can truly bring about global change.
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When sitting down to write this blog, there were a number of things going through my mind as to how I should introduce fair trade. One could begin with an explication as to how fair trade works, when exactly it started, or why we need it in the first place. When all is said and done; however, we must begin by understanding what fair trade is. As touched upon in my previous post, fair trade appears to me as a motion, “of modern principles within the sphere of commerce.” This movement is not solely reliant upon the actual exchange of goods, but also on the vibrancy with which it is endowed. Within the domain of fair trade, there is an undeniably mystical happenstance that occurs when people from two distinct cultures mutually work to achieve the same end; as if the humanity of another is partially revealed through the goods made by their hands. What those of the fair trade community strive to accomplish is bring that experience to as many individuals as possible. For in making that the norm, we effectively re-humanize a mechanistic, almost subliminal, aspect of our daily experience. Herein lies the true beauty of the experience: whether social, political, or personal, change is intricately bound to the progression of fair trade.
An obstruction to this development is rooted in the human tendency for antipathy towards problems beyond one’s immediate concern. We do not care how items are sourced, produced, and distributed as long as they are cheap, abundant, and punctual. What many people fail to note is that even a marginal increase in end product price can reflect a considerable increase in living standard for the producer. The reality of this can be seen when one understands the state of Indian coffee growers and how exposed they are to market fluctuations. Almost 70% of the one million Indian coffee growers are small scale producers with over half being classed as poor (Karki, 436-437). This means they have relatively little capital to carry them through difficult sales periods. Following the coffee crisis of the early 2000’s, the extent to which they were vulnerable was displayed on a massive scale. Many farmers were thrown into poverty, starvation, and even driven to suicide over the mounting debt and falling profit. None of this would have needed to happen if there was an established network of fair trade producers and buyers. A 2016 study published in the Agricultural and Resource Economics Review found a “gain of 17 percent in income from opting to be certified” for fair trade selling practices (Karki, 455). Their overall findings, “establish that fair trade certification of coffee in India has played a positive role in improving the income of participating farmers” (Karki, 455). This simple example demonstrates how promoting fair trade in one area of a country can create a meaningful change for hundreds of thousands of people.
Those who oppose fair trade often do so out of an unfamiliarity with pressing issues in the global agenda. They believe there are more important matters to attend to than a foreign laborer in some no-name sweatshop. Yet place yourself in that workers position and the necessity for change, for a radical transformation in the status quo, becomes readily apparent. Multiply the average laborers experience across a billion people in dozens of countries and the scale of human exploitation is staggering. That fails to even broach the subject of what environmental defilement is accepted to achieve those ends.
Facing a reality such as this begins to drive home the sheer magnitude of the problem humanity is facing. It may seem as if a handful of people can make no difference, yet nothing could be further from the truth. For until the small minority begins to enact a reformation of our current commercial system, everything will remain the same. Supporting the dignified lifestyle of another human being is not something that requires a mutual tongue. This truth of society is a key to solving our seemingly irreducible trade dilemma. With millions of producers working via partners in the West, we are beginning to take the first steps in collectively improving our global community. We must simply remember to never stop moving forward.
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Source:
]]>In an upcoming series of articles on the Mira Fair Trade website, I will begin to break down and explain this initiative. Fair trade will be split up in terms of the individual, corporate, national, and transnational structures which constitute the movement. As a way of giving you, the reader, concrete and meaningful information, everything I explain will be backed up by real-world numbers and supported with professional, academic sources. Fair trade will be looked at from many different angles, not just those pertinent to our company, in order to give you a fresh and applicable comprehension.
In the age of globalization, we are no longer limited by geographic or temporal restrictions. We have the capability of traveling to, or ordering from, almost any country in the world with the push of a button. Yet along with this increase in fiscal autonomy comes an increase in the responsibility we have when making a purchase. Buying a product is no longer something you can do with an acquaintance, but is an act of complete anonymity. It has become disjointed from the chain of production which brought that item to you in the first place. No one knows the name of who made their stove, car, or almost any item within their household. While this brings with it many opportunities for efficiency and innovation, it has come at the cost of morality and human dignity. Children in Africa now dig for the minerals which power our phones. Sweatshops in Thailand produce the t-shirts we put on our loved one’s backs. Workers all around the world live on pennies a day because our consumer markets have allowed that injustice to occur. This is where fair trade can change all of that.
Fair Trade is a living philosophy. It is a movement of modern principles within the sphere of commerce. The spirit of fair trade is one of empowerment and respect built upon an innate drive to help our fellow human beings. The drive to support other men and women is not something which needs to be taught to others. It is not something which requires a college degree to understand. What it requires is the simple realization that an individual has the ability to change a community, that a community can change a nation, and that a nation can change the world. Join us at the beginning of every month as we explore the realm of global fair trade and develop new insights into this uplifting phenomenon.
]]>We were so happy to see our friends who made it out to the NY Now Trade Show last week. It was great to catch up with you all and see what was new with fair trade!
For those of you who weren't able to make it, we wanted to share our experience with you and get you up to speed on our latest progresses and products!
We introduced all of our 2017-2018 products at the show for the first time to customers. We had an overwhelming response and a great show! This response definitely solidifies our faith in Fair Trade and moves us to keep working hard for you, our customers, and the artisans we stand behind.
A Big Hit:
Our new Mandala Tapestries were a hit a the show! A beautiful piece of home decor, the Mandala Tapestry can be used as wall art, a throw or blanket in a dorm or on a couch, or even a colorful tablecloth in your dining room! We were so happy that these took off because they really are a lovely piece of art!
Up & Coming:
With retailers gearing up for the holiday season, our wrapped wire snowmen caught the eye of the many visitors who walked past and entered our booth. Made from thin metal wire and a thick frame, a continuous wire is wrapped around the frame to create these simple but chic snowmen! They come in 2 colors, traditional silver and rustic copper, and 2 different sizes for an ultimate holiday mantle look!
A Crowd Favorite:
We introduced a new bunting style (top two in above picture) which has traditional kantha stitching running through it and comes in a wild variety of colors as you can see by the picture! Our original Sari Buntings are still a favorite, but we had a great response to the new buntings, which took off!
Friends Who Stopped By (a shout out to you!):
(Laura Camp from Simply Fair)
(Chris Solt from the Fair Trade Federation)
(Tina DoLatowski from Lion and Blue)
So there is a quick update of what's happening in our world! If you didn't make it to the show, let's talk! Get in touch with us to talk about best sellers and new products, and let us know if you want to place an order! We would also LOVE for you to have one of our new catalogs (either PDF or physical copy) - so send us an email at sales@shopmira.com or call us at 412-430-0120 to request one!
Happy shopping!
-The Mira Fair Trade Team
]]>In this collection, you will find new chimes, popular bike chain art including hooks and picture frames, bells, holiday items and now fabrics! We are most excited about our Mandala Throw and Shibori Throw. They are stamped and created with a traditional Indian art form and are exquisitely intricate, best shown off hanging on your wall or couch. We encourage you to take a look at our NEW section on ShopMira.com to see all of our new products.
Take a look at just a few of our favorites from this collection below!
-The Mira Fair Trade Team
This heavy cotton tapestry is stamped with an intricate design and is perfect for a picnic or movie night. Also looks full of life and color hanging on your living room wall!
"Om" in religions like Hinduism is sacred and represents wholesomeness, among many things. Hang this chime up in a yoga studio, or just on your porch when you are looking for some peace and tranquility.
Need a space for your kids' backpacks, coats, hats and umbrellas? Or just need some more floor space? We designed this new hook to not only clear up your floor of jackets, but also to help remember fun times by including a picture frame! Hang each shape frame up with your kids' pictures in them so everyone is organized when catching the bus in the morning. Also great to hang your dog's leash and his cute little picture for when he wants to go on a walk!
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(Photo by Zee Bee Market)