What Motivates You to be a Fair Trader? These Stories Answer that Question

 Nancy (left) & colleagues

I know why I work in fair trade and why I established Dunitz & Company as a vehicle to sell beautiful handcrafted jewelry. I've traveled the world over. And too often I'd seen (and see) wonderful artisans who live in poverty with no access to sell their creations. I adore designing. I adore collaborating. And I wanted to find a market for artisan goods that would allow many to have a better life.  This is my story in a nutshell. I was curious what motivated other fair traders, so I decided to ask.

I reached out to several colleagues of mine who are always the most collaborative and supportive. This seemed a good place to start.  Several are Fair Trade Federation members. Others are not, but live by fair trade principles.  Here's are my questions and their answers.  I asked them to be concise in their responses and interpret my questions as they saw fit.

What motivates you to work in fair trade? Did you have a life experience that changed the way you see and work in the world?

Nina with artisans

Nina Moukova - Seeds To Sew International - It's the women and girls who participate in our programs, and knowing that by doing what I do, I can help create a lasting positive change in their lives. Every time I come across a customer who wants to hear about our artisans and is touched by the difference they can make in someone's life buy buying a product handmade by them, it touches my heart. It helps me realize that there are a lot of caring people out there and our work is meaningful - for both the artisans and the people who are happy to share with the less fortunate.

Julio at his store

Julio Zegarra-Ballon - Zee Bee Market - I was born in Peru and saw first-hand the lack of opportunity countless artisans face daily. I then built a career in retail working for large US corporations and realized I wanted to launch a Fair Trade business that would give market opportunities to talented artisans and makers the world over.

 

 

 

 

 

Rikki with Husband, Jim

Rikki Quintana - Hoon Arts Fair Trade - Art grabs people's attention. Through Fair Trade, I can use beautiful and unique Central Asian handicrafts to build long-term collaborative relationships and open the doorway to this unknown part of the world so that people in the West can see our common humanity and appreciate our beautiful diversity. It's my contribution to building a more peaceful, connected world.

 

Cael with artisans

Cael Chappell - Baskets of Africa - I suppose it's in my nature that I love helping people. So it's very rewarding for me to affect change in Africa by providing transformational opportunities for a person, family, community, or region...simply by treating them with respect and paying them a great price for their beautiful creations. I grew up very poor myself, sometimes homeless, and have lived without running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, or any modern amenities. When I first went to Africa almost 30 years ago, I realized that the majority of the continent lives in those difficult conditions and i wanted to do what I could to provide economic opportunities.

LeeAnne wears fair trade

LeeAnne McCoy - Change the World By How You Shop - Around 15 years ago, how I shopped was forever changed when I watched a video about Chinese pastors, imprisoned for their beliefs, forced to work 16 hours a day making Christmas lights. Though I initially changed my shopping habits to avoid exploitation, what motivates me now to support fair trade is the stories of how lives have been impacted in a positive way.

Karen with artisans

Karen Sparacio - Project Have Hope - Having traveled to Uganda in 2005, I saw the talented craftsmanship of a group of paper-bead making artisans. They had the skills; they just needed someone to help them bridge the gap to the marketplace. From day one, it was imperative to me that these artisans should have a voice as powerful as their talent.

Rosa with Peruvian colleagues

Rosa Chang - Blossom Inspirations - After living abroad from my home country of Peru - studying then working, I was looking for ways to reconnect with my home, our culture and traditions. I started bringing handicrafts fro my friends when visiting Peru, which eventally grew into a small business. Running the business under the tenets of fair trade was a way of giving back. Self-reflection made me realize that our humanity often gets overlooked in the profit & loss statements and that there are more stakeholders than those who hold shares in any given business.

Akhmim artisan

Hala Scandar - Dandarah  - Having grown up in Egypt, I have always appreciated Egyptian crafts and the highly talented artisans who create these treasures. Dandarah was born from a desire to empower marginalized artisans and help them sustain their age-old crafts. I so want to share their exquisite products beyond the boundaries of their home country and in a way that they are treated ethically.

 

 

Creating Opportunity in Haiti

Michele Adams - Village Country Store -  I strongly advocate ethical brand shopping, purveyors and supporters of fair trade who are working towards the good of us all.  I have met so many incredible people working in fair trade who little by little and piece by piece are making a difference. By launching my fair trade store, I'm able to spread social good, awareness, hope and help others less fortunate than me.

 

 

 

 

Designer, Kovida at work

Joan Rasch - Sevya  - Through this work, we are inspired each day to grow in our contentment and compassion. When we se the women artisans we work with blossom into their empowered selves, always giving of themselves with care and joy in their hearts, it motivates us to keep our hearts open and to give our ourselves without inhibition.

 

Caryn(right) & Sandra

Caryn Maxim - Mayamam Weavers - Volunteering with undocumented immigrants in my community of Morristown, NJ opened my eyes to the horrible realities that force so many people to migrate from their homes leaving family behind. I collaborated with a group of migrants from Guatemala that had organized themselves to look out for each other while in the US which lead me to apply my years of business experience to organize a weaving cooperative back in their community in Guatemala. By following the fair trade principles, the women of the cooperative are able to stay in their country, earn fair wages, support their families and reinvest in their community.

 

Anne with artisans

Anne Kelly - Mayan Hands - At its core, fair trade is about honoring shared connections. Nothing motivates me more than working alongside our artisan partners. I'm inspired by their creativity, strength, and their willingness to take on risks like learning new techniques or business skills. I believe the women are powerful agents for change, ad it's a joy to be there, through all the ups and downs, with our artisan partners as they work to create better futures for their families and communities.

 

Eldonna with artisans

Eldonna Fernandez - Baskets & Beads Kenya - As a military veteran who lived a life of service for 23 years, I have traveled the world and been to many different places and countries. I am motivated by the Air Force Core Value that still stays with me, Service Before Self.  I did have a life changing experience when I visited Kenya for the first time and met the women there. I knew working with them was the next "Service before Self" event for my life.

 

 

 

Nancy (that's me) with artisans

After reading my colleagues responses, it seems there is a common thread among us. Most of us have traveled the world or were born in a third world country. In those places we've spent meaning chunks of time, we've discovered and met countless artisans who need opportunities to sell their craft. And all of us live by the golden rule and expect that all workers should be treated with respect and earn living wages. I'm so happy to share these sound bites from my colleagues who live life in the same lane as me and Dunitz & Company. If you have a story from your experiences, I'd love to hear it. Please email me. -ND

Product Photography - Learning By Example

Dunitz Glass Earrings

I'm always thinking about how I can create enticing photography for Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry website and social feeds. I've mastered the "jewelry on white background" images. These are the types of images needed for 'clean' website viewing and required by most trade magazines for publication. How do I do it? With a light box and Photoshop. Here's the Photoshop trick I use, assuming you use this software. Image > Adjustment > Levels --- adjust & there you go.  I know others use various phone apps to manage the white backgrounds. For me, Photoshop is what works. But what about all those other sexy pics I see on Instagram? I think I do an admirable job with the Dunitz & Company photography. I also know that I can always do better.  Watching other photo feeds sometimes make for the best teachers. Here are a few Instagram accounts worth following. Perhaps they'll have a thing or two to teach you. And honestly, you may fall in love with their products too. Why not? 

 

Lucuma Designs

Lucuma Designs is a Fair Trade Federation colleague of ours. They work with artisans in Peru and their Instagram feed is yummy. I tend to linger on some of their photos more than ones from other feeds.  I love how many of their images show an item (a gourd perhaps) in complete focus. And everything around it is blurry. I know this has something to do with depth of field. But, heck, I don't know how to create that effect. If you're an expert with a camera and know how that is accomplished, please email me.

 

The Spiral Rock

The Spiral Rock offers up some really wonderful product pics on their Instagram feed. I love how they use so many angles and add cool looking measurement tools so you know what size everything actually is. The designer, Harriet, who I know from a couple of Facbook groups told me she often uses window ledges for her background. How cool is that? 

Fazlco

 

It appears that each and every photo I see from Fazl Socks makes me drool with envy. Their photography makes socks sexy. I think you'll be inspired by their excellent photography and you'll want to go out and buy yourself a pair of their ethically made socks. Fazlco is a screened member (like us, self-serving pitch) of Fair Trade Federation.

Flavour Design Studio

There is no way that Flavour Design Studio was NOT going to make this list. Elan, their founder and designer has an incredible eye. Everything from product design to photography, everything she touches has such style. Flavor Design was my neighbor many times at trade shows, and their booth always looked perfect. As far as photography goes, it's clear that Elan carefully plans each of her shots which really in turn express the mood she is after. It's a cold day. Oh that soup in her Buddha Bowl is steaming. Looking for good luck? Her bowls are filled with just the right Lucky Charm cereal. She's on my pedestal.

M.Lew Jewelry

Melissa Lew knows how to make her jewelry rock on Instagram. Her feed is really fun to follow and she has a great eye for combining lifestyle shots with great product photography. She is a Museum Store Association vendor colleague of mine. And she also happens to be one of the most collaborative and helpful people around. Without asking, she'll jump in and offer assistance whenever she knows she can. Definitely check out her jewelry and her photography! 

Awamaki Peru

Awamaki Peru sure draws me into their Instagram feed. They have some lovely product shots. And their images of their colorful artisans are dreamy.  After following along, you'll feel as if you KNOW their weavers, their community and their beautiful products. Dreaming of a new pair of winter gloves? This Fair Trade Federation member company could be the perfect resource.

Helen Gotlib

My niece, and a fabulous artist she is, Helen Gotlib earns a thumbs up for her Instagram feed. Her product is her wonderful artwork. And she does an amazing job showcasing it. You'll see many pics of her and her process in her studio. Including many videos. Drool. Drool. (Watching what she does with video might encourage you to do the same.) She manages to obtain and share lots of shots of her work in their final homes. And some of those homes are Architectural Digest worthy.

Mayamam Weavers

Perhaps you read my last blog post that included thoughts from Mayamam Weavers about their design process and working with artisans in Guatemala. Now, our Fair Trade Federation colleague deserves a shout-out for their fabulous photography. Yes, we follow them on Instagram. And I'm always amazed how they manage so many ways to show off their gorgeous textiles. What most impresses me is how they stage so many engaging shots. At a picnic. Baking cookies. Drinking martinis. Washing dishes. They're so clever!

Indigo Jones

Are you a foodie? Then you must follow my high school friend (yes, high school), Shari Hershon from Indigo Jones. You'll want to eat everything she bakes and cooks. Her photography is just that enticing. She also bakes to order, so if you need gluten-free eye candy, she's your person.  Go ahead. Start drooling.  She also lists some of her treats in her Etsy shop.

Kahiniwalla

Kahiniwalla is an expert when it comes to baby toys and rattles. And they definitely have their photography down to a tee. I mean, who doesn't want to see an adorable photo of a child playing with a colorful toy? Their Instagram feed will fill you with smiles. Did I say that Kahiniwalla is also a Fair Trade Federation member? Their beautiful offerings are ethically made in Bangladesh.

Pin Me

So now that I've shared some of my favorite Instagram feeds for photography inspiration, can you suggest some of your favorites to me?  Please email them to my attention and I promise I'll have a look.  My 2021 goal after reviewing these feeds for this post, is to take some extra time and create some staged photos. Maybe Dunitz fair trade jewelry on wrists, reading a book, with elbows on a table.

 

 

 

 

Dunitz & Company

For a closing thought, let me share a smokin' hot pic I like a lot from the Dunitz & Company Instagram feed. -ND

Fair Trade Federation Designers at Work in Guatemala

A few of my Guatemalan colleagues, 2006

 I've been working and collaborating with artisans in Guatemala since the early 1990's. One of the most wonderful things about the Dunitz & Company fair trade jewelry collection is that our designs are always original. We pride ourselves in offering designs that are unique, ones you won't find from other vendors. (Have we been copied? Yes. And that's for another blog post.) The collaboration process with artisans is one of most rewarding aspects of building an ethical collection.

 

For this blog post, I reached out to a few other designers that work in Guatemala. The companies these women are affiliated with are all members of Fair Trade Federation.  I know these women have all worked tirelessly to build a market for Guatemalan artisans. Each has their own story.  I asked them if they'd be willing to share a story about their journey with me. Lucky for us, they all said yes.  I asked them a series of loose questions. And then it was left up to them, how they wanted to answer my inquiries. Keep reading. First I'll share my questions. And then you can learn more about these amazing fair traders.  And, yes, lastly, I'll share a story from my Dunitz & Company experiences.

NANCY: Please respond to whichever question or part of my inquiry gives you joy or might be interesting to those that read my blog post. How did you get involved with designing and collaborating with artisans in Guatemala?  Do you have a favorite design? Can you tell me about it? Or one that has a fun story behind it? Definitely tell me about an item where I can share the link for purchase.

ANNE KELLY from Mayan Hands: Thank you so much for asking about design, because it's such an important and fun part of our work. Mayan Hands has been partnering with Mayan women artists for more than 30 years. The design process has always been collaborative, and supporting the women in preserving the culture they cherish, especially as expressed in their textile traditions, is part of our mission.  The gorgeous textile techniques and the colors that Guatemala is known for makes the process exciting. For me, the very best part is when we are able to work alongside one another. We are often working with many layers of language (English to Spanish to Kaqchikel or Tz'utijil or K'iche or A'chi), but it's the common language of handwork that forges deeper connections. As we sit together, we talk about our lives, our families, our hopes and dreams - and yes, the designs as well.

Mayan Hands Artist, Cecilia

I'm always inspired by the creativity of the women, and their willingness to stretch their imaginations and their skills. One example is our collection of beautiful pine needle baskets. A few coops of weavers and embroiderers learned the basics of basket-making, and the women took their newly acquired skills to amazing places, infusing the baskets with motifs and symbols also seen in their weaving. Periodically, we put out a call for a new designs, sort of a basket competition. Anything goes! The women are paid for their submissions and prizes are given for the winning designs. Of course, the best prize is when a new design goes into production (sometimes after tweaks), bringing more work and income to everyone in the coop. 

 

Catarina Basket

 It's hard to choose a favorite design - there are so many. I love our Catarina Basket. The coop that makes it came to us several years ago looking for work.  They had some basic basket making skills, but didn't yet have the consistency we needed. They began working with us by making simpler designs so they could earn income while honing their skills, then advanced to making more technically challenging baskets. When they submitted this basket after a call for new designs, we knew immediately it was a winner (and indeed, it's a bestseller). We named it after the woman who made the first sample. The stitches, all perfectly executed, give the basket a beautiful energy that everyone loves.  Now this coop is one of our strongest and some of the women have gone on to teach other groups, a great ripple effect. 

 

Mayamam Weavings

CARYN MAXIM & JENNIFER WEBSTER from Mayamam Weavers - Mayamam Weavers works with one women's weaving cooperative in the western highlands of Guatemala. Our product design strategy is a collaboration between the cooperative and our small team here in the United States. In the U.S., we understand the market better and know what products may successfully sell. In Guatemala, the women have the talent and skills to weave beautiful textiles, skills that have been handed down from their ancestors. A fun example of how we have truly come together to create a successful product is our popular Cuadritos line of table linens. It began as a request to our backstrap weaving team to weave a square in whatever pattern wanted, to create a kind of "sampler" of their skills. Here in the U.S., we studied each of their squares. We selected the weave they called Cuadritos (which means "small squares" in Spanish) and asked the foot loom weavers if they could interpret it on the foot loom. Our Jeweltone Cuadritos design came out of that interpretation.  It has turned out to be a wonder fabric. Sewn into placemats and table runners, the fabric is unbelievably easy to care for. Not only is it washing machine friendly, when you take it out from the dryer, it doesn't even need ironing. It comes out completely ready to adorn your table! Since Cuadritos was so well received, we have since introduced two additional color combinations, Blue Moon and Champagne & Pearls. 

 

Allison with Santa & Paulina

ALLISON HAVENS from Yabal - I came to Guatemala in 2011 after having worked in a fair trade store in Chicago for several years, looking for a change of scenery and work. I worked as a Volunteer and Activity Coordinator at a womens and childrens domestic violence center in Quetzaltenango for my first three years in Guatemala. However, I soon became frustrated with the lack of options for these families to maintain their economic independence from their abusers and the overall lack of work options for uneducated women in Guatemala.  This experience brought me back full circle into the fair trade worlds as I connected with the local women's fair trade organization Yabal. I began working with them in 2012 to build up their business and sales, and have been with Yabal since. The mission of Yabal is to support rural women artisans through consistent, well paid, respectful artisan textile work. The impact is real, tangible, and immediate for the women and their families we partner with. It's incredible to see how this type of work and equitable business relationship changes lives and builds confidence in the women that have worked with Yabal for many years.

I didn't start off designing products for Yabal but the nature of the work led me to try my hand at product design. There is so much local competition for artisan goods in Guatemala that unique designs and quality crafts(woman)ship are one of the only ways to set yourself apart and continue providing for work for our weavers. I have a background in studio art, but product design was overwhelming for me. Yabal's weavers have the ability to create hundreds of incredible pattern and color combinations. It's almost impossible to limit the design possibilities into just one "collection." I usually have an impulse to include every design and every color option in our collection because they're all gorgeous. It's just not possible.

When creating Yabal designs, we always use one of the women's own weavings as a base and jumping-off point. A lot of times, it's really about choosing a certain color palette and paring down the number of color combinations used so that the design is more attractive to trends in a foreign market. We seek to maintain the identity of the weaving designs and of the communities where they come from while adding a bit Western design influence.  Usually the process is a very collaborative effort and we take our design lead from the incredible master artisans we partner with.

Maya Coin Purse in Blue

One of my favorite products is the Maya Coin Purse. This product is an example of not wanting to completely narrow down and standardize the design; allowing some spontaneity and creativity up to the weavers. Because of this, each of these purses features a difference brocade design using traditional Maya geometric patterns. This makes each purse an original artwork created by each weaver. While the design patterns will vary with each purse, the colors are standardized and simplified. When stores purchase several of these coin purses, the variations shipped allows customer to choose a design that is completely unique. And even better, the threads for our coin purses are artisanally dyed using all natural plants and minerals by another women's cooperative. 

That was fun and informative for me to read these stories, and to see how these women interpreted my questions.  And I supposed you might want to hear some tales from me now :).

NANCY DUNITZ from Dunitz & Company - I launched my business in 1989 after traveling to Guatemala to explore the possibilities of working with and collaborating with artisans there. There were a number of foreign nationals living in Guatemala at the time, all willing to introduce me to the members of their community and various Mayan artisans they knew. At the time, one of the only ways to get around Guatemala was by public bus. I fortunately was able to hire a private driver who took me to many remote villages where I was able to meet many artisans and see their work first-hand. I was also told about an American woman living in Guatemala who was working with and showing Mayan woman how to create bead-work. (Beading is not indigenous to Guatemala.) Initially, and unsuccessfully I had tried to connect with her on one of my trips to Lake Atitlan. 

 

Nancy & Suri

Here's my quirky story. And it probably is more quirky for my now longtime friend and colleague, Suri. I think it was my second time ever exhibiting at the Los Angeles Gift Show. She walked into my booth and introduced herself. Her mom was living in Los Angeles at the time, and she'd come to visit her. And while she was in town, she managed a pass to check out the trade show. That is when and where the seeds of our collaborations sprouted. More amazing, the exhibitor next to me, who designed clothing from Guatemala, was married to Suri's half sister, a woman she had never met until that day. Her sister had grown up in Mexico, and only by chit-chatting with my neighbor did they make that connection. She has always repeated that that was one of the most meaningful days of her life. She met her sister. And she met me. Wow. Right?

You can only imagine the voluminous number of designs and color combinations we've created together over our tenure. There was a time when we'd introduce 60 or more new designs twice a year. And each season everything would be created in 12 new color combinations. As the women who created our beaded jewelry became more proficient and confident, they'd often present to us designs that they had thought up. Often these became part of the Dunitz & Company beaded collection. Those early days were crazy. We had created a huge demand for bead-work, we had our clandestine workshop, and we hadn't yet been copied. I used to exhibit at 16 wholesale trade shows each year. Can you imagine?

Dunitz Coral Jewelry

 

So, where did it all begin? Our beaded Coral Necklaces and Coral Earrings were first introduced nearly 30 years ago. And they still sell well. They say emulation is the sincerest form of flattery. That's a tough one for me to swallow. If my ego got in the way on this one, I would have retired this design a long time ago. Many other companies have created their version of what we do. Thankfully, over the years our wholesale customers seem to appreciate our quality and color combinations. Our coral jewelry always feels soft and flows easily. This design has actually been featured on multiple mail-order catalog covers!

 

 

Coming up with ideas for blog posts is often challenging. And as many of you know, I often like to support my fair trade colleagues by sharing what they are doing and/or writing. This post is no different. I wanted to take my hat off to Anne Kelly, Caryn Maxim, Jennifer Webster and Allison Havens who are doing an amazing job of creating opportunity for artisans in Guatemala. We all work endlessly and being recognized for a job well done can go a long way. So, you go girls! And when you need a beautifully made, fair trade gift, please consider one of our designs. Their links are above. And of course, Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry is also only a click away. -ND

Why Pantone Colors Ultimate Gray & Illuminating Don't Work for Me

A Big No - Ultimate Gray & Illumnating

When it comes to colors for the Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry collection, I have strong opinions. I've been designing for so many years, and I just know that Patone's Colors of the Year, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (a bold shade of yellow) absolutely do not work for our jewelry collection. Perhaps people feel gray after a year in quarantine. It doesn't mean they want to wear their mood. And bright yellow has been described as a hopeful color; a ray of sunshine. I'm afraid that most skin tones are just not suited for yellow. And together? No. No. No. I don't think this is a winning combination at all for fashion jewelry. I'm not even going to try and convince you that I was prepared for this trend and can pitch items in our collection that hit the mark. In years past when clothing designers were high on yellow, I jumped on their bandwagon. Guess what? For us, bright yellow has always been a flop. Gray on the other hand combined with lavender or sea foam is often a huge win. But never with yellow. [Note to reader. I made a conscious choice not to share yellow disasters from Dunitz & Company's past seasons.]

So, let's talk a little bit about yellow and gray! (My instinct is to spell that grey. Both are correct. Just saying. Since Pantone uses the "a", for this post I'll stick to it.) In fact, I'll actually address each, as it applies to Dunitz & Company's Spring 2021 offerings. 

Pale Gold & Mint Teardrops

Brash Illuminating Yellow. Never. However, creamy egg-shell yellow, gold, pale yellow, light amber... there are variations that definitely work. And for Spring 2021, Dunitz & Company offers this pale golden yellow with mint color combination. We hope you'll like it. I think our necklaces, bracelets and earrings in these colors will be a terrific addition for a beachy Boho vibe outfit. And folks, this is all you get from Dunitz for the upcoming season in "yellow."

One more important note about me, I want my readers to know. I adore bright yellow. Just not typically for fashion jewelry. You should know that I had my house painted yellow and have stuck with this same Aspen Yellow from Dunn Edwards for well over 20 years. When the sun shines directly on the house, it appears quite lively. And for conversation purposes, I always choose a photo that includes our Doberman mascot, Stetson!.

 

Gray & Lavender Earrings

Back to Jewelry... Gray? Yes, but never solo. And definitely not with yellow.  This season in fair trade beadwork, we're pairing gray with silver and lavender. With a hint of purple, we want you to think about Spring flowers. And shades of purple are always so magical. I want you to think about unicorns, not drab concrete or an old comfie worn out blanket. I didn't just come up with that. I read an Art News article that mentioned the blanket.

 

 

Gray Glass Earrings

I'm using gray in three color combinations for our Joanie M glass jewelry collection for Spring. One combines gray with a snowy white and a hint of "classic blue" AKA Pantone's 2020 color of the year.   Another pairs gray with sapphire blue and a splash of silver. And finally for a bit more vibrancy, I've matched up gray with some aqua and pale emerald.

 

 

Here's one more the thing. All of my design work and color planning for Spring 2021 was completed before Pantone announced their Colors of the Year this past December. I stick with my choices for our fair trade jewelry collection. I'm not experiencing even a tad of trepidation for not having a Ultimate Gray & Illuminating color combination. -ND

My Favorite Things - Fair Trade Things

I thought it would be fun to share my favorite fair trade things I enjoy and use on a regular basis. First off, I must pay praise to my favorite Dunitz & Company fair trade bracelet. My embroidered floral bracelet has been worn for so long and so often, it now possesses a vintage flair. I typically add additional Boho style with a couple of skinny slide bracelets. I know there is oodles of gorgeous fair trade jewelry available. But if not for family heirlooms, You'd only see me wearing jewelry I design.

In the spirit of collaboration over competition, I am sharing my favorite fair trade things from my Fair Trade Federation colleagues.  

Some of my favorite fair trade things include consumable items. I consume a lot of Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Liquid Soap. I use it for hand washing dishes and washing my hands. Seriously! I dilute it for use by my kitchen sink. It cuts through grease with such ease. And I'm crazy for anything minty. My local Costco sells this soap, which makes purchasing it really easy and affordable.

Lucky for me, I really don't suffer from chapped lips. But every once in a while, ya gotta have a good lip balm around. And this is were Zambeezi enters the picture. I particularly like their organic lemongrass beeswax balm. The scent and flavor is very subtle. But don't go with what I say. You might prefer their tangerine or wild rose flavors.

Do you use a comb? Most of  the time I use a brush. But there are times, especially after washing my mane, I prefer the use of a comb.  So, why not use the most beautiful comb available in the whole wide world? Mine comes from HoonArts and was painstakingly carved by Master Sodiq in Tajikistan. (Get out a map.) My comb was carved out of walnut. Others are made with apricot wood. This might be the perfect gift for someone who already seems to have everything and needs nothing.

It's 2020, and you know what that means. #Maskup! #Maskon! Dunitz & Company offers at retail some of the most exquisite masks available. Yes Yes. I'm tooting my own horn. The thing is, I want to tell you about some other masks I love to wear too.  And I just can't do that without putting in a good word for the ones I designed with my colleagues in Guatemala. Ours use back-strap handwoven fabric that is then adorned with embroidered and beaded flowers. We offer them in several colors. Beige (shown here) is my personal favorite. Each of our masks is one-of-a-kind.

I've only worn this gorgeous mask from Blossom Inspirations a couple of times so far. I'm totally in love with it. It's such a piece of art, I think I should be framing it!  These masks are made with the Arpillera technique you've seen out of Peru. I was told it can take seven, yes, "7" hours to craft one of these. Seriously. My Peruvian fashion statement fits quite comfortably. They make these kid-size too.

Want a mask with a bit more subtlety?  You might consider Sevya's masks. They're roomy, easy on the ears and available in nice neutral colors. I'm even letting you see here how I look in mine. These have turned out to be really helpful in my office too.  I always put on a mask before I answer the door for the postman or other delivery people. These go on very easily.  Gotta guy you have to buy something for? These mask are perfect for men too. Did I call them subtle?

I realize that as I type this blog post, I keep calling things potential gifts, for the reader. (That's you.)  Clearly it's a November thing. Of course, I think any day can be a gift-giving day.  And that's exactly why I absolutely love Seeds to Sew International's Enkiteng bags. They're beautifully sewn with assorted fabrics with grosgrain ribbon. Drop a book, a box, or gift inside. Tie the ribbon. Voila. The prettiest and easiest gift wrap ever. (And the receiver can recycle, reuse or use them however they see fit.) These are sewn by women in Kenya, and each bag is signed by the woman who made it. Nice touch. 

One of my favorite fair trade things (other than all of Dunitz & Company's jewelry) comes from Guatemala where I've been working for over 30 years. And as I warmly (literally) think about it, I'm reminded of a giant storm that closed down New York City and the New York Gift Show.  Yes, I was wearing that favorite fair trade chenille scarf of mine. So for this blog post, I dug out the photo proof. That scarf is nice and long, long enough to wrap around my head and neck. (That's me on the far right.)

 

Don't worry. Here's a pic of my rayon chenille scarf. I actually own two. My favorite is green. The other is sort-of an eggplant purple. These are made in a cooperative in Solola where the yarn is spun, dyed and then back-strap loom woven into these magnificent scarves. One year just about everyone in my family received one as a gift. And guess what? They're available from Mayan Hands. Did I say how much I love my chenille scarves?

 

 

 

As I am typing my blog salutation, I can hear Julie Andrews singing "these are a few of my favorite things." (Can you hear it too?) This list is short, I know. But these ARE my favorite fair trade things. Maybe they'll become yours too. - ND