The Goings On in Fair Trade: Fair Trade Federation Member Blogs

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It definitely takes effort to keep a blog current. And I do my best to keep the ball rolling on our Dunitz & Company blog. Have you read some of my entries? I've been at it for a long time. Sometimes I create gift guides that include products from my Fair Trade Federation colleagues. Since COVID lock down, I've taken up drawing portraits. For fun, I use Photoshop to add Dunitz designs. That has allowed me more opportunity to show off my artwork.  I also enjoy interviewing colleagues. 

It's always a challenge to come up with new topics that might pique some interest. I was browsing our blog when I noticed it had been more than 4 years since I posted about other blogs written by my Fair Trade Federation colleagues. That was a popular and very well-read entry. Since it's been that long, it definitely makes sense to do this update! I noticed on review, there were companies listed that are no longer affiliated with FTF. And there are others that haven't made any posts for more than a year. I just scoured all the FTF member websites so I could create an updated list of  Fair Trade Federation blogs. Since 2020, there are many new members actively blogging.  I'm amazed to find 14 new blogs that are active and worthy of this list. If a blog hasn't been updated in nearly a year, they've been dropped from my list.

I check in on my colleague's blogs from time to time. I share their stories on X and Threads. When I click to read blogs, I want to discover recent posts. I have to believe that's what other people want to find as well. I know sometimes companies/people pause on writing, and then get back to it. If you start writing again, let me know and I'll add you to this list.

In no particular order, check out the blogs of Fair Trade Federation members. Mine is listed last. (But it is also linked in the first paragraph above.)

MAYAN HANDS - A few years back I became aware of Mayan Hands' blog when they wrote an article that touched me deeply. This particular entry delved into how many vendors in Guatemala call their designs recycled, when in reality, poor people desperate for money are selling them their family textile heirlooms. These in turn are sewn into bags, hats and coin purses. Ever since reading that post, I know Mayan Hands always has something important to say.

FAIR TRADE WINDS -  I love that Fair Trade Winds often writes about the lines they sell in their stores. They're so supportive and informative. In fact, they interviewed me not to long ago to commemorate Women's History Month.  They also post some fabulous fair trade recipes that will make you drool. (I always pin them to our Fair Trade Recipes board on Pinterest.)

LAADI DESIGNS - It was fun for me to see Laadi Designs latest blog post which reflects on 2024 fashion colors. I take color trends quite seriously, although I don't always agree with what some of the experts project. Do you remember when Pantone suggested gray and yellow were going to dominate? I really enjoyed browsing Laadi Design's blog posts that have a strong fashion bent.

CAFE CAMPESINO - Lovely posts. Lovely photos. In June of this year they wrote about the process of making and the evolution of decaf Coffee. Seriously folks. There's always something new to learn about coffee and how it is made!

MOSAIC - (a blog from Ten Thousand Villages) - Now here is a site where you can read about every possible topic that interests you. Yoga. Fashion. Travel. Maker Stories. This site is actually quite overwhelming.

BUNYAAD - Here's a blog you can relate to. Reading lists. Recipes. How to clean wine from a rug. Even tips for choosing the right rug. (and they should know!) This is all info that just about anyone can benefit from.  And I'm drooling over the Gulab Jamun Bundt Cake recipe they've written about.

HOONARTS - HoonArts blog addresses topics that specifically relate to Central Asia. And this is a good thing because I think most of us know very little about this part of the world. After checking out HoonArts blog, you can read my post where I interviewed Rikki Quintana, the woman behind this company. Rikki will also tease you with photos from her recent tour (you can go on the next one) to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

SERRV - Read about eyeglass initiatives or snag a recipe or two. There are posts that will warm your heart. Yes, I posted from their blog to the Dunitz Pinterest recipe page, yet again!

HUMANKIND SLO - Check out Humankind's blog. It's fun to read their stories about the lines they carry. They also write about topics that are specific to their community. Maybe one day soon, they'll interview me.  In the meantime, I actually wrote a post on this blog where you can learn a bit more about LynAnne Wiest, their store manager.

RAVEN & LILY - It looks like Raven & Lily's blog, noted as "the Journal" covers many topics. Most recently they wrote about gemstones. You'll find interviews with makers, reading recommendations and a bit about their home base of Austin, TX.  I'm going to keep my eye on this journal, for sure.

DR. BRONNER - You'll need an afternoon to read through all of Dr. Bronner's entries. You'll find thoughtful articles addressing current events. And you'll find great tips for how to use their wonderful products. I vote for their Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap. Learn more on their blog.

MAYAMAM WEAVERS - I am always drooling over the photos Mayamam Weavers posts on Instagram. Now I can drool more when checking out their blog.  And since they work in Guatemala (where I've been working for almost forever,) I really adore seeing their images. I see faces and designs that have become part of me. (Figuratively. Not literally.)  I really enjoyed reading their post about the ceramics of San Antonio Palopo. I remember in the 90's I hiked to this community with my niece, who joined me on one of my working trips. We took some time off to hunt for these ceramics, which at that point in time, were not yet widely available. Thank you Mayamam for reminding me of this wonderful day spent with my niece many moons ago.

FAIR TRADE DECOR - Fair Trade Decor, a retailer in Coronado, CA has a blog perfect for their customers. They share stories of their products and producers. Most recently they blogged about Planet vs. Plastic which was the focus for this year's Earth Day. We're right there with them in trying to do things that make our planet a better and healthier place.

 EQUAL EXCHANGE - This might be one of the best blogs I've seen from our membership. It's thorough covering so many topics. (Yes! Recipes!) It's super easy to navigate. Seriously, I can't pin-point one entry worth missing. Definitely check it out.

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PROJECT HAVE HOPE - You must read these incredibly well written and often heart wrenching stories about life in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda. I found the entries here some of the most informative and enlightening of all the Fair Trade Federation blogs I reviewed. Want to learn more about Karen, the founder of Project Have Hope? I interviewed her and you can read the blog post here.

GANESH HIMAL TRADING -  Learn a bit more about Ganesh Himal and their activities domestically and in Nepal when you check out their blog. They post regularly and I was touched by their recent blog post "How Life Happens When We Support Each Other." I think this is a good lesson for all of us. Ganesh Himal also operates a non-profit Conscious Connections Foundation which has their very own blog. Learn all the good being done in Nepal from these their two blogs.

ZAMBEEZI - Have you tried Zambeezi's lip balm? It's fabulous. I discovered Zambeezi had a blog when they posted an interview a few years back with LeeAnne McCoy from the fab website Change The World By How You Shop.  You can read our interview with LeeAnne on our blog, posted in February 2019.

GOEX - GOEX blog often goes within sharing information about their business.  We call that transparency. They also write about issues affecting all business, and topics that are educational. If you're up on the news, you know things are quite politically unstable in Haiti. And that's where GOEX works. It's really informative to read their posts about their work there. Recently they posted a message from their manager based in Haiti.

LUCUMA - The Lucuma blog is really fun and collaborative. I like the way they remind us and teach everyone about the fair trade principles we follow. Most recently they focused on FTF's principle #9. Respect cultural, racial and ethnic Identity. Honor people. Read their post to get their take on it while working to better the lives of artisans in Peru.

PASSION LILIE - This company refers to their blog as a 'Designer's Journal.' I like that many of their posts make you think. Their most recent post (worth sharing to X, I might add), lets us discover how "fast fashion" hurts our minds and doesn't add to our wardrobes in a positive way.

QUILLING CARD - Are you a fan of Quilling Card? Check out their blog to learn more about their most recent beautiful cards.

GLOBAL MAMAS -  Global Mamas has a robust blog and it is well worth visiting. Great photos.  And posts that share more about the Mamas and just about everything else from health and fashion to volunteering in Ghana. Recently they wrote about their new journals. And since blogging is about writing, I decided to highlight that entry here.

SEVYA -  The women of Sevya are always so thoughtful. And their blog entries also prove this point. When I was younger, I spent some time in Indonesia learning about batik and batik making. Because of this, I found their article about Block Printing in India of particular interest.

AWAMAKI - If you have the time, check out this blog. Awamaki's post from earlier this year shares photos of weavings that have wonderful patterns of geometric shapes and all sorts of animals. Artisans weave what they see. And there are animals everywhere in Peru where they work. The colors the artists use all have meaning too. Read the post to get more insight. Every morsel of information allows us to love the art even more. It's a VERY informative post. Kudos.

DEAN'S BEANS - Who doesn't love fair trade coffee? After checking out the Dean's Beans blog, I just learned that the founder Dean, just retired and now this company is a worker owned coop.  Learn more about this on their recent blog post. It's so cool. What a difference Dean made with the business he grew over the last 30 years. I'm impressed. 

IT'S CACTUS - I wasn't familiar with It's Cactus until I scrolled through the FTF member list to create this post. They work in Central America and South America. And they have a very active blog! Their latest blog highlights the life of Frida Kahlo - and the products they offer inspired by Frida. We know something about that! Who doesn't love Frida Kahlo?

HANDSPUN HOPE -Were you around and remember the news reports that covered the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda? It seems like yesterday, and it's been 30 years. Read one story of hope and healing on the Handspun Hope blog. Out of such unthinkable tragedy there are often heartfelt stories worth hearing about.

MATA TRADERS - Here's the thing. I belong to a virtual book club - sorority sisters I went to college with at the University of Michigan. #goblue (I had to get that in there.) When I saw that Mata Traders latest blog post was a thoughtful list of books worth reading, I couldn't have been more pleased. I'm sure I'll find something I'd like to read, and suggest to my group. On their list, Pachinko is the only book I've already read. Are you in a book club? Maybe you have a recommendation? (Hmmmm. Maybe I should recommend some good reads for a future blog post.)

WORLD FINDS - World Finds blog is new to my list. And browsing it gave me some good ideas for things I might blog about in the future. Their latest post celebrates influential women and their quotes. Melissa Gates. Michelle Obama. Maya Angelou. Good for blog posts. Good for Instagram posts. Someone over there is thinking!

UPAVIM - Upavim works with artisans in Guatemala. We've been doing the same since 1989. I didn't know that they had sponsored a tour to Guatemala. It was fun for me to read their posts about their stops along the way. So many good photos. So many good stories. If you've never been to this beautiful country, reading their blog posts might whet your appetite.

CRAZY LOVE AFRICA - Crazy Love Africa posts company "updates" on a regular basis. Did you know they're planning a group trip to Uganda for September 2024 that sounds amazing. It might not be too late to join in.

FAIR ANITA - Another fantastic blog from a FTF member!  Fair Anita tackles many controversial topics that will make your brain really think. You must click through and read some of what they offer. I have a date planned with their blog for this weekend!

SPAZA -SpaZa focuses on eco-living and their latest blog post shares ideas for doing just that. They actually link to other blog posts. One from Good Housekeeping shares how you might make your own home cleaners. After you've got your cleaning solutions, they share more about the handmade and knit cloths they offer that are wonderful alternatives to sponges and microfibers. They're attractive, useful and fair trade. What could be better?  They support producer groups near Cape Town, South Africa.

TULIA'S - Maker's stories. Chicago fair trade news. Tulia's blog was created last year with only a few posts so far. There latest post was in November 2023, so I'm hoping they'll be posting more soon. I vaguely remember reading something about a new Fair Trade Museum. And it was great to learn more about it on their blog. Did you know about? Have you been?  

DUNITZ & COMPANY - Yup! That's us. 'Nuff said. After all, this is our blog post you're reading.

I am so pleased I took on the chore of updating this list. As mentioned earlier, I discovered many new member blogs that are active and worthy of note. After reading some of my colleagues recent posts, I want to reiterate that you should definitely pop in from time to time and check out what FTFers have to say. I'm almost certain these blogs are being under-read, under-shared (hint hint) and not acknowledged enough. Without question, there are many posts that took the contributors hours to prepare. I know how much time I spend writing some posts for the Dunitz & Company blog. Our colleague's blogs deserve our eyes.

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I hope you'll get on board and read what our Fair Trade Federation colleagues have to say. The wisdom and information many share on their pages stretch so many boundaries. And while you're at it, if you read something you appreciate, share it, tweet it, pin it and post it. Let's all generously share each other's posts. Every share, tweet, pin and post makes a difference.

Please follow us on social and we'll follow back. Promise. Facebook. Instagram. Threads. X. Pinterest. & thanks for reading. -ND

My Latest Artwork with Dunitz Fair Trade Jewelry

Many of you know I took up drawing during Covid lock-down. I took a drawing course for 5 days with an accomplished artist, Isis Rodriguez in San Miguel de Allende in October 2019, and then set my pencils down. When we were forced to stay put - I picked them up again and haven't stopped since.  I tend to overshare a bit on Instagram, if you're interested. And to really milk it, I often add Dunitz & Company jewelry (thanks to Photoshop) to my drawings and then post to our business social.

What happens next? I post my posts here on the Dunitz & Company blog. Why? It might be that everyone possibly interested, hasn't seen everything I do yet. Ha. Below are some of my most recent works, in no particular order. Feedback is accepted. 

 

 

 

Do you see a pair of earrings you JUST need to have for yourself or for your store? Dunitz & Company is ready and willing to ship to you. Of course we are! And if you want to see more drawings by me, don't forget to follow my personal Instagram where I don't tend to add the jewelry:). - ND

Women's History Month: Nancy Dunitz is Interviewed by Fair Trade Winds

I was honored to be interviewed recently by Fair Trade Winds. Evidently every March, to commemorate Women's History Month, they choose to feature women on their blog who lead the way in the fair trade world. This year's theme is #InspireInclusion and for that they chose to highlight Dunitz & Company and have a chat with me. With their permission, I am reposting the interview here.

FTW: When did you begin your company, and what inspired you to get your start? How as it grown since then?

Nancy & Alisa

NANCY: It’s such a long time ago. I actually left a good corporate gig, where I was not happy back in 1989. I was already a seasoned traveler, loved learning about other’s crafts and have always been a bit of an artist myself.  At the time I didn’t know if I might start a retail or wholesale business. And while I was exploring what I might do and how to do it, I went to Guatemala which was relatively close to home. I managed a few trips there while I was still working corporate. I was young and innocent and had not processed that Guatemala was in the midst of civil war and not entirely the safest place to be traipsing around. I could write a book about all this, for sure. What I found were so many struggling artists without opportunity. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I just jumped in. I knew there had to be a market for the beautiful work I discovered there.  In the beginning my product mix was quite diverse. I offered textiles, pillows, glassware, wood products, traditional painted boxes, you name it. Back in 1989, “fair trade” wasn’t even a concept people were familiar with. One thing I can say about me is I’ve always lived by the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I mean Fair Trade Federation wasn’t even founded until 1994, and it’s not overnight that consumers have a light bulb go off.  I knew other wholesalers at the time who browbeat artisans for the lowest possible prices which I’m certain were below what would have ever been remotely fair.  I think it was always in my nature to listen and be fair.

To be honest, it took a handful of years before I think I really made a difference. Buying some goods at what seemed a fair price from this family or that artist in the beginning was really just a bandaid for those artists. I was living on borrowed money and personal savings myself.  It wasn’t until I specialized in only offering jewelry did my business grow.  That’s when I was able to provide consistent work for a group of artisans, mostly women. Beaded jewelry is not indigenous to Guatemala. Back in the early 90’s, I collaborated with (separately) two  women who had moved to Guatemala from elsewhere and taught Mayan woman to bead.  (Sadly one of those women passed away last week.) Together we collaborated on jewelry designs which I successfully wholesaled in the USA. I was one of a very few companies offering seed bead jewelry and the business took off.  Since many of the artisans were used to creating wonderful embroidery and woven textiles, beading jewelry was a natural thing to do.

FTW: What's the workplace like and what is a typical daily schedule? Do artisans work from home or collaborate together in a workshop?

NANCY: You have to understand I’ve been at this for a very long time. In the very beginning a small group of artisans used to work at a table at the homes of the women that first taught them how to make beadwork. Then there were workshops with several tables. The women would bring their lunches and snacks and giggle all day with one another while they worked. Whenever I was working with them, we’d collaborate and experiment making all sorts of designs. Thankfully many of our designs were successful. Trust me, I offered a lot of new designs I loved that totally flopped at the trade shows. Sometimes they flopped because they cost too much to make. Sometimes they just weren’t loved as much as I loved them.

You asked if artisans work from home? There always were women who worked at home if they had children or had to care for elderly parents.  They’d come to the workshop every few days to collect beads and string, and return the following week to deliver the work they’d made.  For our beaded jewelry, all of the artisans currently work from home. Other than having a hub, there is no longer a bead workshop.

Over the years our world changed. Guatemala became more politically stable and people felt more comfortable traveling there and starting businesses. We had office managers that stole materials and left and set up their own workshops. When one of the women I worked with (who taught women how to bead) had a small retail shop in Guatemala, the manager of that shop who had been taught to bead by us, would send customers to her son, who was managing a workshop they had started on the Q.T.  The women that had been taught by us, were now teaching others how to bead.  With increased demand for beadwork, our designs were  popping up in street stalls everywhere. Sadly, most of what you find on the street is sold very inexpensively. Over the years, this growing competition made it impossible for me to survive solely on our bead business. One thing I can say is since we always focus on creating new designs, we’re almost always a step ahead. For wholesale, many stores (definitely not all stores) are willing to pay more for original work, work where they also know the artisans earn living wages.

Nancy & Rosa

In 2011, I forged a new relationship with a Guatemalan woman I met who was beautifully making glass jewelry. Originally it was a bit garish for my taste, and the colors sometimes a bit quirky. Together we simplified designs, removed cheap Chinese findings that could be bought in Guatemala and followed fashion trends to create color combinations that would appeal to those wearing it here in the US. We’ve also recently launched a ceramic jewelry collection. And with her  husband, we’ve developed our laser cut jewelry which includes our famous painting earrings. A small group of artists come to work every day and work together to make these designs. 

 

FTW: The theme this year for International Women's Day is 'inspire inclusion.' How are women artisans supported and made to feel empowered and part of the team? What positive changes have you seen in the communities where the artisans work and live?

NANCY: There is no question in my mind that working within our communities, workers have been able to consistently learn new techniques while being able to pay school fees for their children and live proud lives. What is better? Doing janitorial work, which is what some of our artists used to do? Or learning to make jewelry and then train new artisans to make it too?

I might also like to add, that when you meet the artisans that make Dunitz & Company jewelry, you can feel good that they are treated with the respect and paid the fees they deserve. We don’t run an “under the table” business as many workshops do.  I remember some years ago, another Fair Trade Federation member asked if she could visit our bead workshop. I made the arrangements. She spent a lot of time there taking photos and observing the women working.  What did she find? She found a happy place where women were wearing their beautiful traditional clothing. What did she share on social media when she returned to the States? Photos from other workshops she visited where the women seemed a bit more sad and their clothing a bit worn out. I can only guess she thought tearing at customer heart strings might bring in more business. To me that isn’t want fair trade is about.

FTW: What advice would you give girls who are interested in getting involved in causes they are passionate about?

NANCY: I know you’ve heard this before. I say follow your heart. And if you never try, you’ll never know.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing when I first started Dunitz & Company. Be a bit stubborn and be determined. And be flexible. Nothing is as how you first guessed it. You have to be willing to make changes along the journey.  What is most rewarding to me is leading by example. I know I’ve been instrumental in changing so many lives in Guatemala. But, I know I’ve changed lives here at home too. At least two women I knew from my corporate days, who watched me quit a fast-track corporate job to start my own business told me years later that I was their inspiration to start their own businesses.  I had an employee for a few years, a single mother who told me it was my perseverance that convinced her she could go back to school and finish a nursing degree. And she did. What could make you feel better than that?

--end of interview--

Again, I'm so appreciative Fair Trade Winds asked to interview me. I rarely "talk" about my fair trade business. I'm most often on auto-pilot packing orders, getting orders made, collaborating with artisans, answering emails, taking product photos, updating our websites and walking dogs :). Did I mention that Fair Trade Winds sells our designs in their Boulder, Seattle and Bar Harbor stores? They also sell many of our designs on their website.

Thank you for reading and supporting Dunitz & Company. You definitely make a difference. -ND