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

Minister & Fair Trader: Meet and Learn From Amy Kay Pavlovich

Amy Kay Pavlovich

I've known Amy Kay Pavlovich, the owner of Connected of Lindsborg,KS., for quite some time. I knew she was a minister. I knew she was passionate about fair trade and I knew she successfully sells Dunitz & Company fair trade jewelry. And recently I learned that she is really fun to engage with on her business Facebook LIVES! I thought if she was willing, and she was, we could all learn something from her. 

  

 

 

 

NANCY: I had to look it up. We first met in 2010 at the Chicago Gift Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. I believe Connected was your brand new retail store baby at the time. And now you've been at it for much more than a decade!

Connected Store Front

AMY KAY:  I'm glad you knew that because I switched POS systems and wouldn't have been able to see when I first started ordering from you. As you know, I had a fair trade store in Illinois (Just Good Trade) before moving to Kansas in June of 2013. I'm sure your jewelry was sold there as well as at Connected.

 

 

 

NANCY:  Yes, you're right. It was. So let's get to it. Let the interview begin. I already know about your shop and a bit about you. I'm thinking most people reading this blog interview do not. Can you tell me a bit about your background and how that lead to you opening a fair trade retail store?  Was there a specific event that encouraged you to get into retail?

Press in Local Magazine!

AMY KAY: Sure thing! I've been a minister since 1999 and the first 11 years served large churches where I was essentially a program staff person. I worked with a wonderful church in Columbia, MO, where over time, I led a number of Learning and Serving trips each year.  Around 2007 a college group and I were on our way home from a trip where we met some coffee farmers in Mexico. After that experience I realized it wasn't enough to "just pray for people", we had to do more. After working it all out with the full church leadership, we started a Fair Trade store within the life of the church. Since then, I've been a college chaplain and am now a solo minister. I've also always had Fair Trade stores along with my call.

 

 

NANCY:  After all these years working in fair trade is there something you feel particularly good about? An accomplishment? A life you changed? I'd love to hear a story or two.

Happy Customers

AMY KAY:  What a lovely question! I love traveling to meet artisans and farmers because they are why I choose to spend my time in retail. I also enjoy my interactions with my customers in my store. I've spoken to lots of groups and get to slide into conversations about supply chains and economic justice often. A few times professional women have admitted that they had never thought about who made the products they buy. I definitely saw an epiphany in their faces. I hope after our conversations their lives were changed to more mindful consumption. A tiny bit of change made by people will hopefully result in real change for producers.

NANCY: And is there some aspect of operating a fair trade store that you enjoy the most? 

Dunitz Artisans

AMY KAY: I love the products themselves, learning about the people who made or grew the goods and chatting about them with the people that come into the store.  Every day is colorful and lovely. It's a nice balance with servicing the church too. I can do creative things with my hands in the store and I mostly use my mind as I serve the church.  My vocation, my call, is to serve God's people and I'm grateful to be able to do it in different ways through both of my careers.

 

 

 

NANCY: I'm completely impressed with how you consistently and often use the Facebook LIVE vehicle. How did you get into that? Do you have certain things you like to discuss or share with your audience?

Faces of Amy Kay

AMY KAY: Oh gosh, Thank you, Nancy. My shop in Lindsborg is situated between creative business people who I respect so much. When the pandemic came along, they started doing Facebook LIVEs. I did not. Even though my store was closed, all my time was being consumed with figuring out how to be present with the congregation I serve and how in the world we would worship in a new way. (note: Remember Amy Kay juggles two careers.) It took a few months to figure it out over a busy season of worship in the church. (Lent/Holy Week/Easter)  By the time I got through all of that,my neighbor and friend encouraged me to try selling our fair trade jewelry through LIVE shows. I balked at first, but then realized that everything I had learned for streaming worship also applied to Facebook LIVE. It was not necessarily comfortable to do it, but I had ample practice from having streamed worship.  Over time I've gotten more comfortable with the format and have continued with the LIVEs even though we are open and no longer on lock down.

Initially my LIVES took place on Thursday evenings. During one part of the the covid experience, we had been open and needed to close again because of sickness. Instead of hosting only one "Happy Hour with Fair Trade" on Thursday nights at 8pm, I started showing things Monday through Wednesday as well. After we were able to reopen, I was ready to transition back to having only one show a week. The people who watched the most said that my 8pm LIVEs helped them get through their crazy covid-ness and asked me to continue. Turns out they were mostly single woman and new moms who reached out and I didn't have the heart to discontinue the shows.

From a Facebook LIVE

Instead of showing fair trade products on Monday through Wednesday, I shifted to sharing about something I had found meaningful during the day. It could have been something I had read or listened to on radio. Without looking back to see how long I've been doing this, I'd guess it's been well over a year I've shared what I now call "Musings". They truly are just things that I've been pondering from other people's wisdom. It takes me a few minutes to decide what to share, I pop on to the LIVE and the whole thing usually takes less than 10 minutes. Thursdays takes me an hour or so to prepare, 30-40 minutes live and a half hour to clean up and settle back down. People don't buy much during "Happy Hour" now because we are mobile again. But, I sell more overall because folks come into the store to pick up what they've seen. Two of my best customers only buy from what they've seen during LIVEs and say that they prefer it because they aren't overwhelmed while waking through the store. It's been a very interesting experience.

NANCY: Has doing Facebook LIVE helped increase your page followers? I'm blown away that you have over 3000 followers on Facebook. Is there a trick to building such a wonderful audience?

AMY KAY: No, my LIVEs aren't helpful in building an audience. (Don't you just love AK's frankness?) What's best in that area is what I haven't been doing, sharing pictures with short quippish wording and paying for the post to be shown to people in our area.

I'm about the least savvy business person you could find. My answer here is probably going to sound ridiculous. I think people follow the store because I'm pretty darned real. I've been told my candidness is refreshing. (It is.) I'm certainly not everyone's cup of tea! But those who line my realness come around. Also, I've lived in a few other places since Facebook was developed and some friends from those places continue to follow me as I've moved.

NANCY: Many of us are tech dinosaurs. I'd like to know how you actually do those LIVE chats? Are you using a phone or PC? Do you just press a video button on Facebook and start talking? Do you use a tripod? I'd sure like to know what you do. Maybe I'd give it a go.

AMY KAY: You should give it a go, Nancy! It's so EASY!!!

When I'm the most lazy, I just hold my phone. It always looks better when I set it in a little tripod I keep handy, but if my boys are home with me, I don't take the 60 seconds needed to grab the tripod.

For my Happy Hours, I use a free program that I also currently use for my streaming worship. I like to put the price of products and country of origin on the side of the screen so I don't get confused and say the wrong thing or just get unnerved. It makes everything go more smoothly to put in the hour of work to set up that system. It is called OBS Studio and it is also easy to use.  There are lots of  YouTube tutorials on the program. I watched a few and know enough to make it work each week. You'd be great with either system! (Thanks for the vote of confidence.)

NANCY: You've been selling Dunitz & Company fair trade in your store for a long time. I know you like our large teardrop earrings I've seen you wear in your Facebook LIVEs. Is there another favorite  you wear or sell in your store? You know I had to ask. 

Best Selling Beaded Dots

AMY KAY: Oh I love lots of your beautiful jewelry. Currently your beaded dots are my best seller! People who live in the middle of Kansas and those traveling through like your Frida Teardrops. You know those earrings of yours made with denim and all those fun little beads!

 

 

 

 

NANCY: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Frida Teardrop Earrings

AMY KAY:  Every time I sell one of your beautiful pieces I think of you, Nancy. I'm sorry that I'm a rotten communicator and don't tell you of my appreciation.Thank you for the gorgeous designs, colors and quality you facilitate with your artisan partners.

Lastly, I'd love for people to understand how easy it is to be a fair trade retailer. As I mentioned earlier, I am not a business person. I, quite honestly, suck at business. If I can open a store and keep it open, anyone can! If anyone reading this has a call to have a fair trade store or to incorporate fair trade into a shop of another nature, I'm a huge cheerleader for their interest. The fair trade community is a supportive, affirming, nurturing, sometimes salty, and always a fun group of people with whom to be in cahoots. Cheers! 

--end of interview--

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For all her self-deprecating, I think Amy Kay definitely has it going on. You've got to love her more after reading this interview. She clearly is doing a fantastic job wearing multiple hats at the same time. Her customers are engaged at her fair trade store, Connected and on her Facebook Page. And of course, I'm thrilled she is selling Dunitz & Company's jewelry. After reading her words of wisdom, are you ready to take on a Facebook LIVE? I think I might be. -ND

Meet Amber Solomon, Marketing Advocate for GOEX

Amber models Fair Trade

I recently met Amber Solomon through social media, and more specifically through Twitter. It seems we're two of the most active Fair Trade Federation members "working" Twitter.  From this a  friendship has blossomed. Amber is the Marketing Advocate for GOEX, another proud FTF member.  Recently GOEX and Dunitz & Company collaborated on a social media marketing campaign for Mother's Day. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here. I asked Amber if she was willing to have me interview her for our blog. She said yes. That means we'll hear a bit more from her about this campaign.  Frankly, she was the brains behind it.  We all can learn a lot from this social media maven.

Keep reading here for the interview.

NANCY: You seem to be an integral player at GOEX. Can you tell me a bit more about this company you work for and what you position is there?

Helping Children in Haiti

AMBER: GOEX Apparel is a fair trade, sustainable apparel company and the marketplace initiative of The Global Orphan Project. GOEX's purpose is to use a simple tee to connect the consumer and the maker. GOEX customers sustain fair wage jobs that liberate families from poverty and empower them in their families and communities.  GOEX values high service, high quality, excellent design and integrity.

As a Market Advocate, I act as the person with the megaphone on the soapbox.  If there's a way I can get GOEX's name out, I find it and then do it.  Through marketing, social media, event management, promotions and partnerships I let the masses know "we're here!" I advocate!

 

NANCY: Were you a fair trade advocate before joining the GOEX team, or has working at GOEX turned you into one?

GOEX Cardigans

AMBER: I actually knew very little about the world of fair trade before working at GOEX.  Prior to  GOEX, I had worked in the entertainment industry.  Working at GOEX has changed my perspective and my life. I am now very much an advocate for ethical consumerism.  That will never change and I am happy about the journey that's brought me here.

 

 

 

 

 

NANCY: Was there one event in your life that propelled you to work at and in a fair trade business?

AMBER: I like to think fair trade found me. I was laid off from my job in the movie theater industry due to COVID-19. It was a terrifying time for me but I took the opportunity to sit down and think about exactly what I wanted from life.  I quickly recognized that I am a person who desires purpose and that purpose, to me is more than cutting a check to a cause. I need to be out there making the change, being the change.

NANCY: I always thought I had a jump on social media.  After working with you on our joint Mother's Day campaign, I realize there is so much more to learn.  Can you share just a bit about what exactly that campaign was? You had me "take over" your accounts for a day and honestly, I still don't get quite how that works.

AMBER: Sure! At GOEX, we work to sustain fair wage jobs that keep families together.  I thought what better way for families to empower others than to expose people to fair trade products.  As part of the bundle, I wanted to dive into what it means to be a working mom in Fair Trade worlds, showcase the work that working moms do, and show that the contributions that mothers' make to our world is vital. I wrote a blog about women in fair trade and another about some working moms of GOEX, educated out subscribers through email and social media posts, in addition to the awesome Instagram takeover. (GOEX Instagram, DUNITZ Instagram The Instagram Takeover means I posted and provided stories on the GOEX account that spoke to our collaboration. Truth be told, those posts looked like they came from me. Amber did all the work. I do not have their passwords!)

NANCY: If you'd like, you can brag about the fair trade bundle we put together for the collaboration. 

 

Mother's Day Bundle

AMBER: From the laser cut earrings (has an vintage botanical image of dahlias) provided by Shop Dunitz & Company, to the cardigans and tees made by our makers, so many working mothers touched that product before these bundles met their final destinations. I mean, what a great story, right? Someone buys a Fair Trade product for their mother. That purchase in turn empowers another mother. That's IMPACT! 

 

 

 

 

NANCY: For a small fair trade business, do you have a best recommendation for where or what they should focus on in the social media realm?

GOEX on Twitter

AMBER: The world of social media is at a very exciting point in it's evolution, in my opinion. You have the Metaverse, the new Twitter, TikTok all empowering people to become stars. What a time to be alive! My advice to small fair trade businesses is to find where your audience is and meet them there. Also, don't be afraid to make videos. Even just a zoom in on one product or service you offer is a great for the frustrating world of algorithms.  Go beyond the sales pitch. Remind your followers that there are indeed people behind the logos and the add to cart buttons.  People want to know who you are and what you stand for. Show them.

NANCY: Tease us! Do you have a favorite item from GOEX that you wear on your own time?

 

Woman Up Hoodie

AMBER: Yes! I LIVE in GOEX cardigans and the Woman Up Weekender Hoodie.  I have a cardigan in almost every color. The Woman Up Weekender hoodie is the best to sit back with a cup of tea and play video games or watch movies.

 

 

 

 

 

NANCY: And I know you've been browsing the Dunitz Collection recently. Maybe you're lusting for one of our designs? Which one might that be?

AMBER: I'm a sucker for all things Virgo and butterflies. Your

Virgo & Monarchs

ceramic Virgo earrings and the Monarch laser cut stud earrings are saved to my wish list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NANCY: Anything else you want to share with me today?

AMBER: Thank you so much for working with me and with GOEX. I am a firm believer that collaboration is greater than competition and together we can make the world better. (Are we two peas from the same pod?)

--end of interview--

This was such a fun collaboration. I adore connecting with others that believe collaboration over competition is the way to go. You might think that most fair traders feel the same. I've learned over the years this often is not the case. Human nature kicks in and many small businesses and their owners are more concerned about protecting their turf and don't want to promote others.  I already knew that this was not the case with Amber. Did I mention that we met through Twitter? (Yes!) She's one of the few fair traders I know who actually re-tweets what I share. Bravo for Amber.  Bravo for GOEX Apparel. 

Here's my pitch for GOEX.  You know you wear tee-shirts and sweatshirts. Why not buy ethical? Check out the GOEX site and you're bound to find a gift for you and everyone in your household. 

And after you've found that new shirt, consider the jewelry you'll wear with it. Dunitz & Company, with our fair trade jewelry from Guatemala is always ready to decorate your ears, neck and wrist. -ND