 Visiting our artisans in Thailand You may know that I helped found a fair trade company when I was just 17 years old. If you didn't know, click here for more info. But today, I am feeling especially grateful because it's Giving Tuesday.....or what we like to call, 'Fair Trade Tuesday.' Today is a day, after all of the crazy consumerism of Black Friday, that we can take a second, reassess, and give back. A day when we should remind ourselves that we vote with our dollars and our dollars can make a difference for the kind of world we want. I have always been passionate about fair trade, one of the very reasons I started Trades of Hope eight years ago. But I love that we can stand with other companies today and remind the world what we are all about. People. Trades of Hope is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, a trade association that promotes North American organizations fully committed to fair trade. We love working with them to promote fair wages, fair trade principles, and transparency. Below we’ve outlined the fair trade principles we abide by.
 Our Ugandan artisans Putting people first is not common place in the business world. Working with different cultures is a challenge that typical business finds hard and expensive to keep up with. And yes, it requires sacrifice to promote people first. But by following this value, we see communities and cultures flourish in over 16 different countries, seeing over 13,000 individual artisans lives completely changed. We work with these artisans to find creative solutions to some of our cultural differences, we help develop them as leaders, we work to understand and communicate better, and make sure that they win at the end of the day. We meet our artisans where they're at and help them thrive in the way their culture and personality would love. (Because honestly, the goal should never be to make other cultures look like us). Here's some examples of how we work to put people first.
We choose these differences. Because we love people and we put our artisans first. This is why shopping fair trade is important. We are not product first, but people first. And that will always come with challenges. But we choose this. We choose slow fashion. Because at the end of the day, it is the people that matter. So, whatever you do today, support a business that is putting people first. Perhaps even my company, Trades of Hope! (You can even join as a compassionate entrepreneur and make an income WHILE empowering other women to keep their babies. Check out how here>) Join Amelia and me below as we talk about our special United Ornament, marked at 50% off today! 
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 I have been an avid thrifter for as long as I can remember. Rummaging through miles and miles of used clothes was one of the best skills my mom taught me....and I've saved so much money re-using clothes and furniture through the years. I also love that it is more sustainable, and I donate all of my clothes when I'm done using them so another happy thrifter can benefit from them. Over the years, I've been asked, "how do you find cute stuff while thrifting?" It's true, thousands of items of clothes, often crammed together and lacking the right size tags can be super overwhelming, but if you're committed to getting a good deal and shopping sustainably, it can be a fun treasure hunt! (don't give me crazy eyes....it's true!) Come along with as I thrift shopped last week and hear a couple tips that might help you too! Here are some of my tips from the video (and a few more I added in!) 1. Have patience and look through everything! Push all the hangers down as far as they can go. This way you can go through them one at a time. Move quickly....your eye can generally catch a cute color or pattern you like. This will keep you on time, but still seeing everything so nothing is missed. Allot a good amount of time for thrifting....you'll need at least a couple hours to find good stuff. Thrifting shouldn't happen on a day you feel rushed, because it takes patience! 2. Have intention when you shop If you know what you're looking for, you'll be more apt to find something like it. I don't typically know exactly the style I want, but I usually know that I am looking for a certain color or a type of clothes (like a dress, shoe, or pant). This helps me intentionally go where those things are, so I don't feel super overwhelmed with all the stuff. 3. Find out when your thrift shop re-stocks or when their big drop offs come in Big drop offs typically happen after holidays or Mondays after everyone went through their clothes on the weekend. And certain thrift shops re-stock or get things in on certain days. If you can find out when those times are, you can show up before other thrifters snag the great stuff. 4. Check out thrift shops in more high end neighborhoods When doing this, you can often find name brands and higher end clothes. (But don't discount your thrift shop just because it isn't in a good area. There can be great stuff anywhere!) 5. Try on EVERYTHING and take risks! You never know if something will look great until you try it on. So try on more then you would at a regular store! I also find that taking risks is more fun with thrifted clothes. I don't want to spend $40 on something that is a statement but I maybe won't wear all the time, but I will spend $5.99 on it. :) 6. Go on sale days! You can find out by asking when your sale days are at your local thrift shops. They normally discount certain color tags.....and discounts on thrift clothes make them even MORE affordable! 7. Be creative, have fun, and buy sustainably or fair trade whenever you can! I bawled like a baby making this birth video, so much so that it’s 6 months late. Mom hormones, I guess. Whoops. If you’ve ever wondered Amelia’s birth story, check it out below. (There’s lots of bellies and baby, so avoid if you aren’t into that sort of thing.) I’ll just be over here crying and rewatching 1000x times. Sorry, Mila, your momma’s crazy and loves you a lot. |
Hey, friend! I'm Chelsie!
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