Buy aware!

Do you know where your clothes were made? How about all the things in your home? When you go shopping do you look at the labels?

Try this fun experiment: Go to the mall and look at every single manufacturing label you can. Whether it's a store like Forever 21 or Bloomingdale or The Gap or Ann taylor. Notice something?

Now do you have any idea HOW these clothes, toys, home accessories etc. were made? Under what conditions? What circumstances and business practices is your money supporting?

It's time to start being an aware consumer. Certainly where an article is made isn't nearly as important as how. Start asking questions, start buying Fair Trade and sweatshop free goods. Stop buying at stores that consistently lower the bar of labor practices and environmental responsibility in order to turn higher profits.

We strongly believe in Fair Trade and the SA8000 labor guidelines. The SA8000 is a global social accountability standard for decent working conditions, developed and overseen by Social Accountability International (SAI). We regularly follow up on our suppliers by asking for reports, pictures, and certificates— doing due diligence to make sure we bring sweatshop-free materials to our marketplace. We also look forward to bringing specific Fair Trade certified products to you in the future!

We also like to support small and local artisans. We are AWARE of how we spend our money and we practice conscious consumerism. The cheapest items usually have the highest costs in terms of HOW they were manufactured and under what circumstances. Do your part-- buy aware!

Also get more AWARE of the many social/environmental issues of the day at these sites:

 



Environment - who's helping and who's hurting our planet and what you can do about it. Learn more here: stop global warming

Fair Trade versus Free Trade - The race to the bottom is having devastating effects around the globe. Find out how and support Fair Trade here: Transfair USA

Bonded Labor and slavery - Millions in the poorest countries-- from children to adults are enslaved for profit. Go here to learn more: iAbolish

Human Trafficking - Happens everywhere where people are vulnerable, desperate and in need. Read more here: Human Trafficking

Women and girls - Today, in this new millennium, being female means less education, less opportunity, and more violence, more oppression. Get the stats and learn how you can affect change here: Unifem

Know of other major issues you would like us to add? Contact us and let us know!