Jump for JOYN!

Volunteer Nikki here, and I’m betting that if you’ve been to the store recently, you’ve probably seen some cute bags and clutches from JOYN!

JOYN is a company based in Rajpur, India that does way more besides adding to your bag collection.

What I love about JOYN is that they provide their workers with more than just a salary. Handouts aren’t enough to pull people out of poverty.

It takes at least 12 people to make one JOYN bag.

The company employs people to card and clean, spin, and weave cotton into fabric. An artisan dyes the fabric, and then another stitches it together to make a bag. JOYN provides a numerous amount of people with employment, but they go further. They provide their workers with a daily meal plan, education for their children, English and vocational training, and medical care.

Many of these workers had nothing to begin with. Some of them were beggars who had no education, skills, or sense of identity. Many of them suffered from hunger, abuse, leprosy, drug addiction, and chronic illness.

Society tends to label these people as outcasts. Because they’re poor or because they make unwise decisions or because they’re sick. Generally speaking, people aren’t willing to reach out to others who struggle on these levels because we have a negative perception of them even though these people really don’t have any control over their circumstances.  

I like companies like JOYN because they challenge that way of thinking. Through these companies, impoverished people are able to redeem themselves and develop a sense of dignity that they never had before. Their work just shows that everyone deserves hope and a future no matter what their background is, and I think that’s a wonderful thing.

Raju has polio, and like many disabled people, he was forced into begging at a young age. With JOYN, Raju was able to master a skill and make a living off of it. He no longer feels limited by his disability and continues to work hard and be independent.    

Ajay started out as a block printer, but he now handles shipping and invoices occasionally. Ajay struggled with addiction, but he overcame it and started working at JOYN. He has been sober for over a year now.

 

Guddu is a block printer who was born hearing impaired. Through JOYN’s medical plan, Guddu was able to receive hearing aids. Because of this, his speech has improved and he is able to learn English.

These are just a few people whose lives have been changed by JOYN. If you want to support these awesome folks, stop by the store sometime and check out our wide selection of JOYN bags. We recently ordered products from their Fall/Winter collection, and they could be yours!

So many gorgeous prints!

These are just a few of the ones coming in. They’re so beautifully made! The work put in by the artisans who made these wonderful bags blows me away.

We hope to see you all in the store very soon! And we hope that these awesome fair trade purses make you jump for JOYN!

Your Fair Trade Friend,

Nikki

Fair Trade Essentials for the Undergrad Newbie

Hello Fair Trade Warriors!

My name is Nikki, and I’ve been a volunteer at One World Market for about two years now. In the fall, I will be starting my undergraduate studies at Elon University! GO PHOENIX!

Going to college means no longer being in Durham during the school year, which also means only volunteering at the store for a few months in the summer (if there was a significantly sadder emoji, I’d use it here). I’m very bummed about leaving, but I’ll be sure to enter Elon with some fair trade flair.

Here are my fair trade essentials for college:

I love this messenger bag from Cambodia!

It’s super cute and I love the green color. I can put my laptop and books in it, and it even comes with smaller pockets to hold my cellphone and pens and pencils. It’s the perfect school bag with a great cause behind it.

Malia Designs, the company that made this bag, aims to fight human trafficking in Cambodia by rescuing women and teaching them a trade, such as making bags like these. Providing these women with economic opportunities gives them financial stability, which makes them less vulnerable to prostitution and human trafficking.

This ID holder from The Village Experience is perfect for holding my Phoenix Card.

And it matches my satchel, too!

Both of these items are a part of the Opportunity Collection. They were made by tsunami victims in Thailand. These artisans make these products to aid economic development and support their community and local orphanage.

Textbooks are heavy and expensive, so a lot of people are turning to electronic versions of textbooks that can be found online for free. This ABAN tablet sleeve is great for holding any e-reader or tablet.

These sleeves were made in Ghana, and the proceeds benefit young mothers enrolled in ABAN’s school. These products have a huge social impact, focusing on the empowerment of women. This e-reader sleeve is also environmentally friendly! The pouch at the bottom is made from a recycled water sachet. 40 tons of water bags are thrown into the streets every day. Just imagine how much of a positive impact these products have on the environment!

When I was thinking about how I wanted to decorate my dorm, I immediately thought of the beautiful star lanterns hanging all over the store.

They’re a fun way to light up my room and add a splash of color to it. And chances are, my roommate will love it too. It’s a win-win.

These lanterns were made in India by partners of Om Gallery.

And how could I possibly attend Hogwarts Elon as a Gryffindor Phoenix without showing my team spirit during our Quidditch matches basketball games? I’m bringing my Sseko Sandals with me (of course), and I had to pick out straps in my school colors so I can rock them on campus!

With so many color options, there are plenty of ribbon combinations for repping any college. There are also some awesome ties that involve two different colors on the Sseko website. My personal favorite is the “Two-Faced” tie found here.

Sseko employs young women in Uganda to make these shoes, allowing them to become financially stable and giving them the opportunity to attend college. In an impoverished and male-dominated society, organizations like these play a huge role in empowering women. It’s comforting knowing that as I make my way through campus wearing my Ssekos, another girl in Uganda is able to do the exact same thing because I, and a couple of other people, decided to invest in her education with one purchase. In my opinion, there are few things more awesome than that.

So, there you have it! All the fun, fair trade items every college student needs. Hopefully, I’ve inspired some of you to take one or two of these (or all of them) with you on move-in day. Either way, have a wonderful summer and good luck next fall! Let’s go, Class of 2019!

One Sandal–Six Different Looks

In honor of Triangle Restaurant Week last week, we paired up with 6 local eateries to highlight their specials. We used our FAVORITE Fair Trade Ribbon Sandals in the collaboration, and we illustrated 6 different ways that you can wear one sandal.

By changing out the ribbons and the ties, you could wear the same sandal every day of the week and never wear the same look twice! Just in case you missed a tie, or wanted to learn one of the tying techniques, we’re recapping them on the blog today!

Day One – Braided Crown

 

Braided Crown with Silver Sparkle Ribbon /// Learn this tie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb6tN2jq-8U

Day Two – Floppy Ribbon Flip-Flop

Floppy Ribbon Sandal with Chroma Chiffon Ribbon /// Learn this tie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwfpRr1oJag

Day Three – Sseko Sparkler

Sseko Sparkler with Teal Cotton Ribbon /// Learn this tie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca7kD6whh0M

Day Four – Sidewinder Slip-On

Sidewinder Slip-On with Olive Green Cotton Ribbon /// Learn this tie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPBOx0ft77A

Day Five – Classic Sseko

Classic Sseko with Navy Ikat Silk Ribbon /// Learn this tie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyQ0sKG4msA

Day Six – Zebra

Zebra Tie with Roseline Chiffon Ribbon /// Learn this tie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdGaVDbPp2c

Sseko sandals are handmade by talented women living in Uganda. Sseko began as a way to generate income for high potential, talented young women to continue on to university. And it is working! Every woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree or has graduated from university and is on her way to making our world a more beautiful place.

In addition to the university-bound team, Sseko also employs women from all walks of life. By creating an environment of dignity, honor and dedication, Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for women in East Africa to end the cycle of poverty and create a more equitable society.

We believe that every woman has a dream. When she has the opportunity to pursue those dreams, we are collectively walking towards a brighter and more just and beautiful world.

It helps that the sandals are super cute and comfortable too!

Shop the sandals in the store on 9th Street, or online HERE.

Thanks for supporting Fair Trade!

Artisan Spotlight: Meet Achiro Paska

Meet Achiro Paska, an artisan in Uganda, and a member of the Ember Arts Artisan Group.

Nearly all of the women we partner with through Ember Arts are mothers, and part of the privilege of working with them is the opportunity to see their children grow throughout the years. The women of Ember frequently have babies and toddlers teetering through their office, and during training sessions, older children stop buy regularly to deliver messages from home and watch their mothers at work.

Achiro Paska's two youngest daughters, Emily and Evelin, have been staples at the Ember Arts office over the last few years, and she was happy to be asked to show them off and speak more about their lives.

When prompted to share her favorite part about being a mother, Paska couldn't choose; from pregnancy to teenagers, so far, she's loved it all. With six children from ages 14 months to 14 years,  she has certainly seen motherhood from many different angles. While she admits to getting annoyed when her children are quarreling with each other, most days she is happy to see them playing well together. They even have a favorite game that she couldn't quite explain through her laughter, apparently it's so funny that even the thought of it makes her giggle. 

Paska herself was left with relatives at the age of three, and grew up without a mother. She is determined to live her life differently, no matter what sort of trials she faces. Her advice to other mothers is "Love your children, whatever you are facing, and educate them. If you educate and love them it is good, because they are the future."

She is most proud of her children when they do well in school, and working to earn money for their school fees is her greatest concern. Her dream is that they will all finish their educations and never have to struggle the way she did growing up. 

We are thrilled to be partnering alongside hard-working mothers like Paska, and so grateful for the support of all the women- mothers and otherwise- that help make those dreams a reality.

Happy Mother's Day and thank you for supporting Fair Trade!

Sseko Sandals–Sharing a Ugandan Woman’s Dream

It’s safe to say, that One World Market staff and volunteers have completely fallen in LOVE with Sseko sandals!

And what’s not to love? It’s a sandal that can be completely customized! From changing the strap color to how you tie the straps, you can really make these sandals a reflection of your own personal style.

But what really made our staff fall in love, were the stories of the artisans that Sseko sandals support.

Sseko employs recent secondary school graduates for the nine month gap between secondary education and college, to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. 

These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war.

Sseko has graduated three classes of these superstar women, which is something to celebrate!

 

Adding to that celebration, the fact that EVERY woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree.

In addition to their university-bound team, Sseko also employs a full-time team of women from all walks of life. 

By creating an environment of dignity, honor, creativity and dedication, Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for women in East Africa to end the cycle of poverty and create a more equitable society.

Sseko sandals give us the opportunity to help support those women. The smiling faces featured above, and so many more.

We get to tell those women that we believe in them. We believe in education for everyone. We want them to succeed.

We do that by buying their beautifully constructed, handmade leather sandals.

With every flourish of our straps. With every tie, and knot, and bow, We are sharing their dream. We are supporting access to education around the world. We don’t just give money in exchange for goods, in exchange for sandals. We give hope. We give success. We give change.

And you know, that is so much bigger. And stronger. And more important, than a pair of sandals.

But…we also really LOVE the sandals! Which makes supporting these amazing Ugandan woman all the easier!

Summer Love – Fair Trade Fashion

Is it just me, or does Memorial Day feel like the kick off to summer?

The pool at the Durham YMCA opened, and temperatures are finally hitting the 80s. Duke students have graduated, and other schools will be letting out soon. And one thing is for sure, it is OFFICIALLY sandal weather!

In honor of summer, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite summer Fair Trade accessories. And since we just mentioned sandals, let’s start with:

Our beloved Sseko Sandals! If you’ve been in One World Market lately, then you have seen OWM staffers April, Katie, and Brandy rockin’ their Ssekos.

Handmade in Uganda, each sandal and strap provide an income for a young Ugandan woman on her way to college! We love that you can change the strap and design of your sandal easily, but even more, we LOVE that they support higher education for women in Uganda!

They were even featured in this month’s issue of Vogue:

Fair Trade High Fashion!

In fact, our Executive Director April was wearing her Sseko sandals with the blue and white strap today. To finish off her outfit:

One of our new GORGEOUS handmade bags from Brazil! Handwoven from grass, we love the pop of yellow. (Pairs perfectly with the Ssekos!)

Another combo we’re loving is brass and white:

These roll-on bracelets were made in Nepal, and the earrings were made in Northern India, but they were really made for each other! Perfect for a summer outfit, on your way to a show at DPAC and dinner outside at Geer Street. Nothing says SUMMER more than crisp white accessories.

But even darker color combinations can be adapted for summer. Like our new earrings and necklaces from Guatemala:

Even though it’s navy with brown, we feel more like it’s ocean with sand! Paired with a white tee shirt and jeans, it’s a great summer look!

However, the necklace comes in a variety of bright, summery colors…

Good luck choosing a favorite – we can’t!

What about you?

Do you have a new Fair Trade Accessory that is brightening up your summer wardrobe? Share it with us!

Fashion Trend: Collar Necklaces

A new trend that’s going to be popular this fall is the Collar Necklace. Simple but chic, a collar necklace can add a nice touch to a casual outfit or dress up an outfit for a special occasion.

This fall, One World Market is embracing the Collar Necklace trend with some fun, Fair Trade options that will give you a unique way to play with your wardrobe.

And since our options are handmade by very talented artisans in developing countries, we know that each piece will continue to garnish compliments, even after Fall 2012 has passed.

Our first favorite is handmade in India by a cooperative of women artisans:

Wire nests embellished with classic black seed beads, this necklace is truly a work of art!

Also from India, the next two necklaces shimmer with blue tones reminiscent of the ocean:

Also in shades of cool blue, the next collar necklace is made from recycled glass by artisans living in Ghana:

With brass accents, no two necklaces are the same, making it truly a one-of-a-kind statement necklace.

But not all collar necklaces are made of shiny beads, and our next few choices are great examples of the variety in our jewelry collection.

These necklaces are not only Fairly Traded, making them a benefit for the artisans who made them, but they’re also SUSTAINABLE, making them good for the environment!

Each of these necklaces is made from a sustainable nut called Tagua. Found readily in Ecuador, artisans hand-carve each bead from the nut.

Just like the necklace from Ghana, since each bead is handmade, no two are exactly the same. And since each carved nut is hand-dyed, the colors can vary as well.

It’s no secret that we love jewelry at One World Market, but what we really love is being able to embrace current fashion trends with pieces handmade by our artisans.

When you shop Fair Trade, the artisans gets a fair wage for their handy work, and you get a well made handicraft. Fair Trade is truly a growing trend that we hope never goes out of style!

Stop by the store today to see the necklaces featured in today’s post, and ask a volunteer to show you other Collar Necklaces we currently have in stock!