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

Dining Alfresco in Fair Trade Style

Hot summer days call for cool cocktails, and we are loving this super simple Gin Cup. Refreshing and not overly sweet, the light pink hue looks sweet in our handmade glasses from India.

Gin Cup Ingredients:
Gin, sugar syrup, Campari, sweet vermouth, mint, lemon juice, pink grapefruit juice

Method:
Place the mint sprigs and sugar syrup in the bottom of a glass. Stir about to bruise the mint slightly.

Fill the glass with ice.

Add the lemon juice and gin and stir a frost should begin to form.

Finally add a measure of Campari and sweet vermouth, followed by a glug of grapefruit juice and serve!

Want a warm weather non-alcoholic option? Hand squeezed lemonade is always a hit!

Homemade Lemonade Ingredients:
6 lemons, 2/3 cup fair trade sugar, water

Method:
First scrub the lemons in warm water, then take the zest from 3 of the lemons using a potato peeler or zester.

Remove any white pith with a sharp knife – this is important to prevent the lemonade tasting bitter.

Now put the zest in a large bowl and add the squeezed juice of all the lemons and the sugar.

Pour in in 2½ pints (1.4 litres) of boiling water, stir well, cover and leave overnight in a cool place.

Stir again the following day, and taste to check the sweetness, add more sugar if needed.

Strain with a coarse sieve and pour into bottles using sterilized corks, then chill thoroughly and serve.

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Stop in the store to see even more gorgeous recycled glassware – we have tons of different styles, shapes, and designs, all Handmade and Fair Trade by our talented artisans in India!

Cuckoo for Nkuku!

Here at One World Market, we have gone cuckoo for Nkuku!  Make your kitchen one of a kind with these beautiful and unique pieces of stainless steel enamelware. We have something for you whether you like light, neutral colors or bright, bold colors.We have an array of colorful cups, mugs, intricately designed trays, bowls, and more.

Do you want to keep your kitchen looking calm and cool? No problem. Come and take a look at our bird themed cups and mugs. Each piece of enamelware is hand painted by an artisan in India. Even though they have tranquil colors, they will make your kitchen shine!

More of a bright and punchy color person? We have that too! Each cup has little baby birds who will certainly make you smile. These light cups are very easy to handle and will look great in your cabinets.

Not much of a bird person? Then we have flower enamelware just for you. Each cup, mug, pitcher, tray, and tiffin have nice red and blue flowers that will certainly brighten your day. These pieces are great for meals at home, picnics, or other fun activities.

Need a new lunch box before the school year? Want a new lunch box for your job? Then come on over! A tiffin is a small but appetizing meal somewhere between breakfast and lunch. Tiffin carriers are small meal holders which are very popular in India. People strap their carriers to their bikes or carry it around since it is small and easy to hold and handle. You can easily place it in a messenger bag or purse if you are having a picnic or going to work. Kids can easily strap it to their backpack so it is ready for lunch. The carriers have a clip that keeps the three containers sealed. When your child goes to school with this creative lunch box, all the kids will be talking about it and want to get their own! Come get these fair trade and hand-painted tiffin carriers before they are gone.

Yep, we have the whole set. The bowls are just the perfect size! Not only are they useful but they are attractive too!

These nice jugs are great for some tasty lemonade on a hot day, plus they are appropriately sized jugs and sure to hold your favorite drink.

Complete the set with our matching trays! Compliment the cups and bowls with our hand painted trays with small detailed birds or decorative red flowers. Serve your meals with style with our new Nkuku enamelware.

Nkuku is a fair trade company that helps struggling artisans in Kashmir, India. Working at Nkuku helps these artisans gain money to help them continue their lives and get new jobs. Every piece of stainless steel enamelware is hand painted.

Since we only get these Nkuku products once a year, come on over to One World Market in Durham, NC to get your enamelware before they are gone!

 

Your Fair Trade Friend, Joseph

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Joseph is a volunteer with One World Market and we are so excited to have him join our Blogging Team! Look for many more posts from Joseph in the future.

One World Market is a Fair Trade, Non-Profit Retail Store located in Durham, NC. Shop with us at 811 Ninth Street or online at www.shoponeworldmarket.com

A Fair Trade Fashion Revolution

Relatives of the victims cry as they attend prayer, paying tribute to the victims of a building collapse at the graveyard at Jurain in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Over 290 unclaimed bodies were buried / Photo Credit: Abir Abdullah EPA

On April 24th 2013, 1,133 men and women died after the structure of their garment factory crumbled on top of them. At least 2,500 were injured, along with an estimated 800 children left orphaned.

Victims were left begging for compensation, terms which still haven’t been met. And as many of the clothing companies sourcing production from Rana Plaza distanced themselves from the disaster, time passed and many were left forgotten.

An eight story building housing several garment factories became a mountain of rubble, clothing and people, and our eyes began to open. After this tragedy, One World Market began researching and sourcing Fair Trade clothing. We felt it was more important than ever to create a local market in Durham where ethical fashion could be found.

We started small with beautiful dresses that were handmade in the Congo from Mamafrica. 

Then we branched out to simple separates, lovely tunics, and block-printed dresses handmade in India from Global Girlfriend, Jinja Fair Trade, and Symbology.

We instantly felt connected with the artisans who made our clothing. But even more, we felt incredibly disconnected from the “Fast Fashion” we had been wearing for so many years.

It can be so easy to overlook the tiny tag hanging in a shirt or stitched into a pair of pants. But when you’re wearing a Fair Trade garment, that tag becomes a source of pride ! Fair Trade – Handmade – it matters.

This Thursday, April 24th, we hope you will join us in asking the question:

Who made your clothes?

In cooperation with Fashion Revolution, you can choose to wear one item of clothing inside out. The idea is that then when someone asks you or points out that you’re wearing an article of clothing inside out, you can then engage in a meaningful conversation about where your clothes were made. And the horrors that occur every single day in every single part of the supply chain that creates a cheap piece of clothing.

Together we can use the power of fashion to catalyze change and reconnect the broken links in the supply chain. Wear your clothes inside-out to help start the beginning of an industry-wide transformation towards a more sustainable future.

Show us your inside out clothes on Instagram by tagging it @Fash_Rev @OneWorldMarket and #InsideOut

Join us! Join the Fashion Revolution!

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!

One World Market Earth Day Celebration & A Winner

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our recycling game this week! We were so excited to read everyone’s comments as the week progressed!

Just as we predicted, One World Market Facebook Friends are incredibly smart! Nearly every guess was correct! And those that weren’t were still great ideas! Purse made of bacon? Yum!

Before we announce the winner of the week and the recipient of a $50 OWM Gift Card, let’s review the answers!

Monday’s Recycled Item:

This is in fact three different coiled bracelets handmade in Uganda out of recycled magazine pages! Each bead starts as a long strip of paper, which is then rolled, glued, and lacquered.

Simple and yet incredibly beautiful! We carry paper bead jewelry in a WIDE RANGE of colors, styles, and lengths!

Next up, Tuesday’s Item, and what seemed to be the easiest guess of the week:

Handmade in India, this handbag is made entirely of old seatbelts! So many of you guessed this bag correctly!

Want to see the artisans in action? Check out this short video, less than 2 minutes long, to see a seatbelt purse being made!

Wednesday’s Item was another purse, but instead of seatbelts…

Conserve artisans used recycled denim and rubber from the inner tubes of tires! The artisans that make this bag are the same artisans featured in the video above!

Conserve makes ALL of their items from recycled materials, helping India cut down on their enormous issues with waste.

Thursday’s item, a friendly rhino from Kenya, may have been a little bit obvious:

 

meaning that his Coca-Cola cans were showing! Made from recycled soda cans, this friendly fellow is 100% recycled. A few of you even guessed what his accents were: recycled telephone wire. Great job!

Early this morning, OWM volunteers carefully copied down everyone’s name who guessed, giving double entries to those who shared the game with their Facebook friends. Our winner was chosen by random drawing:

Jennifer Smith

Congratulations Jennifer!

Stop by One World Market, your Fair Trade, non-profit on Ninth Street in Durham to claim your gift card!

And thank you to everyone for playing! Be sure to join us this Saturday, April 20th from 12noon to 3pm as we celebrate Earth Day!

You can even try your hand at making your own paper bead bracelet or keychain!