Shop Small-Shop Local-Shop Early by Megy Karydes
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his season, it will be more important than ever for customers to shop their ethical values and support local organizations. Chicago Fair Trade (ChicagoFairTrade.org) is making it easy to do just that. “Shop small and support your local businesses” has been the mantra independent and local businesses have been leveraging to encourage their customers to bypass the chain store and online giants if the goal is to enjoy a thriving business community and stronger tax base. We might want to add shop
launched a socially responsible brand that uses fashion to empower women and inspire change around the world with product lines that include lifestyle fashion, jewelry, handmade cards and home décor. The global pandemic may have added another layer of uncertainty to many businesses today, but the entrepreneur notes that there is always a small measure of uncertainty with businesses like ILAVA, and she says the way ILAVA operates has prepared them for moments like these. “We only produce a small amount, and we
Photos courtesy of Venture Imports
early to the mix this holiday season, because many businesses won’t be able to restock as quickly as in years past. Fair trade products appeal to many customers that want to buy handmade items produced ethically, sustainably and traded fairly, meaning the artisans that harvested or made the items are paid a fair wage. Because these products are all made or harvested by hand, the organizations that import them tend to be smaller, and the retailers are also smaller businesses. While their size may allow them to be more nimble than larger retail and wholesale business counterparts, they are not immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Katherine Bissell Cordova, executive director of Chicago Fair Trade, the largest fair trade coalition in the United States. The active nonprofit organization includes a dedicated base of businesses, educational institutions, congregations, nonprofit organizations and individual activists. Rahel Mwitula Williams, founder and creative director of ILAVA (MyILAVA.com), is a member of Chicago Fair Trade. She 40
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are not obligated to the fashion industry calendar, meaning one or two seasons ahead,” says Williams. “We are truly ready-to-wear.” Jennie Misner, another member of Chicago Fair Trade and owner of Chicago-based Venture Imports (VentureImports.com), agrees. “Our products are all handmade using simple hand tools, so it takes quite a while for our orders to be made,” explains Misner. She works directly with her artisan/partners in Kenya, a country that has been hit especially hard by the global pandemic, as well as loss of tourism, which translates to a loss of a local market for them to sell their goods.
Shop With A Conscious Version 2.0 Six themes are reshaping consumer goods and services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report released by global market research company Euromonitor International, including a move from sustainability to purpose. There has been an identified industry-agnostic trend toward purpose-driven purchasing that is spurring a move beyond ethical and eco-conscious to a holistic ap-
