Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (1)
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Making Fair Trade Stylish, a JOYN Giveaway, & Link-Up!

Tunic: Elegantees via The Flourish Market (use code “stillbeingmolly” for FREE shipping!) | Coated Denim: Level 99 / Stitch Fix | Shoes: The Root Collective “Millie” Smoking Shoe (Use this link for 10% off) | Necklace: Mata Traders via The Flourish Market (use code “stillbeingmolly” for FREE shipping!) | Earrings: Nickel and Suede | Watch: Wristology Watches c/o (use code “45” for 20% off) | Bracelets: Alex and Ani c/o | Bag: JOYN via One World Market c/o (use code “SBMOLLY15” for 15% off your entire purchase)

Photography by Em Grey

I want to debunk a myth. There’s a nasty rumor or myth or whatever floating around that fair trade or ethically made clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, etc. isn’t stylish. That only the “big brands” you see in the malls are the ones rocking the trends and knocking it out of the park.

FALSE, y’all! 🙂

Fair trade and ethically made clothing CAN BE (and is!) stylish! You guys know my passion for this. For a while now, I have been actively working on getting my closet to the point where it is mostly (if not entirely) made up of clothing and items that are either fair trade, ethically made, made in the USA, or made in a factory where the workers are paid a fair and living wage in good conditions. This is something that is in my heart and something I feel very strongly about.

I realize it’s tough. I realize you have to be intentional. I realize you have to do your homework. Sometimes it takes a little bit of extra research to find out where EXACTLY something is made. And, most importantly, by whom and how it was made…

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (2)

Pretty much EVERYTHING I am wearing in this look falls into that category. Fair trade, ethically made, made in the USA, or made in a factory held to strict standards. And personally, this might be one of my favorite outfits recently. (And none of the items are even maternity! Thank GOODNESS for stretch, y’all!)

But… I want to highlight one of my FAVORITE places to shop fair trade AND one of my new favorite fair trade brands. One World Market and JOYN India.

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (3)

One World Market is a non-profit Fair Trade store located in Durham, North Carolina on Ninth Street… COMPLETELY staffed by volunteers. How awesome is THAT? Founded by members of Watts Street Baptist Church, their sole mission is to alleviate poverty on a global level.

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (4)They work with artisan groups and partners in 76 different developing countries. From Haiti to Cambodia, Uganda to Ecuador, they believe that everyone should receive a fair and living wage for their work. And while all of their artisans receive a fair wage, there are so many more benefits they receive from partnership! Things like clean drinking water, health insurance, school fees for their children, clinics for their villages, counseling, job training, financial planning – just to name a few!Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (5)

They believe (and I do, too!) that with each purchase, you have the power to completely change lives all over the world. A beautiful necklace for you gives a partner in Uganda the ability to build her first home. An ornament for your Christmas Tree provides a partner in India with the money to pay his daughter’s school fees. When you shop at One World Market, you shop for change – you shop for good! I LOVE IT.

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (6)Now, a little about JOYN (the maker of this GORGEOUS bag that I’m pretty much OBSESSED with).

One World Market has been partnering with JOYN India for three years, and their project quickly stole their hearts! I could tell you all about how amazing they are, but I feel like this quick link with infographic really captures it beautifully:

I get so much joy from seeing this! Seriously. It’s amazing what a company like JOYN (and One World Market!) can do to change the LIVES of people.

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (7)

I would encourage you to just think about this as you shop this Christmas and holiday season… think about purchasing with a PURPOSE. Think about the impact your dollars could have on someone else.

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (8)

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (9)

Elegantees Kilee tunic, JOYN bag, Root Collective "millie" smoking shoes, Mata Traders necklace, Level 99 coated denim (10)

The FABULOUS ladies over at One World Market have been so generous as to offer my readers 15% off their ENTIRE purchase with the code “SBMOLLY15” – AND, they’re giving away a GORGEOUS JOYN clutch to one of my readers!

Good luck! 🙂

Check out the giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

What about you? Have you heard of JOYN? What about One World Market? What Fair Trade or ethical brands do you adore?

*This post is proudly done in partnership with One World Market. I am a HUGE fan of One World Market and absolutely love their store and what they stand for! I may or may not be a regular there… 🙂 Thank you for supporting the amazing businesses that also help to support this blog!

let it shine logoWelcome to Let it Shine…..the new, revamped Funday Monday! After two years….we decided to rename our link up to something we felt would be a better fit.  Thus, Let it Shine! Why the name? Because we want this link up to be just that…..your chance to let it shine.  We’ll be sharing our favs here each week and on social media……
let it shine 1115

/ striped midi / plaid pattern mixing /

Another place we will be showcasing our favs?  The Let It Shine Pinterest Board


36 Comments

  1. Pingback: Bra Ided Blog

  2. I feel so strongly about purchasing ethical, local, secondhand, and fair trade clothing as well! I’ve been starting by shopping primarily at Goodwill, and I’ve been trying to do some research about other clothing companies that I can start to support as well. Thank you for talking about this stuff on your blog – it’s not a popular thing to discuss in the blogosphere, but I think it’s SO important!!

    Reply
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  19. Molly this is such a great post – I love how you support ethical and eco fashion. The bag’s print is especially lovely – and how you’ve styled it so simply is wonderful, I love it! Looking good…!

    Thank you so much for hosting :))

    Catherine x
    http://notdressedaslamb.com

    Reply
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  22. I love your look today Molly, the black and rich burgundy are so pretty together. Thank you for enlightening me about this wonderful organization and its impact. I love their unique pieces and fabrics. They have so many things I would love, especially the BRASS KIMANI EARRINGS. Thanks so much for this opportunity.

    Reply
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  32. What a pretty, unique necklace and great bag too! I love what you said about trying to purchase with a purpose this year for Christmas. I sometimes tend to put convenience and budget at the top of my list, but I’d like to do a better job of shopping with heart as well.

    Reply
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  35. Molly, your posts always make me smile. I LOVE you have a head for fashion and a heart for helping <3 Thanks for sharing this store with us, it is exactly the kind of thing I am interested in too. I love fashion that 'cares'. I actually did a blog post last year all about fashionable graphic tees whose profits go to various great causes. You can check it out here if you are interested – http://legalleeblonde.blogspot.ca/2014/12/tees-for-cause.html

    I also think you'd be interested in NaSuma designs. I lived in Tanzania for a while and had clothes made by a number of the women that are now working for NaSuma. You can see my post on that here – http://legalleeblonde.blogspot.ca/2015/06/introducing-nasuma-designs.html

    I just checked out their website and I love the moss pinwheel suede crossbody – so in style right now and I LOVE that it supports the organization you mentioned, JOYN, which sounds truly wonderful!

    Xo
    Lee |

    LegalLee Blonde

    Reply

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