What it is: Hope For Women, an organization that is both “green” and is fair-trade. Hope For Women aims to improve the lives of the (female) artisans it employs, with wages 5-7 times higher than the government-established minimum wage. Read more about the company on their site!
(Erm, not that they’re intentionally decreasing the standard of life for male artisans. It’s just that they haven’t hired any.)
The samples we were sent speak volumes for themselves, so we won’t say too much more. The cards run for $5.50 apiece and the bracelets, $17.99 — not bad at all, seeing as the company’s both socially and ecologically responsible! The quality of the products is fabulous as well; we’ve definitely seen more shoddily-made items (for even higher prices,) and in many instances, those higher costs are not going to the workers.
Senorita (we love the delicate, feminine pressed flowers on this one — particularly in person, it just looks so intricate!)
Rosa (aka “the most beautiful card we’ve ever seen”)
The Tagua bracelet, in a goes-with-everything black and white pattern:
Some really awesome facts about the company:
- Hope For Women was started by Evan and David Goldsmith — a father/son duo. Betcha didn’t see that one coming!
- Their fun, chunky bracelets are all made from Tagua nuts, which are gathered after they have fallen from the trees (so as to not harm them.)
- The paper is “tree free,” and is instead made out of recycled cotton rags! I thought the cards were just made from hand-pressed recycled paper, but this is definitely cooler. The result? A thick, smooth card — “eco-luxe,” if you will.
- On the Hope For Women site, you can actually find short biographies for each of their employees, detailing the difference the company has made on their lives
My question, therefore, is this: if Hope For Women can run a business while paying their employees decent wages and without charging the consumers an arm and a leg, what the heck is everyone else up to?!
Anyhow, I know we won’t change the world overnight, but the next time you’re picking up a card, or a bracelet, or something for your home, please don’t forget about Hope For Women. Not only do they produce beautiful products, I think the company’s vision is beautiful as well — so I say we show our support for fair trade in one of the only ways we, as consumers, can: with our pocket change!
