Do you remember when I became obsessed with only buying fair trade items?
Dan does. It was the year I told him exactly what I wanted for Mother’s Day but said I only wanted it if he could find it made of recycled glass by people in fair working conditions or previously-owned. He spent hours with the kids in an antique store finding me the perfect glass pitcher. I bought him a bathrobe and called the company to verify the working conditions of the textile workers. I wanted to know they had air conditioning, a fair wage.
Yeah. We got tired and lazy and we just started buying stuff again, trying not to think about where it came from or how it was made. But I still think about it, a bit. It just takes work to know what you’re buying.
That’s why I love Novica. It’s a website that partners with National Geographic to bring fair trade items from artisans around the world to consumers worldwide. Each of the items offered for sale comes with an artist bio and information about where and how it’s made. You can view these profiles online as you’re browsing and feel secure that you’re helping small businesses flourish, often in impoverished countries.
Novica also partners with Kiva.org to provide microcredit loans to their artisans, allowing them to start or grow businesses, employ others, and preserve ancient artistic techniques. You can offer a zero interest loan to an artisan through their website.
To give me an experience to blog about, Novica offered me a $150 gift card, which I spent $75 of and I’m giving the other $75 to you.
There are a ton of great products to choose from. It took me days, and sadly, by the time I made my mind up, the item I wanted had sold. I’ll have to check back later. Stock varies from day to day as artists sell out and get back to work creating. So, if you find something you love, snatch it up right away. It’s a great way to buy gifts and feel good about what you’re purchasing.
I went with this great Ica Traveler cotton handbag with leather accents. It is big enough without being enormous and has great organization with pen holders, cell phone pocket and two zipper pockets. It’s really pretty and well-made and I’m enjoying carrying it around.
It came quickly, considering it made its journey all the way from the Andes in Peru. When I placed my order, the website was glitching so I called the number on the screen and they completed my purchase over the phone.
A few other items I like that are still there are:
Leather Wristband Bracelet
Family Love Elephant Necklace
Soapstone Candle Holders
Brown Leather Messenger Bag
They also have leather handbags, jewelry boxes, sterling silver necklaces, Mother’s Day gift suggestions, blue drinking glasses, and much more.
Leave a comment if you love shopping fair trade and want to do it for free. I’ll use a random number generator to choose a winner at 10pm PST on Thursday, April 3rd, 2014. Good luck!
I think it’s awesome that you are a fair trade supporter! I have a friend that is obsessed with fair trade and some has worn off on me. Halley and I always visit and purchase something from the fair trade store when we visit Leavenworth! My family and I are big supporters of Heifer International.
Cute bag! I love the color. Thanks for the giveaway also! DamianMom at yahoo dot com
I’ve hardly even thought about that much due to budget constraints, but I should. Maybe this will help me out. =)
Thanks for the opportunity! I love your blog.
This is AWESOME! YOU are AWESOME! Fair Trade is the AWESOMEST! Way to make a difference, and way to be super generous and share your GC! Seriously, amazing.
Cute bag! I have been trying to work more fair trade stuff into my life too.
I love the jewelry at Novica. Thank you!
I love your blog! I’ve been trying to get back to basics and go for the fair trade items in my life. Glad to see this opportunity to do so, even if I don’t win (which I hope I do!)
What a great way to find unique items and help and encourage artisans. I will have to check that out.
I am slowly trying to be more conscious of where the things I buy come from. I’ll have to spend some time browsing Novica, but I’m already in love with that bag!
Love to support Fair Trade! Off to check out their website right now.
love the bag! Good for you, not everyone is so aware.
What a cute bag! Love that you support fair trade businesses!
I love this idea! I need to be better about buying free-trade. Thanks for the reminder!
You’ve given me something new to research and ponder about. I must confess that I haven’t heard of Fair Trade or have thought about where the products I buy come from.
Cute bag. Not surprised you bought a purse!
I love this! Thank you for sharing.
Would love to start doing more with fair trade items and this would give me the chance! Love your bag 🙂
Love this idea!
Fabulous! I’d love to win.
I hope for the day when fair trade is just good business in general. Thank you for supporting artist/entrepreneurs.
Love it! Thanks for the info, I want to check out that site now….which will be really fun if I win the credit there!
LOVE that bag. Pick me Random Number Generator!!
Never done it, but would love to try 🙂
Ooh, such a neat website!
I love fair trade shop in person and online! I have my eye on their Blue Trinity Ring for myself…or this would make a great mother’s day gift!
I do love shopping fair trade…and would love to do it for free.
Shared this giveaway here: http://suchfuntogive.blogspot.com/2014/04/giveaways-4-good.html
If you have any other fair trade giveaways or other giveaways helping good causes in the future, I’d love to help you share them…so just leave me a note about them on the submit giveaway link on the sidebar if you’d like me to do that.
I am trying to do more free-trade. Sadly, kids don’t care as much about that–but most adult gifts I try to get now are either local crafters or free trade. TRY. Yeah, its hard to keep it up.
I would love to get some of their stuff. It looks amazing. Pick me!
I love the concept of Novica. I like the fact that Novica partnered with National Geographic. The story of you and your husband buying gifts for each other and making sure that the products were from fair working conditions is inspiring.
i love fair trade stuff – i have purchased a vase from novica before – i love everything about them!
I love Novica — they have such beautiful jewelry there, too!
Of course I love shopping fair trade. Our local farmer’s market in the summer has fair trade items.
I love fair trade items. The best is buying them in country. 🙂 second best is over the Internet!
Wow they have a great selection – would love to win!
I love that you support fair trade! I try to buy some items for the holidays, and often buy fair trade coffee as well 🙂
Being a handmade artist myself I always try to buy fair trade!
Shopping fair trade is so important to me!
Cool giveaway idea!