7 Ethically-Made Gifts for Mother’s Day

Mata Loves Moms

Did you know: “Mata” means “mother” in Hindi? Here at Mata Traders, we celebrate the feminine power within each of us and recognize that there’s something about the strength of a mom that makes the world go ‘round. Our producer organizations value the importance of supporting working moms, by offering benefits like health care, maternity leave, and child care.

This Mother’s Day, why not treat a mom in your life to a gift made by a mom who’s treated well in hers? You don’t have to search far to find women-empowering products - we’ve made a list to get you started! So go ahead and reward the maternal people you know for doing what they do:

1) A soy candle from Bright Endeavors

For her next romantic evening, or even just to keep her space smelling delightful, a soy candle will do the trick. Bright Endeavors is an innovative social enterprise that creates brighter futures for young moms by employing them to craft premium soy candles in a supportive, professional environment.

2) A pillow cover from Huaywasi

Keep it comfy and colorful with a pillow cover from Huaywasi, which works as a component of the Women's Empowerment program within Light and Leadership Initiative (LLI), an education based nonprofit. Through LLI, educational workshops are offered in the areas of Career Development, Health, and Art and Expression, inviting women over the age of 18 to participate in these workshops, free of cost, every Saturday and Sunday.

3) A scarf from RefuSHE

As if their scarves weren’t great enough, RefuSHE helps young refugee women in Kenya learn, grown, and become leaders, making them the perfect company to support this Mother’s Day. Anne & Talyn founded RefuSHE as an innovative solution within the global refugee crisis – an organization built on the principle that every young woman deserves opportunity.

4) A throw blanket from Trades of Hope

For a binge-watching session on Netflix, a handcrafted herringbone throw makes the evening in feel like a night out. Indian artisans once desperate for an income are now creating products at Trades of Hope, providing for their families and breaking multi-generational poverty in their communities.

5) A headband from Aruna Project

The work-out obsessed mama in your life will crave keeping the flyaways tamed, once she gets her hands on a cute headband from Aruna Project. Their partner company works tirelessly to free women from sexual slavery, later employing and empowering them to build a foundation for their future.

6) A necklace from Mata Traders

I mean.. we had to. Our partner artisans in India work hard for their families, and their dedication comes across in modern, powerful jewelry. Knowing your purchase supports organizations that provide benefits for working mothers is just icing on the cake.

7) An iganga bowl from Path of Paper

Always on the lookout for conversation pieces, moms everywhere know that an interesting item is even better when there’s a story behind it. Path of Paper’s products are made from recycled paper and turned into beautiful jewelry, purses, and bowls, by artisans in Iganga, Uganda.

8) A wallet from Malia Designs

So many wallet designs, so little time. Take your pick of any of Malia’s Our Chicago friends and fellow Fair Trade Federation members, Malia fights against human trafficking through long-term relationships with Cambodian cooperatives, and support anti-trafficking organizations in Southeast Asia.

Gifts That Give Back for Mother's Day

Keep the mamas in your life feeling good about their impact on the world by gifting something that supports women worldwide. Ethically-made items are a great place to start!