What a Difference a Dress Makes
- Mata Traders
- 12 Oct, 2017
There's no better time than Fair Trade Month to celebrate all the good that comes from a fair partnership between producers and consumers. Throughout October, Mata is inviting fair trade fans and enterprises to share an image on Instagram of what fair trade looks like for them, with this hashtag: #whatfairtradelookslike.
We’re posting our own photos to give you a glimpse of fair trade Mata style. Take a look - you’ll see why we say that women who wear Mata empower women who make Mata to create a better life.
This is what fair trade looks like
Mata artisans come from rural areas, small villages, and urban slums in India and Nepal, and they all want the same thing – the chance to lift their families and communities out of poverty. Through fair trade business practices, they earn a sustainable wage, preserve traditional skills and create opportunities for themselves. They’re able to have the resources to care for their children and support their communities.
Our company partners with several fair trade organizations that, like social service agencies, provide support in the form of health care, paid maternity leave, retirement pensions, and daycare. Social workers on staff offer literacy classes, computer training and workshops on topics like hygiene, nutrition and parenting. They help artisans address complex situations such as domestic violence and dealing with HIV/AIDS.
The power of your purchase Every dress, skirt, top, and piece of jewelry you buy from Mata creates more opportunity for more women and their families. Literally.
With her earnings from sewing just one Mata dress, an artisan can buy a five-day supply of rice, or a 15-day supply of wheat flour or one week of school fees for her child. What’s more, providing a stable income to women at the poverty level combats the problem of child labor at its roots. The change can be seen not only in the life of the woman employed by the cooperative, but especially in the next generation, the children she can afford to educate.
Check out more details on how your purchase of a Mata dress impacts our artisans:
Your purchase of ONE dress at Mata allows an artisan to buy enough rice to last 5 days, while 5-6 dresses allows an artisan to buy enough rice to last the MONTH.
Your purchase of ONE Dress at Mata allows an artisan to buy enough wheat flour for 15 days. And a purchase of two dresses allows an artisan to buy enough wheat flour for the MONTH.
Your purchase of ONE Dress allows an artisan to pay for private school for her child for about 1 week, while a purchase of four dresses allows an artisan to pay for 1 month of private school.
Fashion to feel good about
Why do women wear Mata? Because, they tell us, Mata makes them feel adventurous, compassionate, beautiful and (we love this one) powerful. Coincidence? That’s how we describe the women who make Mata! Comment below and tell us how you feel when you wear Mata. Is this what fair trade looks like to you?
