Ethical Fashion Blog

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.

Mata Traders officially began in 2007, although I started wandering the globe many years before that, buying exotic things and selling them in the U.S. at flea markets and home parties.

Fall is the perfect time to get back to the books, whether you’re headed to class or not. Grab one of our recommended reads, your ethical backpack and a notebook and hit up a cozy spot to give your mind some me-time.

Ladies with a yen for compassionate fashion make a statement with both their wardrobes and their dollars. They set high standards for style (unique), quality (impeccable) and fit (flattering). And they celebrate the talents and traditions of artisans like those who handcraft Mata apparel and accessories in India and Nepal.

The morning sun streaks across a bustling street in Mumbai.

Shakuntula has walked this path many times. After her husband’s death nearly two decades ago, she was in critical need of a steady job to support their young daughter. She came to the cooperative at the suggestion of a friend, 19 years ago.

Fall is fast approaching, but don’t fret! That means the season of pumpkin spiced lattes and cute winter booties is...

It can be hard shopping as a petite! While everyone has challenges when searching for new clothes, petites have to be on the lookout for items that are the right proportions – the proportions of the bodice and skirt must be short enough, and the length of a dress is often too long.

As temperatures rise here in Chicago, so does our excitement: Summer is finally here! That means donning some flirty sandals, floppy sunhats, and your favorite sundress while you soak up the warm sunshine. Here at Mata we are rejoicing the return of our own favorite time of the year: dress season!

Summer is finally upon us! And lucky for us, there is no shortage of fun things to do in Chicago during these next few hot weather months. If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to do, check out one (or all) of the things below! And, of course, we’ve provided you with some cute styling suggestions. Whatever you decide to do this summer, do it in style.

It’s that time of year again: beach season! But just because your mind might be on summer vacation, doesn’t mean your ethical shopping habits have to be! Support local, sustainable, and fair trade companies when you hit the beach this year.

Weddings can take a lot of energy to plan, so it’s a huge relief that somebody else handles the bridal shower. When my mom and aunt brought up mine, one of my first thoughts was, “What am I going to wear?”

Hello! I’m Katelyn, one of the textile designers here at Mata Traders. With our Spring/Summer ‘17 collection off to such a great start, I thought it might be fun to give you all a glimpse behind the creation process of two of our most popular prints this season! Taking a sketch from the initial concept and developing it into one of a dozen finalized prints in a collection can be a labor of love, but it is always worth it in the long run. I love seeing my work on so many beautiful Mata customers!

Dust off your flips flops and grab the sunnies – your escape from winter doldrums has arrived. Meet Mata’s new Spring/Summer 2017 collection!

 

Today is International Women’s Day, a day to acknowledge the perseverance and determination of women everywhere. What better way to celebrate than by supporting your local and nationwide women-owned businesses (luckily, Chicago is FULL of them)! We compiled a list of just some of the hundreds of thousands of women-owned businesses nationwide, so you know your money is going to a fellow female. Happy shopping/eating/spending!

 

As we get ready to launch our Spring ’17 Collection (coming soon to stores and our website!), we’re excited to share a little sneak peek of the catalog photo shoot, which took place in September 2016. From the time we start designing a collection to when it hits stores takes more than a year, and the spring 2017 fashion shoot happens before the goods even go into production in India and Nepal!