International Earth Day

Happy International Earth Day! Here at Global Goods Partners we are constantly working toward making the world a greener place with our Eco-friendly products!

Instead of ending up in landfill, these rice bags are being put to good use by way of our Reversible Tote Bags! Made out of recycled rice bags and featuring bright, floral fabric on one side along with sturdy recycled rice bag on the other, they are bright, fun and practical. The purchase of one also pays for a  Cambodian child to eat four nutritious meals at Friends-International education and training centers. We love these bags because they not only positively impact the environment, but the life of a child as well!

Our Glitter Wallets are made from recycled candy wrappers and potato chip bags and are also super stylish and fun! Instead of polluting waterways, these recycled materials make for a great item that can be used both during the day or for a fun evening out. What’s more, buying just one wallet provides a set of school books to a disadvantaged child in Cambodia. What more of an incentive do we need to shop Eco-friendly and fair trade?

We have several more amazing Eco-friendly products to help get you into the Earth Day spirit this year. Visit our website at http://www.globalgoodspartners.org to start making a difference!

Everything You Need to Know About Sisal Fiber

At a first glance, it’s hard to believe that this plant is related to this bracelet:

But believe it or not the fiber used to make this product came directly from the leaves of the plant!

Known as sisal, this plant is native to Central America but is grown all over the world. The largest producers of sisal fiber today are Brazil and China. The sisal plant was first used commercially by way of the machine grain binder in the 1880′s, creating a demand for inexpensive twine.

Sisal fiber is durable and mostly inflexible. For these reasons it is mostly used to make chords such as ropes and twines. It has the ability to stretch and is resistant to breakage in salt water. The immense strength of sisal fiber means that its chords are mostly used in the agricultural, marine and shipping industries.

Sisal fiber comes directly from the leaves of the sisal plant. A machine crushes the leaves of the plant between rollers in order to extract the fiber. Pulp is then scraped from the fiber, which is then washed and dried. Sisal fiber is usually white in color and can reach 40-50 inches in length once it is fully extracted from the plant.

Aside from industrial ropes, the fiber can also be used to make rugs and brushes, and of course, jewelry!

We love these sisal fiber bracelets here at Global Goods Partners. Our bracelets are made by female artisans in Colombia who weave the fiber by hand. Gold-wire details adorn the exterior of the bracelets, making them a bold and unique statement piece that can brighten any outfit. Get your sisal fiber bracelet today!

An International Women’s Day Success Story

Remember Marcelina?

Some of you may remember Marcelina, an artisan who worked with our partner in Cusco, Peru – Mantay. We shared her inspirational story two years ago, and now there’s even more to share!

We recently checked in with Marcelina and were thrilled to discover that she now owns her own business. In addition to learning valuable skills pertaining to leather making, Marcelina tells us that her time at Mantay also taught her “how to improve quality control, advertising strategies and developing a brand,” which are skills that have enabled her to become an independent business woman.

Marcelina isn’t stopping there. She would eventually like to create her own brand and sell her merchandise in a commercial center.  Her children  serve as her inspiration to continue striving to  fulfill her goals.  She tells us, “I would like to have the resources to prepare my oldest son to go to university and so that my little daughter can have a good education in a good college.”

Marcelina still works part-time with Mantay. The organization holds a special in her heart. She tells us that “buying these products allows you to join with single mothers to provide more work for them. I feel identified with the [Mantay] brand because it has a special meaning for me.”

Marcelina is a perfect example of why we celebrate International Women’s Day. She is certainly an inspiration to us all here at GGP!

On the Horizon in 2013

Launching a nonprofit organization and developing a retail brand all at the same time can present exciting opportunities, enormous challenges – and some daunting realities.

When Catherine Shimony and I set out to create GGP six years ago, we relished the chance to make a difference in the lives of women – but we were cognizant of the need to make sure each and every project in which we invested our resources made a wholly positive impact.

Social entrepreneurs, like their private-sector counterparts, make hundreds of decisions, small and large, all day, everyday. When funding for GGP seemed elusive, our partners’ products were stuck in customs or our online check-out system failed, we would ask ourselves one question that always served as our guiding North Star: “What’s in the best interest of the women artisans?”

It is that same question we ask ourselves today. What option provides our partners the greatest sustainable source of income generation? How will women artisans and their families benefit for the long run and not just for short-term gain?

Over the past half decade, the market for fair trade artisan products has found a much wider audience. With the right checks and balances, we believe that this is a market that can welcome more participants – as long as the participants adhere to the rules of the road in supporting fair trade ethical investments.

Within the past year, we have secured orders with retail companies that help us broaden the market for our partners’ products. Last spring, we produced a line of fair trade scarves, jewelry and bags for retailer Club Monaco, a Ralph Lauren brand, which was in stores around the world as part of their beach boutique.  More recently, GGP has helped partners secure orders with and produce for Wal-Mart as part of their new “Shop for Good” initiative working exclusively with women-led enterprises. Felt flowers crafted by our partner Friends Handicrafts in Nepal and jewelry crafted by Maasai Women Development Organization in Tanzania will be available on Walmart.com in March 2013.

We are proud of how far fair trade has come since we started GGP six years ago. By helping to shine a wider lens on the hard work our partners do and growing market access, we can all contribute to achieving greater equity and income for women and their families around the world.

New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 Trends: Pastels

New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 is currently underway, with exciting new styles on display for us to derive inspiration from!

Pastels are predicted to be a huge hit this upcoming season, with pale pinks, blues, greens, and purples among the top colours in style. Several designers have incorporated pastels into their designs, like Karl Lagerfeld, Catherine Malandrino and Donna Karan:

Global Goods Partners has a great selection of pastel-colored accessories to boost your wardrobe this spring season. Our products are not only stylish, but environmentally friendly AND fair trade. In keeping up with this season’s latest fashion trends, you’ll also be supporting female artisans in marginalized communities worldwide while also making a difference to the environment!

Check out our website to find these eye-catching pastel-colored spring accessories!

Scrunched Cotton Handbag, Patterned Clay Earrings, Felt Flower Brooch, Two-Toned Linen Scarf, Striped Silk Scarf, Bottle Stop Tassel and Clay

New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 Trends: Graphic Prints

New York Fashion Week is here, which means exciting new style trends for next season! Fashion Week is a time of year when 100,000 editors, stylists and fashion fanatics come together to take a look at next season’s fashion trends. But don’t be discouraged – you don’t have to be a member of the fashion industry to be in vogue. We’ve done our research here at Global Goods Partners to bring you the predicted Spring 2013 fashion trends.

Black and white graphic prints are predicted to be a huge hit this Spring season. Designers such as Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta have incorporated this style into their Spring 2013 collections:

Inspired by this trend, we’ve compiled our own Global Goods Partners collection of black and white graphic prints fashion suggestions. Not only are our products both trendy and versatile, but they’re also eco-friendly and of course, fair trade.

Not only will you look super stylish this Spring season, but you’ll also be supporting a great cause. Find these Fair Trade, Bold Graphic Print accessories now!

Men’s Bolivian Woven Wallet, Art Deco Beaded Clutch, Black and White Alpaca Shawl, African Print iPad Case, Colombian Geometric Bracelet, Geo Printed Cuff

Kashmir Papièr Mâchè

Many of us have attempted the art of papièr mâchè, whether it be in an elementary school art class or as a fun craft project at home. The process of making papièr mâchè can be pretty messy and it doesn’t always turn out as expected! That’s why these Kashmir papièr mâchè ornaments from India and Pakistan are so amazing!

Papièr mâchè, which is French for chewed paper, was introduced to Kashmir in the Northwestern region of India in the 15th Century by a Kashmiri prince. The prince had spent time in Samarkand in Central Asia where he was first introduced to the art, which was highly favored by Mughal Emperors.

Papièr mâchè can be comprised of cardboard or wood, but the most common material is of course paper. The process of creating papièr mâchè begins by first soaking paper in water until it disintegrates. The paper is then pounded, mixed with an adhesive solution and shaped over moulds. Paper that has been pounded to pulp results in the smoothest final product.  It is then allowed to dry and set. Once the moulds have dried, the shape is cut away from the mould in two halves and then glued together again. The surface of the papièr mâchè is then smoothed over with a piece of stone or baked clay, and then layered with pieces of tissue paper. A base colour is then applied to the surface and intricate designs are hand-painted on top of that. The object will then be sandpapered or burnished before being painted with lacquer.

What specifically defines Kashmiri papièr mâchè are the designs that decorate its surface. Red, gold and silver paint are staples of the Kashmiri style, and are usually made by grinding and soaking vegetable mineral dyes in pigment. The designs painted on the surface usually depict natural imagery such as flowers or birds, with a strong Persian influence throughout. Arabesque detailing is also quite common on Kashmiri papièr mâchè objects. This is usually painted in gold against a brown or red background depicting rose blossoms, detailed spirals and scroll work. Many small Kashmiri papièr mâchè items are accompanied by brass detailing, and larger objects usually depict illustrations of landscapes.

The intricate hand painted details on our Kashmiri Papièr mâchè ornaments make them a stand out gift. Or let these beauties adorn your tree this year, and let your commitment to fair trade shine!

Hand Painted Star Ornament Set, Papier Mache Egg Ornament, Papier Mache Sphere Ornament