Fair Trade Jewelry

Fair Trade Jewelry

What is Fair Trade Jewelry and why should you care?

This article explores the principles of fair trade and fair trade jewelry to help you better understand the benefits of purchasing fair trade and going beyond fair trade coffee to fashion items such as fair trade jewelry.

As consumers we are more and more conscious of where our money goes as a result of economic conditions but also as we become more socially conscious. We are caring more about who makes the products we buy, what they're made of and under what condition. We care about the impact of our purchases and we want to make our dollars count.

One way you can make your dollars count is by purchasing fair trade products. Fair Trade products are available in many categories beyond most well known fair trade agricultural products (coffee, chocolate etc) to include household decor items, clothing, jewelry and many more.

So what is fair trade? Fair trade is based on a set of principles designed to improve trading conditions and to help secure the rights of marginalised workers in developing countries. There are ten basic principles of fair trade, among them are ensuring fair payment, good working conditions, creating opportunities, caring for the environment and ensuring gender equality.

When considering a jewelry purchase, look for a retailer who embraces fair trade and seeks out fair trade jewelry artisans and organisations from the developing world. Such retailers aim to help women in the developed world look and feel great while helping women in the developing world achieve the art of self reliance.

Look for retailers that carry all or nearly all fair trade jewelry as well as pieces which are are also eco friendly made with natural and/or recycled materials.

You will be delighted to find that there is a wonderful range of fair trade jewelry pieces that are both socially conscious and eco friendly such necklaces made from tagua seeds from Ecuador, wood bangles coloured with vegetable dye from India, recycled cotton bags hand woven by survivors of the 2004 Tsunami.

Fair Trade artisans are paid a fair price for their crafts, generating an income to support their families as well as preserving traditional artisan jewellery techniques which might otherwise be lost.

Think social conscious buying means spending more? It doesn't have too. Fair trade jewelry is often the same or less than you would pay at a store that carries mass produced merchandise. You can look fashionable and feel great about it.

Why should you care about fair trade jewelry? You can look great wearing a piece of jewelry which truly reflects its artisan's origin and at the same time helps that artisan improve their economic situation.

You can make your dollars count with fair trade jewelry.

Explore Pangea Collection's Fair Trade Jewelry Collections:
African Fair Trade Jewelry
Chilean Fair Trade Jewelry
Ecuadorian Fair Trade Jewelry
India Fair Trade Jewelry
Nepalese Fair Trade Jewelry
Thai Fair Trade Jewelry