Thoughts from the Fair Trade Federation Conference in Portland Oregon

Cheri and I just got back to Springfield, after spending 5 days in Portland in the company of some of the most awe-inspiring and motivated people that I think I have ever encountered.

The occasion was the 15th Conference of the Fair Trade Federation, the trade group that brings together Fair Trade wholesalers and retailers of North America. Having been accepted as members of the FTF earlier in the year, and having never been to a conference previously (although a members-only conference on the first day, after that it is very much open to the public) we were excited to attend, but also unsure of what the event would be like, how worthwhile we would find it, and frankly whether or not we could afford to attend.

You can find out more about the events of the Conference at the FTF website (www,fairtradefederation.com). The whole event was pretty intense, with session after session aimed at giving the members the tools they need to keep growing, especially in the difficult economic climate. It was emotional too, with many of the members making it clear that their businesses were struggling badly, but that one thought kept them going; the need to continue providing a route to market for the thousands of artisans in countries around the world that depend on the Fair Trade movement.

It was great from a personal point of view to meet many of the people that we have been working with since opening Global Fayre in Dec 2007. In virtually every case it was the first time we had met in person.

All-in-all, the conference gave us both a renewed sense of energy, urgency and commitment to Fair Trade. See you next year in Boston!

The Bluetones Jazz Sextet

We’re excited to unveil the Bluetones at the First Friday Art Walk this week (March 6th).

Although this is their first playing together in Springfield, as their biographies show, this is a collection of experienced musicans with a wide range of influences.

The members of the Bluetones Jazz Sextet are Nick Rawlings on upright bass, Kurtis Foster on alto saxophone, Ian Roslawski on trumpet, Dugan Corsolini on trombone, Keith Haynes on guitar, and Austin Veteto on drums. Kurtis Foster is an up and coming alto saxophone player that has played with jazz greats such as James Golbapp and Arzo Tureaud. His committment to the Bluetones marks a new chapter of music discovery and exploration for the always adventurous Mr. Foster. Keith Haynes has been playing guitar for nearly a decade now, but has a past riddled with many genres of music. He originally started as a blues/rock musician and quickly shifted his focus to ska music. It was at this point that he formed the group “Big Willis Style” with Kurtis. Eventually Keith developed a preference for jazz and started to study and listen to it exclusively. Ian Roslawski has played classical music in seven European countries with the Missouri Ambassadors of Music. Austin Veteto has his roots in the Marching Band scene. He was a member of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. who won the World Championship and the High Percussion Trophey in the Drum Corps. International World Championship. His rudimental style adds a precise and distinct element to the groups sound. Dugan Corsolin has been playing trombone since he was twelve years old. He is most well-known for his performances with members of the Jim Widener Big Band. Nick Rawlings has been playing bass for twelve years. His extensive background in musical performance spans many genres including rock, blues, jazz, country, and classical. He is most well-known for his performances with the Caravan Trio, the Lofters of Jive, the Bears and the Bees, John Paul and the Flying Circus, Hannis Brown, and Patrick Clark. Nick, Dugan, Austin, Ian, and Keith met at Drury University. Sharing a natural passion for jazz music, the young musicians decided to form their own group. Incomplete without a saxophonist, Kurtis was added to the mix.

We can’t wait!

Windhorse Prayer Flags

We’ve just added Windhorse Prayer Flags to our online store. The flags come from Nepal, via Ganesh Himal Trading.

Windhorse Prayer Flags

Prayer flags enhance the life, fortune, health and wealth of all sentient beings. Each flag is inscribed with a prayer that will flow out over the world, carried by the wind to benefit all beings. There are 5 different colors representing 5 primary elements: blue (sky) white (air) red (fire) green (water) yellow (earth).

Each strand is accompanied with a card showing which days are more auspicious for hanging prayer flags.

Auspicious days for 2009

Fair Trade Hemp and ‘no kill’ leather Bags from Nepal

Today we added some beautiful bags to our online store.

We get these bags from Ganesh Himal Trading. GHT has been bringing Fair Trade products to the US since 1984, and are leaders in the US Fair Trade movement, playing a key part in groups like the Fair Trade Federation, the Fair Trade Resource Network and Green America.  Here’s their story: Since 1984, we have been supplying shops and retail customers in the U.S.with high quality, handcrafted clothing, jewelry, textiles, and paper. We import directly from small cottage industries in Nepal, including development projects working to improve the lives of Tibetan refugees and women.
Our goal has always been to support work that enhances people’s lives and traditions. We work directly with the
producers as a team, expanding each others’ talents and ideas. It is rewarding to work with such skilled artisanswho enjoy what they do and to know that they realize a fair return for their work.

In the mountains of Nepal hemp has been used for centuries because of its strength and durability. This satchel is produced in Nepal by artisans who receive a fair wage and benefits.We’ve added 4 bags; a passport bag, two backpacks and a satchel. The bags are made from hemp, ‘no kill’ leather and cotton. ‘No Kill’ leather is made from cows who have died natural deaths and is softened without using chemicals.

Here’s what they look like:

Fair Trade Hemp Passport Bag from Nepal

Fair Trade Hemp Backpack from Nepal

Fair Trade Hemp backpack from Nepal

Fair Trade Hemp Satchel from Nepal

Global Fayre newsletter

Global Fayre issues a newsletter every month giving a taste of what has been happening in the store, and what events are coming up in the month or so ahead. PLUS we always have a Fair Trade recipe of the month, the inside scoop on new products and suppliers AND there is always a coupon at the bottom with some kind of crazy deal!

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Zimbabwe Binga Baskets

Our latest additions to the online store today are two beautiful Binga Baskets from Zimbabwe.

We don’t get many of these (though hopefully we will have more soon) so they are unlikely to be in the store for long.

Zimbabwe Binga Basket (Large)

Here’s some background to the baskets:

The remote Binga district is home to the severely disadvantaged BaTonga people. In the early 1960’s, their fertile lands were permanently buried in water during construction of one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, Lake Kariba, and they were forced to relocate to their current lands that are barren and difficult to farm.

Today, some women traditionally still use wild grasses and palm leaves dyed with tree bark to weave intricately patterned baskets. These shallow bowls are still used today to winnowgrains, especially the largest of sizes.

We get these baskets from a wholesaler called Baskets of Africa, (like Global Fayre, they are members of the Fair Trade Federation) and they give this description of what it takes to track them down:

Due to the politics in Zimbabwe, these baskets are becoming more difficult to come by. It was no easy task before the political situation began to heat up…

To start collecting, a two day bus trip out to the Binga area is taken with much of the second day being on dirt roads. Then our representative walks miles and miles to go hut by hut to find the ambuyas, the elderly grandmothers that still weave the higher quality baskets. He carries the baskets back to the bus depot and brings them to the capital city of Harare for tagging, packing and shipping to the US.

Why do we collect baskets in this manner instead of buying from consolidators and middlemen? This is the only way we can fully ensure that the weavers are paid fairly for their work while also ensuring we locate the highest quality Binga baskets available.

Ghana Bolga Market Baskets

Suddenly realized today that one of our most popular items is not yet on the online store – how crazy is that?!

We carry a range of baskets sourced from Cael at Baskets of Africa (a fellow member of the Fair Trade Federation). The best sellers are the Bolga Market Baskets from Ghana. These baskets are traditionally used for carrying goods to and from the market. Weavers in the region use the abundant Veta vera grass to weave these incredibly hardy, useful baskets. The leather wrapped handle adds to the durability.

Went to add them and found that stocks are really low, so added just these three:

Bolga Basket from Ghana

Bolga Market Basket from Ghana

Basket #3

Every basket is unique, so selling them in the online store is going to be pretty labor intensive – but what great news for the weavers in Ghana….another outlet for their great work!

Global Fayre talks Fair Trade on NPR

We made a trip to our local NPR station yesterday (www.ksmu.org) to be interviewed by a wonderful lady, Ilga Vise of the League of Women Voters. With Missy Shelton at the controls, Ilga spent nearly 10 minutes asking some great questions about Fair Trade in general and Global Fayre in particular.

You can hear the result here.

It will be aired on Monday March 23rd in the morning between 7 and 9.

Telephone Wire Baskets

We added some of our beautiful Fair Trade telephone wire baskets to the Global Fayre online store today.

These are incredible, intricately designed baskets, some using accents of bare copper wire.

Telephone Wire Baskets

The past and the future are fused together in the creation of this beautiful basket, Zulu weavers have taken the intricate designs and incredible craftsmanship of their natural fiber baskets, and turned them into brightly-colored art from plastic-coated wire. Mesmerizing designs and vibrant colors are a hallmark of this functional art.

We’re looking forward to adding more when we get another shipment from our friend Cael at Baskets of Africa. Cael is a fellow member of the Fair Trade Federation and is focused exclusively on finding great baskets and giving his weavers a route to market. Here’s how Cael describes Baskets of Africa:

- We are a company that represents unique baskets from throughout the African continent. These one-of-a-kind pieces of functional artwork are woven only by local African craftspeople who share our commitment to top quality.
— We believe in promoting the weavers from various African nations in order to help the weavers (especially women) with economic development. We believe that by weaving baskets in a traditional manner, the weavers of Africa are preserving their cultural heritage and advancing themselves financially. We would like to support this endeavor throughout Africa.
— We are members of the Fair Trade Federation, an organization that shares our strong belief that indigenous people around the world should be compensated fairly for their amazing work.
— We always operate under a blanket of trust and respect with the weavers and craft co-ops we represent.
— We feel that our business offers the customer a win-win situation: by purchasing one of our rare finds, you are not only getting a wonderful, hand-made basket for your home or business, you are also contributing to the preservation of African culture and helping a tribesperson become financially independent. It’s a true economic partnership in every sense of the word.

New arrivals from Putumayo

We just got a package from Putumayo, with some cool stuff inside.

The first is a CD called India, a ‘captivating musical masala featuring mesmorizing vocals and gentle beats’, and includes a track by A.R. Rahman, Oscar-winning composer of the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack.

The second is “India – a cultural journey” with photographs by Laurence Moutona nd Sergio Ramazzotti, and text by Catherine Bourzat. Thisbeautiful piece of work is Putumayo’s first foray into books, and contains 270 pages filled with thousands of sensations, impressions and memories of India, and is, of course, the perfect compliment to the CD.

Both are available now at Global Fayre, either at our store in downtown Springfield or at our online store.

India - the CD and book