Fair Trade Patterned Shorts by One Mango Tree

I wore these patterned shorts by fair trade brand One Mango Tree in an earlier post this summer, and today I'd like to tell you a little bit more about what a wonderful company they are. They tell the story best in their own words:

"One Mango Tree began in a tiny market stall in Gulu in 2007. During the conflict in Northern Uganda, many humanitarian organizations taught women to sew - in the hopes that this skill would provide a sustainable livelihood. The local market was quickly saturated, resulting in hundreds (maybe thousands) of women with basic sewing skills and no way to earn a living. Auma Lucy was one of those women - she rented a small stall in the market and sold traditional dresses. With the combination of beautiful and bright kitenge fabrics and some Western designs, we helped Lucy to develop an export market for her products, and One Mango Tree took root."

Since 2007, they have trained and employed 30 tailors, provided trainings on health and financial literacy, and the women themselves have organized into a Village Savings and Loan Association (a program pioneered by CARE), thereby counting on each other to help finance their dreams. But One Mango Tree goes even further than the concept of fair trade, making a continued, conscious effort to improve the quality of life of the women who produce their beautiful garments.

By 2011, most people in Northern Uganda had returned to their villages. Many women were renting homes in town to work for One Mango Tree, and only saw their families occasionally. They missed their children, and longed to be back home, digging their gardens and spending time with family and friends. In response, One Mango Tree implemented a work-from-home program, allowing each tailor to return home with her sewing machine. The women still come together once a week in the production manager's home to pick up cut pieces of fabric to make handbags, then they bring the finished pieces back the following week.

You can learn more about the One Mango Tree mission and story right here. I know I'm a fan for life, and I especially love the versatility of the beautiful shorts I'm wearing above and below (similar available here). You can dress them up with a collared shirt and heels, or go for a boho-chic vibe by mixing a floral print with their graphic pattern.




Last but not least, I've selected a few more of my favorites* from their online shop. One Mango Tree doesn't stop at apparel, offering beautiful ikat bags, exotic jewelry, and staple t-shirts that would work well in anyone's wardrobe.

*Just to be clear, while I occasionally accept gifted items for review when a brand's ethics are a good fit with my mission (example here), One Mango Tree did not provide me with these shorts, nor did they provide any other compensation for this post-- I just think they're rad, and I wanted to share! :)

Don't forget: you can shop all of my favorite, fair items 

in my new store section!

One Billion Hearts Rising

Today on Fair Vanity I'm celebrating Valentine's Day a little differently by participating in the  One Billion Rising campaign by Eve Ensler. I love the idea behind it because to me, dance is one of the most freeing forms of self-expression. It is powerful, sensual, and physical, yet non-violent. What better way to rise up in solidarity with the one billion women and girls who will experience physical violence in their lifetimes? What better way to send them our collective love?

In solidarity with Eve Ensler's movement, I'm sharing this video of the pre-professional members of my dance company, Capitol Movement, dancing their hearts out in one of our repertory pieces: Movement of the People. The theme of an exodus seems appropriate as we attempt to move from a violent world to a more collaborative, equitable world.

One billion rising began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. One billion daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, lovers and friends.

Today is V-Day’s 15^th anniversary, so Fair Vanity is joining women and men across the world to demand change, strike, dance, and rise in defiance of the injustices women suffer.

What I love most about this campaign is that you can participate, too. All you have to do is dance, and if someone asks you why, tell them you're dancing because you are #1billionrising. Video yourself, tweet about it, or use that new-fangled Vine app!

If you'd like to contribute directly towards breaking the cycle of worldwide violence towards women and girls, check out CARE. They fight the root causes of poverty in 84 countries around the world with a focus on breaking down the disproportionate barriers to health, safety, education and economic access faced by 51% of the world's population: women and girls.

Lastly, I want to leave you with this image of the lovely Malala Yousafzai, a young, powerful, brave woman who spoke out very recently for her right to an education in the face of extraordinary adversity and personal danger to herself. Can you think of a woman or girl who inspires you?

Happy Valentine's Day from Fair Vanity :)

xo