It’s that time of year where chaos reigns in the streets as we collectively brave through throngs of people in pursuit of gifts. This (manufactured) season at once brings out the best and worst in us: a heartfelt desire to manifest love to family and friends and intolerance of those who disrupt our quest for gifts.
Well, we at Equita want to make your holiday shopping as hassle-free as possible (if such a thing is possible?). Through the convenience of our webshop and the Pittsburgh Shop, located in Lawrenceville (far from the stifling mall environment), shopping for ethical gifts with us can be both easy and, dare I say, pleasurable? Add to that a storewide sale of 25 percent off and call it a day. In fact, the Thanks/Giving Weekend of Sustainable Savings runs from Black Friday (today) to Green Tuesday (a day of action that asks that you make your purchases enviro-friendly), so there’s ample time to scrutinize and make your selections.
Here’s how it works. Simply enter coupon code GRACIAS25 during checkout. If you’re in Pittsburgh, take a detour from your regular holiday shopping schedule and swing by the shop - you’ll find additional discounts and great finds not listed online.
Cheers everyone! Don’t fret - we’ll make it through in the end, with lots of thanks, hugs and kisses to remember.
It is always a pleasure to welcome groups to the Lawrenceville shop. On Wednesday November 19th, Equita had the opportunity to host the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s International Fashion class. The students spent two hours with us, exploring the social and environmental impact of fashion and familiarizing themselves with pioneering ethical clothing lines, designers and fabrics. Their study and observations will culminate in multimedia presentations comparing the quality and innovation of what they saw to conventional clothing lines.
Where to begin? I know better not to get into recounting the fabled story of Equita. After all, it’s only two years we’re celebrating, right? But around here, in our still cramped offices and cozy Pittsburgh shop, we count our blessings and rejoice for making it this far.
This little engine turned out to be one awesome vehicle. It has enabled us to reach so many different people all over the world. From our discerning clients to the gifted creators of the products we represent. From the generous green and mainstream press to the organizations, schools and churches we collaborate with. The response has been overwhelming. Thank you for allowing us to serve as a bridge in this new and growing green and ethical infrastructure.
In this current period of world economic instability, where conventional paradigms are being put through the grind and people’s confidence is being tested, it’s reassuring to witness the parallel progress the environmental and social justice movements have achieved. New models are being created that challenge the way we see and interact with the world and each other. And recent developments on our national politics also signal a positive and promising outlook. There’s no room for hopelessness when there’s so much work to be done.
Here at Equita, we’re trying to help shape this collective discourse. We put respect into the equation. Respect for the dignity and the work of the people who make the products we sell. Respect for the planet that grants us sustenance. Respect for the people who purchase our products and services with the intent of improving their own quality of life and the lives of workers while having as little impact on the planet as possible. We call all this ethical living, a once seemingly ambitious concept. We sure hope some day we won’t have to call what we do ethical trade. But until then, let’s keep working on getting there.
Alright, so tomorrow we celebrate two years of doing what we do. As you saw above we’re having a pretty big sale on ethical fashion. Enter code NUMERODOS in the webshop during checkout and we’ll take off 40%. Deal? If you happen to be in the Pittsburgh area, stop by the shop. The discount is good there too. Our new shop is located at 3609 Butler Street, in the historic and working class Lawrenceville neighborhood. We’ll have Fair Trade and organic refreshments on hand: treats, coffee, tea and wine.
Thanks for all the love. See you around, and remember: Si se puede!
We just received some exciting news from our friends at Mu’uMu’u Heaven. Deb Mascia’s eco-fab creations have long been a favorite of ours at Equita, and fans span the globe from Japan to Hollywood. Eva Mendes. Will and Jada. Barack Obama. Wait, huh? Yes, Barack has a shirt made from one of his mother’s mu’umu’us and Michelle has a lovely dress. After the passing of The President Elect’s grandmother, the family approached Deb to repurpose her mu’umu’us into eco-fashionable remembrances for the girls.
I’m thrilled to hear that Barack Obama and his family are supporters of indie designers, vintage and ethical fashion! And I can’t wait to see a pic of Sasha and Malia sporting their Mu’umu’u Heaven dresses while playing on the White House lawn with their new puppies.
ABOUT MU’UMU’U HEAVEN
The vintage junkies among us know the allure of having a historical connection through a coveted dress from a mother’s closet or a treasured find from a flea market. Mu’umu’u Heaven’s handmade one-of-a-kind dresses and skirts are fashioned from vintage mu’umu’us keeping alive the stories woven in fabric that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Nothing goes to waste during the mu’umu’u’s make-over; you will find repurposed fabric, piping, ruffles, lace and even the buttons in their eco-chic collections.
The company contributes to the preservation of the coral reefs of Hawai’i through donations to 1% For The Planet. All items are handmade, sweatshop-free in Hawai’i.
Hope most of you have made it out to vote. There’s so much at stake and it’s been great to witness democracy in full swing, so many people braving the long lines to have their say, especially here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Great turn out and an electrifying atmosphere.
Here at Equita, we would like to reward you for voting and getting out the vote. Today and tomorrow, get 15% off storewide (including sale items!). Enter code “vote08″ during checkout. The offer is good online and at the Equita Pittsburgh Shop.
Well, the die has been cast. Now all we can do is sit back and wait for history to unfold.
“Sometimes, Jennifer Ross feels she cannot make a move at home without inviting the scorn of her daughters, 10-year-old Grace and 7-year-old Eliza. The Acura MDX she drives? A flagrant polluter. The bath at night to help her relax? A wasteful indulgence. The reusable shopping bags she forgot, again? Tsk, tsk.”
These young people are inspiring and the trend described in this New York Times article certainly bodes well for the future of the environmental movement. On the other hand–could it be possible for children to know too much?
It’s always inspiring to receive photos of our products in their new homes. Jan and her husband recently purchased a beautiful Angela Adams rug (Rugmark certified child labor-free) that fills the space in their new loft beautifully. Thanks Jan!!
*If you have a pic of yourself with one of our products, send it to us at service at shopequita dot com and we may feature you in a future blog post*
Today thousands will gather across the country for Green Jobs Now, a National Day of Action that is to serve as the launch of a national mobilization campaign for the creation of a new green economy and the green collar jobs that are to be its engine. Citizens, activists and advocates together will send a clear and powerful message and say “I’m ready for the green economy” to local and national decision makers, especially those seeking presidency. (Can’t attend the event? Sign the petition).
As the presidential candidates begin to issue ideas about what should be done to rescue failing financial institutions with tax payer money and how to revive the American economy in general, it would serve us all to remind them of the great opportunity and benefits a green economy would bring to every American.
Right now, there are millions of people ready to work and countless jobs to be done that will strengthen our economy at home. There are thousands of buildings that need to be weatherized, solar panels to be installed, and wind turbines to be erected. There are communities that need local and sustainable food and people ready to farm the crops. There are public transit systems and smart electricity grids in need of engineers and electricians. Americans are ready to build the new economy.
– Van Jone for the Green Jobs Now initiative
Here in Pittsburgh there’s a great day planned filled with activities to showcase local opportunities in the green economy: 1) A bioenergy harvest, biofuel production workshop and community BBQ in Larimer, 2) An urban food harvest, garden tour, and urban agricultural & nutritional workshops at Healcrest Farm in Garfield, and 3) educational tabling & hands on workshops, multimedia presentations, live music, poetry, and spoken word performances, and community BBQ capped by a community rally and press conference in East Liberty.
The program was put together by the great people at Steel City Biofuels. Equita will be present at the rally and I plan to give a recount of the proceedings in the coming days. But don’t settle for our local coverage — go out there in your town or city and add your voice to the clamor.
This year’s presidential election is set to be a historic one. Obviously, I don’t need to go into why that is — the networks are there to remind us 24/7. As pundits delve into the minutiae of each of the candidates’ personae, many important issues are being left out of the conversation. For example: the fight against global poverty. Might seem outside the radar to most, especially in this period of economic uncertainty, but it’s interesting to note that both the Obama and McCain campaigns have pledged to take decisive, targeted steps to tackle extreme poverty in the world when either of them takes office.
Now, this didn’t happen without a little public pressure. The ONE Campaign, lead by the 2.4 million members of ONE (I’m one of them), is largely responsible for bringing global poverty to the attention of the candidates. For more than a year, organizers on the ground have provided relevant data and information to both camps, conducted letter-writing campaigns and — very effective — have persistently hounded the candidates across the country asking them to go on the record with their plans to combat global poverty.
The next stage is to try to reach out to voters. The video above is an ad by ONE that will be running throughout the convention season. It features Matt Damon with different Americans’ voices — among them Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and NYC Mayor Bloomberg.
Other ads (featuring activist celebs) have also been produced and will also be airing in the coming days. They collectively argue that debt relief works, and offer some inspiring facts to buttress that claim. For example, 41 million more children have enrolled in school between 1999 and 2005. In Africa especially, debt relief from countries like the U.S. has enabled many governments, like Kenya and Tanzania, to abolish primary school fees, opening school doors for millions of the poorest children. In addition, 3 million more people living with AIDS have access to lifesaving medication, and 3 million fewer children die each year from preventable diseases. These figures are a positive indication that debt relief and similar strategies along with equitable trading partnerships can reduce poverty, provide health care, rehabilitate struggling economies and restore peace.
Debt relief is a vital piece in the complex “trade, not aid” puzzle. If you realize your role and place is in this world and you believe that a critical mass makes a difference, I urge you to join the ONE campaign, and/or, better yet, look about for targeted projects that align with your values. Ultimately, the best solution is to exercise your right to vote this November. And, as we say here at Equita, do you well — share your ethics.
About ONE
ONE is a campaign of over 2.4 million people from all 50 states and over 100 of America’s most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world’s poorest countries. A goal is to raise awareness about and promote the framework of the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate poverty and improve public health and education.
Given that this year’s Summer Olympic Games are being held in China, many have been–quietly and not so quietly–wondering if, how, why and when it’s appropriate to promote or spend tourism dollars in countries that have less than stellar human rights and/or environmental track records.
As a result, the concept of ethical travel has been put squarely on the world agenda. What are my responsibilities as a traveler, a visitor, a tourist? Will I do more harm than good by visiting countries that are known human rights abusers? Or, contrarily, by traveling, can I play a small part in promoting openness and transparency? Furthermore, as a conscious traveler, am I obliged to choose certain places over others that may not be in such dire need of my dollars?
A Berkeley-based organization called Ethical Traveler recently published a list of the “10 best ethical destinations”, in an effort to get travelers off the beaten path and encourage travel in the developing world over resorts and other well-worn destinations. According to Ethical Traveler, many countries “are making noble attempts to preserve their natural assets, create a user-friendly infrastructure, and build an economy where their citizens share the benefits of tourist revenue. By bringing our commerce to such places we encourage their efforts, and inspire neighboring countries to support these values as well.” To create the list, they considered issues like environmental protection, social welfare and human rights among the world’s developing nations. Data used included information from Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Columbia University’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network; progress made by countries in reducing infant mortality rates as measured by UNICEF; and reports on civil liberties and human rights from Amnesty International and Freedom House. What emerged was a selection of ten countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, Namibia, Nicaragua, and South Africa.
Kudos to Ethical Travelers’ effort to bring these issues to the forefront by creating this list. it is interesting to note though, that the countries that rose to the top could overwhelmingly be considered the top-tier or “most developed” of of developing countries–Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia. In my opinion, the results were a bit obvious because, based on the set of criteria used, places like Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Rwanda were never in the running. What do you think?
Brought to you by the (opinionated) people at Equita, Nitty Gritty is a space for news, information and dialogue on The Essentials for Ethical Living: environmentalism, green design, the local economy, fair trade, social consciousness, and, yes, ethical shopping.
Rainforest near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
