Saturday, May 28, 2011

Eco-friendly fashion!

The main tenet of sustainable fashion choices is being socially conscious - conscious of land and resources used, as well as conscious of the conditions of workers & the wages they are paid. Eco-fashion has flourished over the past few years with this broad definition of sustanaible design. Stella McCartney's entirely vegan shoe line has garnered support from celebrities such as Natalie Portman, and eco-friendly fashion has been featured in mainstream stores, even trickling down to eco lines for Forever 21. Combining the low prices of Forever 21 with the elegant design of Stella McCartney presents a challenge... Lots of so-called eco-friendly clothing fails to live up to to this standard, with misleading fabrics or sweatshop labor being used to produce eco fashion.


A Global Friendship

Eco-friendly Shopping
Three major eco-friendly fabrics are linen, hemp, and bamboo. Hemp isn't particularly regulated & can come into contact with pesticides during the growing process without being reported. Similarly, the chemical process to make bamboo into a fabric is still somewhat toxic. Linen is one of the most sustainable materials. It's grown worldwide, often without toxic fertilizers that seep into aquifers.

Eco-Friendly Shopping
Knowing a bit about fabrics can make shopping easier. Buying fabric dyed with water-based ink is a great start!

Credit: Summer House Textile
AGF encourages our artisans to use renewable materials at every step of the process, and we use linen to craft all of our bracelets. Not only are these bracelets environmentally friendly, but they're also friendly to workers. We encourage the artisans we partner with to grow their own business, enabling them to hire new workers, ideally opening the avenue to growing businesses for these professionals.


Respect the earth and respect the people working on it.





Monday, May 23, 2011

A Global Friendship's Spring Event!

A Global Friendship is holding a spring event to welcome warm weather and fundraise for AGF's projects abroad. glassybaby's outdoor garden is the ideal space for an evening benefit complete with cocktails and artisanal crafts. AGF will hold a silent auction at glassybaby, 444 Hudson St., on June 9th from 7p-10p. Bids for hot air balloon rides or yoga classes will help fund AGF's development projects abroad.

Credit: glassybaby NYC
Come join A Global Friendship to spread the word about fair trade, economic empowerment, and AGF's artisanal items - your charitable donations empower those in Thailand, Indonesia, and Peru!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

MAY 21: UN World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Credit: UNESCO
"All persons have therefore the right to express themselves and to create and disseminate their work in the language of their choice, and particularly in their mother tongue; all persons are entitled to quality education and training that fully respect their cultural identity; and all persons have the right to participate in the cultural life of their choice and conduct their own cultural practices, subject to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms." Article 5 of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)


The United Nations World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development recognizes people’s right to education, practices and creative expression that respects their cultural identity. Each society has distinctive features, and this day celebrates the importance of culture and its diversity around the globe.


Credit Azadeh Ramezani Tabrizi/UNESCO
At A Global Friendship, we embrace our artisans' culture in the design of the products we offer. AGF focuses not on the ways culture may divide us from our neighbors, but on the ways cultural understanding can establish new partnerships and friends abroad.


AGF is an example of how development efforts are more successful with mutual respect and understanding - AGF's funds go back into developing infrastructure and business in our partner communities.


Browse our internationally stylish bracelets for men and women here: http://shop.aglobalfriendship.org/

Thursday, May 19, 2011

We've joined with 15 new stores, spas, and museums to offer even more AGF!


AGF has expanded with 15 new locations to find our products in the South and Midwest! We are so excited for these distinct stores to sell AGF's new spring collection and help AGF make the world a more beautiful place. Please visit these stores in person or online - you're supporting fair trade and empowering communities in Thailand, Indonesia, and Peru.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa. Credit to Ojo Caliente
Georgia
Meditating Mantis

Kansas
Eccentricity Too

Nebraska
Togs
Stems
Kajoma's Fashion Boutique
Finishing Touches
Bliss Boutique
Nouvelle Eve 


New Mexico
Ojo Caliente Mineral 
Springs Resort & Spa

North Dakota
Plains Arts Museum

Texas
Raintree Boutique Inc.
High Fashion Home
Tangerine
Whole Earth Provision Co.
One Green Street


Eccentricity Too. Credit to Eccentricity Too