Mata Traders x Ten Thousand Villages: Spring 2019 Collection

Spring style meets ethical chic with the launch of a fair trade clothing line made by Mata Traders in partnership with Ten Thousand Villages. The new release of the effortlessly chic dresses comes just in time for the spring refresh all our wardrobes are desperately seeking. Hopefully, it is not too soon to wish that the worst of winter is behind us so that we can look forward to a warmer season and maybe even a tempting glimpse of summer. Even if it is too chilly for you to wear a dress, you can surely don a pair of tights, a snug sweater and accessorize with a neck scarf to brave the cold remains of the snowy weather.

Ten Thousand Villages is one of those fair trade shops where you can take one step into the store, look around at the items and your heart will absolutely melt. I recall going into their Waterloo location one day and wanting to buy the entire shop! In my experience, not only does every item have a unique story but they are all of top quality and made by artisans from all over the world. In this case, they have partnered with Mata Traders –  ‘a design driven, fair trade fashion brand helping to end global poverty and inspire consumers to change the fashion industry.’ Mata Traders partners with several fair trade organizations in India and Nepal to train and employ hundreds of female artisans in marginalized communities.

So, when Ten Thousand Villages reached out to me about the launch of a new collection, I was excited. I had even more reason to be delighted as this is the very first time that they will offer clothing as a product line in stores. The Spring Capsule Collection is the result of a partnership between Ten Thousand Village and Mata Traders Clothing (out of the USA). The launch of this clothing line will feature a series of pop-ups in select stores and then will be available online for the rest of the season.

Here’s the whole story. Mata Traders’ journey began when three best friends with a serious case of wanderlust embarked on a world adventure to India for four months. There, they were surrounded by the region’s breathtaking culture, markets and colourful textiles. The friends were completely enamoured that they vowed to expand on that experience and Mata Traders was born. Made by artisans in India and Nepal, their colourfully original designs provide a stable source of income for families in economically disadvantaged communities. When it comes to empowering women to use their dollars for positive change, Mata Traders says its mission is to ‘fashion a better world.’

Why buy Fair Trade? Because One Dress Equals Big Impact – Since 1946, Ten Thousand Villages has been empowering artisans around the world by giving each shopper the opportunity to connect with their global village through each purchase. By buying one dress or more, you will be helping to ensure that an artisan is able to buy food and pay for private school for their child. Compensation is provided in accordance with the principles of fair trade in order to uphold the dignity of the makers and enable them to earn a stable income for their hard work, which in turn helps them build a sustainable future.

The Spring 2019 Collection by Mata Traders retailing at Ten Thousand Villages features a generous share of clean lines, floral prints and geometric/graphic patterns. Each item is handcrafted by talented artisans with care and consistency while paying attention to the details. The fabrics used in this line are made from traditional methods (such as block-printing and ikat) in India and Nepal. Falling just above the knee, these dresses can be worn to work, for a casual evening or you can dress them up for special occasions with accessories and heels.

Some of my favourite looks from the Spring Collection are below. Stay tuned for my next post where I will be running a giveaway and you could win a two beautiful jewellery pieces! I’m also attending their fashion event next week. It will be hosted at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Waterloo. The clothing pop-up will travel across Canada stopping in the Waterloo, Oakville, Plaza (Winnipeg) and Granville Island (BC) locations. Each event will run four to five days. There will be 25% off personal accessories (with the purchase of a Mata Clothing item). These include bags, wristlets, purses, scarves, and jewellery. If you are in the area, make sure you join me!

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What aspect of the Spring 2019 Collection from Mata Traders and Ten Thousand Villages do you like?

Jamila Kyari

I’m a seasoned communications and marketing consultant with a penchant for all things stylish and chic. Follow me on social media and subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates on industry trends and much more!

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