I love coffee. I love that our business is all about it.
Why? Because we are in an age of global trade and consumerism that is truly
unprecedented. Coffee is something we consume here daily in multiple forms
without thinking about whom produced it for us. I get to close that gap, I get
to make sure that any coffee you drink from us, their story will be told and
you can be sure they are getting paid well. Not just to get by, but to make a
life. My Farmer and I want you to know that serving can look like creativity,
like partnering with farmers and coming up with solutions to problems. It’s
hard and intimidating sometimes, but ultimately really exciting.
I want to switch gears for a bit and talk about something
else that we consume daily, weekly that we don’t think about either.
Clothing.
I am guilty. I love shopping, the urge has been so hard
coming home with good products again, good thing my broke self can’t afford to
buy everything I see in Target. But still I have consumed….and not thought
about it. I have bought and thrown away. I have chosen my products based on the
best deal, even if I know I may not wear it for years to come.
The reality is, our fashion industry has changed a lot in
the past 60 years. Most of our clothes were made in the USA, now only 3% is
made here. Clothes used to have two seasons, were bought to be worn for a long
time, and fashion items were more expensive. Now fashionable items are cheaper,
and there are now more seasons of clothes then we can count, and they aren’t
made to last.
How can this be?
It’s because business’s produce in impoverished countries
with no health codes, they don’t pay for the building, they give the smallest
budget for huge masses of clothes and the workers are over-worked, severely
underpaid and kept in frightful conditions. Several factories in Bangladeshcollapsed killing thousands. Did you know the Cambodian police opened fire on garment workers protesting for better wages and conditions? I know I didn't.
Now I could go on, but I’d rather you watch the film TrueCost (it's currently on Netflix and Amazon!) and do research yourself. Don't let yourself not know about how this world operates. Don't idolize a cause but take responsibility to know the truth. Coffee and clothing are not so different. These are both industries that have been
getting away with abusing the producer. For cotton and coffee, they
manipulating seeds and plants to need heavy chemical fertilizers that eventual
destroy your soil and put the farmer in debt.
But the beautiful thing about
capitalism even with it’s dark side is that WE the consumer can DEMAND a
change. Literally we have the power. The companies must adapt to the demands of
the consumer or they won’t make a profit. So let’s demand. Drink specialty
ethical coffee not because it’s hip and trendy, but because it actually is
changing the market and farmer’s wages. Buy recycled clothes, or clothes made
from companies that are making them ethically (it’s hard to find but do some
research, they are out there). There are practical and intentional ways to live our lives.
I’m in Knoxville currently with a group of ladies doing some
amazing things all across the board. But one of their newest endeavors has been
getting donated clothes, re-doing them and selling them at pop-up shops. They
are some of our biggest supporters and dearest friends. They are seeking ways
to educate the public on this issue. They desire to keep already existing
clothes circulating rather then filling landfills and buying more. We have
enjoyed talking because what we are doing in coffee they seek to do in the
clothing industry.
It’s exciting to no longer be ignorant about these issues
and have the power to make change. You all can too. Your money is precious to
you, so see it invest in products that are ethical and LAST. This idea that
stuff will make us happy isn’t true. But buying and selling in ways that impact
can give you much more fulfillment then a shopping spree. Go down to the bottom to see some companies
that ethically source their clothes or coffee.
A
women stitches with broken hands
With shaking frenzy
With
lines and bands
Her
blood pours in
The
clothes come out
The
walls cave in
Her
body strewn about
A
girl opens pretty wrapping
She
is clean and fed
She
shrieks with glee
Pulls
a new dress over her head
She
wears it proudly
Walks
into God’s house
Wanting to help and give
In
that bloodstained blouse
Ethical
Companies:
Patagonia- For ethical outdoor gear
Kings of Indigo- Ethical jeans
Seeds Coffee Company- Ethical Coffee
Bare.Thred- Recycled Clothes
People tree- Ethical fashion
Research more! Dig Deep!
Photos from: Bare.Thred
Sources:
https://business-humanrights.org/en/documents/cambodia-crackdown-on-garment-workers-protesting-for-higher-wages-jan-2014
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/world/asia/bangladesh-rana-plaza-murder-charges.html?_r=0
www.truecostmovie.com
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