Fair trade/organic/ethical textiles/healthy toys

[Can'tTurnLeft]

I was wondering if we could share our resources and favorites for these things. I'm recommitting to this in our family, and want to make it healthier for all of us!

[Blue Savannah]

:cup

[Serafine]

Okay - here you go: ;)

TOYS: (not EVERYTHING on these links will be fair trade, made in USA/Europe...but I have had good luck finding stuff on them).

Brands (erzi, haba, some people like plan - but they make their stuff in thailand and I don't trust it :shrug,

- http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm
- http://oompa.com/
- http://willowtreetoys.com/
- http://www.moolka.com/
- http://www.willowtoys.com/ (best toy kitchens EVER, made in vermont by Joe - great dad/guy).
- http://www.maukilo.com/brands/haba-play-food-139/index.html
- http://www.planethappytoys.com/Toys/KitchenPlay/Kitchenplay.html

CLOTHING:
- http://www.pristineplanet.com/sustainable-hemp-eco-friendly-fair-trade-organic/women%27s-clothing/8352_a_0.html
- http://www.fairindigo.com/
- http://www.ecomall.com/biz/clothing.htm (some links are expired here)
- http://www.gonaturalbaby.com/
- http://www.piccalilly.co.uk/

[~yogamom~]

isn't american apparel (http://www.americanapparel.net/) supposed to be good?

[Can'tTurnLeft]

isn't american apparel (http://www.americanapparel.net/) supposed to be good?

I've heard some weird stuff about them. Yes they are made in America, but from some of the stuff I've read they actually do run sweatshops in L.A. and employ people under some rough conditions

[TestifyToLove]

http://www.fairtextiletrade.org/istanbul/ids.html

Follow the papertrail for textiles. Look for signees on the Istanbul Declaration and then look for companies and textile suppliers that are part of those organizations worldwide.

Textiles is a very tricky market to accomplish this committment right now.

[Can'tTurnLeft]

Textiles is a very tricky market to accomplish this committment right now.


:yes2

I tried to go down this pat a few years ago and got horribly frustrated trying to figure it out. It seems sometimes the only solution to *really* be fair trade and ethical is to buy some land and sheep. Grow cotton and sheep on said land. Buy a loom. Figure out how to make cloth. Figure out how to sew. Then be satisfied with your homemade scratchy ugly shirt because you hated every single minute of it, don't have time, and the ugly thing that you made took you three years. Survive with one shirt, no pants, some socks that you knitted but don't look good and no bra. This does not seem to be the best solution LOL

[Serafine]

:yes2

I tried to go down this pat a few years ago and got horribly frustrated trying to figure it out. It seems sometimes the only solution to *really* be fair trade and ethical is to buy some land and sheep. Grow cotton and sheep on said land. Buy a loom. Figure out how to make cloth. Figure out how to sew. Then be satisfied with your homemade scratchy ugly shirt because you hated every single minute of it, don't have time, and the ugly thing that you made took you three years. Survive with one shirt, no pants, some socks that you knitted but don't look good and no bra. This does not seem to be the best solution LOL

:yes2

[BearyBlessed]

I thought I had seen somewhere on Plan's website that they were fair trade. I have been buying some of their stuff and was planning to use their train set for Punkin when we get one. But I went looking again and didn't find anything specific. It was about the environment and not much about the workers. :-/ I wonder if there's a way to find out. Though, if they are truly ethical in that area too, you would think they'd want it easily found.

Here's some more clothing places.
I love Kate Quinn. I have a few of their things and they are beautiful.
http://www.katequinnorganics.com/
http://www.speesees.com/index.php
Oh, and for shoes you can't beat Soft Star. www.softstarshoes.com

One of my reasons to lose weight is to be able to buy fair trade clothes for me. Most of what I find doesn't have plus sizes. :blush

For toys, a couple other German companies I like are
http://www.spielstabil.de/Welcome/welcome.html
http://www.selecta-spielzeug.de/index.php/selecta_en/ratgeber/paedagogisch_wertvoll - Unfortunately, I believe they may not be shipping to the US anymore due to the change in testing standards that were supposed to go into effect last year. I'm not sure on the status of the testing laws or Selecta's policy now.

This is the place we got Punkin's kitchen. http://littlecolorado.com/ I don't think I had found the company ffw posted.

[TestifyToLove]

I know American Apparel is made in the USA and pays fair wages...even to their known illegal immigrant workers.

But, the CEO is an absolutely jerk who by all rights is about 2 steps beyond several sexual harrassment lawsuits.

And, I don't know what the chain of their raw materials looks like.

And yes, there is the whole issue that its nearly impossible to find Fair Trade in plus sizes. Don't know what your size is per se. But, I'm a plus size. I'm shrinking and shrinking quickly but still plus sized.

[abh5e8]

anyone know how hanna andersson is?

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------

i would LOVE for this to be a stickie :grin

[BearyBlessed]

Congrats on your shrinking. :rockon I'm about a 18-20 in most things. Unfortunately, even though I was back to pre-pregnancy weight, I've put it all back on.
Seems like I did find something once upon a time, but I can't remember where right now.

[Havilah]

A local friend of mine has this website:

http://www.asmallgreenfootprint.com/

I really respect her and all the homework she's done to choose products for her site. The "playtime" section has quite a few toys, and she adds new ones pretty often. :)

[BearyBlessed]

Here's another diaper store that uses cotton made in the US. :rockon
http://preciousdignity.myshopify.com/

[abh5e8]

what about basics for baby...gowns, onsies, tshirts, socks, hats. anyplace with a good price on these?

(i like hanna andersson, kate quinn, american apparel, basicsbrillance, but just looking for anyplace with a better price.)

[prov31craftymom]

subbing

[passthemanna]

what about basics for baby...gowns, onsies, tshirts, socks, hats. anyplace with a good price on these?

(i like hanna andersson, kate quinn, american apparel, basicsbrillance, but just looking for anyplace with a better price.)

This is a local store but they do sales online as well. they have clothes & toys, even instuments for babies & children. my favorite store for baby things by far! http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/
they have a nice selection of organic, fair-trade, and made in usa diapers & training pants. a lot of the wooden toys & such are made locally in texas.:rockon:rockon
and the best (fair-trade) chocolate ever!! www.chocolatebar.com (http://www.chocolatebar.com)

[newday]

A local friend of mine has this website:

http://www.asmallgreenfootprint.com/

I really respect her and all the homework she's done to choose products for her site. The "playtime" section has quite a few toys, and she adds new ones pretty often. :)

great site! thanks

---------- Post added at 10:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 PM ----------

I love tinybirdorganics too! Great store :tu