Why Fair Trade Matters for Hispanic Heritage Month

Every year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. It’s a time to reflect on the countless ways Latino people have contributed to the history and culture of the United States. Latino people comprise 18.9% of the American population, making them the largest racial or ethnic group. This month is a time to celebrate their role in American art, food, business, entertainment, science, public service, and so much more.

What began as a week-long celebration under President Johnson in 1968 was expanded to a month by President Reagan in 1988 to provide more time to recognize this important part of our American community. The time frame was selected because it includes the independence days of several Central American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (Sept. 15); Mexico (Sept. 16); Chile (Sept. 18); and Belize (Sept. 21).

At Passion Lilie, we’re driven to build a fashion industry rooted in fairness, dignity, and sustainability. While our clothing is made by our artisan partners in India, we also carry a handful of fair trade goods in our French Quarter shop that are handmade by Hispanic artisans. To us, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to think and talk about how fair trade practices support artisan communities around the world, specifically in Latin America.

Artisan Traditions in Latin America

From handwoven textiles in Guatemala to embroidered huipiles in Mexico and alpaca knits in Peru, craft traditions in Latin America are many centuries old. These skills are passed down through generations, influenced by settlers from other lands, and often tell stories of faith, heritage, and resilience.

Nowadays, these rich, gorgeous textiles face competition from fast fashion and mass-produced goods. With machines making, for example, embroidered tunics to rival the ones handmade in Mexico, it’s hard for artists to compete and charge the price their work deserves. As a result, artisans often receive very low pay for their time and labor, earning far less than a living wage. Without steady or fair pay, many people cannot rely on their traditional crafts as a sustainable source of income.

When making a living from their craft is no longer possible, younger generations may leave these traditions behind. This puts entire cultural practices like weaving, embroidery, or natural dyeing at risk of being forgotten.

Fair trade brands offer an alternative way of doing business. We understand the intense labor and time that goes into handcrafted goods, and we recognize that all people deserve to earn a true living wage for their work. Fair trade practices ensure that workers receive the dignity all humans deserve and enable them to preserve their cultural heritage and keep traditions alive. 

What Fair Trade Means for Hispanic Artisans

When we talk about fair trade, these are the values we prioritize:

• Fair wages that reflect the maker’s time, skill, and artistry
• Safe and respectful working conditions
• Sustainable practices, from fibers to dye, and the supply chains throughout
• Transparency, so consumers know who made their clothing and goods

For Hispanic artisans, especially in rural areas, fair trade can provide a sustainable way to continue practicing their craft and support their families. Fair trade businesses benefit women, empowering them to earn what they deserve, gain economic independence, and provide opportunities to play a larger role in their communities.

Why Fair Trade Matters During Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is all about recognizing the immense contributions Hispanic people have made to our food, art, music, language, and communities. When we relay that recognition to our shopping choices, we put celebration into action, and we uplift the people who give us so much.

Supporting fair trade artisans during Hispanic Heritage Month means:

• Honoring the traditions and craftsmanship that have been honed for generations
• Taking a stand against exploitative industries like fast fashion and mass market stores that often undervalue Hispanic and Indigenous labor
• Making sustainable choices by selecting products that are handmade, durable, and eco-friendly

Like all good New Orleanians, we love a festival or parade. But we also love to celebrate culture through our everyday decisions, like what clothes we buy, what gifts we give, and which businesses we support. Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us to pay close attention to the brands we love and make sure we’re supporting Hispanic artisans in ways that pay them fairly and treat them with dignity.

The Challenges Hispanic Artisans Face

Their goods are beautiful, detailed, and soulful. However, many Hispanic artisans face systemic challenges.

• Unstable incomes: middlemen underpay artisans while selling their work at high markups.
• Cultural appropriation: mass retailers copy artisans’ designs without permission or compensation.
• Lack of visibility: small cooperatives or individual makers may never reach wider markets

Fair trade addresses these barriers. We create direct partnerships, removing exploitative middlemen. We give artisans platforms to sell their goods around the world while still retaining control of their work.

Our Global Connection: From India to Latin America

Passion Lilie partners with artisans in India, where our fair trade practices help tailors, block printers, farmers, and dyers to build secure livelihoods. Though our work is in South Asia, the principals of fair trade are global.

We uphold our values – fair wages, safe working conditions, eco-friendly practices – when we source or shop anywhere in the world. Regardless of where a product is from, fair trade principles remain the same: dignity for the maker and sustainability for the planet.

If you want to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in a meaningful way, here are some of the ways we like to support Hispanic artisans. Join us!

1. Shop fair trade and handmade: Look for gifts, home décor, or clothing that comes directly from artisans or fair trade certified businesses.
2. Learn about the traditions behind the product: When you buy something handmade, take the time to understand the story behind it. Many artisans are proud to share the historical and cultural significance of their craft.
3. Share their stories: Use your platforms – social media, conversations, or community groups – to highlight Hispanic artisans and why supporting them is important.
4. Ask questions: If you’re in a shop (like ours!) and see something handmade, ask about where it comes from, who made it. Awareness makes all the difference.

Celebrating Heritage Through Fairness

Fair trade is a form of respect; a way to say that a person’s labor, culture, and traditions are important. We’re proud to be a fair trade business, and we’ll celebrate this month in ways that uplift communities, protect traditions, and honor creators.