Designer's Journal

Supporting the fair trade movement is a terrific way to empower workers across the globe and contribute in your own way to a fairer and more equal Earth. Showing your support for fair trade can encompass a whole host of activities, from supporting local economies to purchasing fair trade products and reducing your environmental footprint. Not only will you feel better for making fair trade purchases, but you can enjoy better quality products than those available from sweatshops. Read on to learn how you can support and grow the fair trade movement today.

What Is Fair Trade?

Fair trade is a movement among businesses that seek to uphold certain economic, social, and environmental standards. Fair trade companies support the protection of workers’ rights and the environment with fair pay, safe working conditions, and sustainable processes. To ensure that a brand claiming to be fair trade is living up to those standards, organizations such as the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) exist to confirm businesses that actually enact fair trade practices. Passion Lilie has also created a handy ethical shopping guide to help consumers determine if a company supports ethical, fair trade practices.

Why Support Fair Trade?

There are plenty of reasons to support the fair trade movement, but these are a few of our favorites:

• Fair trade means fair pay and working conditions for farmers and
  producers. All fair trade products are made in safe, healthy working conditions, where producers are paid a fair wage for their work and have a say in the process.
• Fair trade is better for the environment. Fair trade supports and encourages sustainability, which can range from lowering pollution levels to reducing waste and much more.
• Fair trade is safe. Fair trade utilizes integrated farm management systems that limit the use of harmful pesticides, which means fair trade food, clothing, and other organic products are safe and healthy.
• Fair trade supports workers’ communities. With an emphasis on supporting the local communities of producers and workers, fair trade can improve artisans’ communities, schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and more.
• Fair trade means sustainable local economies. Fair trade gives producers and artisans control over their own destinies with fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and other workers’ rights, meaning they can eventually build their own businesses and put the profits right back into their local economies.

Ways to Support Fair Trade

Ready to show your support for the fair trade movement? Here are a few great ways to get started:

• Invite a fair trade speaker to your school, company, or city to spread the word.
• Learn about fair trade issues and help others become educated as well.
• Turn your community into a Fair Trade Town.
• Work with local businesses to encourage and help them “go fair trade.”
• Use fair trade products, such as the affordable ethical clothing and other eco-friendly apparel and accessories available at Passion Lilie.

Hex Flex Men's Button Down Shirt

For unbeatable comfort and style, choose our fair trade Hex Flex Men’s Button Down Shirt. We use soft, breathable, poplin cotton to make this sturdy, comfortable, machine washable shirt. Meanwhile, the geometric pattern and carefully tailored fit make this shirt a great choice for everything from a day in the office to a night out with friends.

Elephant Tote

This canvas bag is the perfect eco-friendly, fair trade tote for carrying groceries, gym clothes, your laptop, and whatever else you might need. Our trendy elephant design is block printed with a hand carved wood block using vibrant, environmentally friendly dyes.

Support the Fair Trade Movement by Shopping with Passion Lilie

As an eco-apparel company, Passion Lilie is wholly devoted to making fair trade products designed in New Orleans and handcrafted in India. Purchasing clothing, accessories, homeware, and even recycled greeting cards from Passion Lilie is a chic and unique way to show your support for the movement while looking good too. Visit our website to view our full line of eco-apparel and other products, and start supporting fair trade now!

Sustainable dinner parties are a great way to show your love for the environment and have fun doing it. While many people assume that throwing a sustainable dinner party simply consists of using local and organic ingredients at your next hosted dinner, there is so much more to it than that. Reusable, sustainably made dishes, utensils, and napkins not only add class to any dinner, but minimize your environmental footprint. These eco-conscious dinners offer a fun, tasty, and effective way to convince your nearest and dearest to go green through the persuasive power of a good meal. Learn how to plan your own sustainable dinner party with environmentally friendly cuisine, cloth napkins, and more today.

Crafting Your Menu

The first essential to any dinner party highlighting responsible agriculture is eco-friendly eats. Consider these tips:

• Get ingredients from local gardens, farmers’ markets, and other sustainable sources.
• Ask grocery stores for food that is safe to eat but will be thrown away, such as bruised produce or expired food.
• Moderate how much meat and dairy you include in your meal.
• Eat any leftovers later that week!

Sourcing Sustainable Dishes and Utensils

The next step in planning for your sustainable dinner party is to source sustainably made dishes, silverware, and napkins to accompany your meal. If you need disposable items, there are a number of companies online that offer plates and utensils made with sustainability in mind. You can also check out local shops and artisans to supply the tools your guests will need to enjoy the feast you’re preparing for them.

Cloth Napkins from Passion Lilie

One of the best sources for sustainable cloth napkins is the collection available from Passion Lilie. We are an eco-friendly, fair trade brand that offers a variety of apparel, accessories, homeware, and more made by empowered artisans in India. As an ethical brand, we ensure our artisans receive fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and long-term employment. By purchasing our high-quality, sustainable cloth napkins, you can reduce your impact on the environment while also supporting fair job opportunities in India. Browse all our napkins or get started with the two recommendations below.

Salmon Ikat Cloth Napkins (Set of 4)

These gorgeous cotton napkins make it easy to give up paper! Their salmon color complements earthy tones for a subtler look or teal tones when you’re feeling bolder.

Grey Dots Cloth Napkins (Set of 4)

With their appealing dotted pattern and neutral colors, these cotton cloth napkins can turn any meal into a special occasion.

Shop for Eco Outfits to Complete Your Party

Of course, no dinner party would be complete without a great outfit to go with it. When hosting a sustainable dinner party, it’s only natural that your environmentally friendly choices extend to your wardrobe as well. Luckily, Passion Lilie is just the place to get your eco-chic apparel. Consider these looks for your next dinner party.

Navy Stars Organic Jersey Wrap Dress

This stunning wrap dress from Passion Lilie comes in a navy, patterned, organic jersey material that is sure to get everyone’s attention and make you the life of the party. With its soft and stretchy fabric, this dress leaves you feeling comfortable all day long while still showing off your curves in a fitted silhouette.

Gray Chevron Crop Pants

Want to go fun and funky? These lightweight pants show off your fashion sense with a mid-calf leg and zigzag pattern. The gray and black colors keep your look sophisticated, giving these pants the ideal balance of style and professionalism for more casual work environments, professional events, and dinner parties.

Passion Lilie: Your Go-To for Sustainable Cloth Napkins and More

As a premier eco-apparel and home goods brand, Passion Lilie is ready to help you on your path to greater, greener living. Contact Passion Lilie with any questions, and get started on your next sustainable dinner party the right way today.

Most of us have encountered reactive dyes before, even if we didn’t realize it at the time. Have you ever tie-dyed a shirt? Modern tie-dye often uses reactive dyes. Many American retailers, however, do not use reactive dyes. Reactive dyeing must be done by hand rather than by machine. At Passion Lilie, we use this ancient dyeing process to produce unique, authentic, eco-friendly clothing that resists fading. Learn more and shop our beautifully dyed products today.

What Are Reactive Dyes?

Reactive dyes, also referred to as fabric reactive dyes, are dyes that chemically react with fabric. They affect the molecules of the fabric, making them a permanent part of whatever they dye. This is why they resist fading so much better than other dyes. They absorb and alter the color of fabric.

As an ethical, sustainable brand, Passion Lilie only uses natural binders and eco-friendly dyes in our reactive print paste. Tharangini Studio’s skilled artisans use a combination of ancient techniques and modern advances to produce the best results from our reactive dyeing process:

1. First, our artisans dye the fabric its initial base color.
2. Meanwhile, gum arabic resin crystals are fermented using a traditional recipe by soaking in water for two to three days to create a binder.
3. Next, artisans hand block print the fabric using reactive dyes.
4. After wrapping the fabric individually in recycled newspaper, they steam it for an entire day.
5. Then they wash the fabric and cure it in the sun, allow its colors to develop.
6. If any other colors are going to be added, our artisans repeat the first four steps with those colors.
7. After they print, steam, wash, and cure the fabric, artisans remove any gum arabic residue, leaving behind a soft, beautifully printed fabric.

For more information about the methods of dyeing we use, read about our natural dyes (also known as plant- or vegetable-based dyes), eco dyes, and reactive dyes.

The Advantages of Reactive Dyes

Now that you know a little more about our reactive dyeing process, you may be wondering why we bother with such a time-consuming method. Reactive dyes come with a number of big benefits:

• They’re more vibrant. Unlike other clothes, which become faded over time with wear and washing, reactive dyes keep their color.
• They don’t bleed. Because reactive dyes become a part of the fabric, they don’t bleed onto other pieces of laundry.
• They’re unique. There’s something special about handmade clothing and owning something truly one of a kind. With reactive dyeing, each piece of fabric is varied and unique.
• They’re sustainable. The process of reactive printing is low waste and sustainable. All of the newspaper we use is recycled, and our gum arabic crystals are sourced from a sustainable grower.

Shop Passion Lilie Today

Ready to reap the advantages of reactive dyes? Shop these Passion Lilie products made with reactive dyes. Many of these popular items have limited sizes remaining in our current stock, so snag yours while you can!

Layla Organic Jersey Dress (XS)

For standout sophistication, nothing beats this knit dress. Its gorgeous stripe-on-stripe pattern and starfish neckline create a one-of-a-kind look, while the soft, organic jersey cotton and side pockets offer comfort and convenience.

Triangles Shift Dress (M)

Searching for something bold, yet still classy? This dress has it covered with an adventurous geometric pattern you can wear from the office to gallery openings, cocktail parties, and more.

Dusk Button Dress (L)

Find all the comfort of a t-shirt with all the style and sophistication of a little black dress in the Dusk Button Dress. Friends, family, and even strangers will get lost gazing at its beautiful starry pattern.

Indigo Flowers Scarf

Add texture and pattern to any outfit with the Indigo Flowers Scarf. Made using reactive dyes, its rich indigo color can stand out while staying neutral for easy pairing with the rest of your outfit.

For a similar look in another pattern, check out our Indigo Dreams Scarf today. You can also shop more of Passion Lilie’s ethical apparel, read about our mission, or discover more fashion tips and trends on our blog.

Next to Mardi Gras, Saints season might be the most beloved season in New Orleans. We can’t wait to don our black and gold, tailgate with friends and family, and cheer our team on to victory. With preseason in August and the regular season taking place from September through December, now is the perfect time to start planning a tailgate and filling your closet with black-and-gold fashion. Even those outside Louisiana can get into the spirit with the right clothing and accessories!

Saints Season Fashion Tips

When it comes to Saints season fashion, the old standbys are always good options: black-and-gold face paint, Saints jerseys, and other official Saints gear. But if you really want to stand out from the crowd, try something that shows off your fashion sense as much as your team spirit.

Splatter Dot Organic Jersey Dress

When you’re already decked out in black, gold, and fleurs de lis accessories, you may need to balance your outfit with neutral pieces. In a trendy splatter dot print and neutral colors, this dress is an excellent choice.

Fleur de Lis Skirt

Go fun and flirty with a Fleur de Lis Skirt. Featuring a wide, flat front waistband, this skirt is sure to complement any figure. Pair it with a cute midriff shirt on hot summer days, and turn it into an autumn look with a thick sweater or sweatshirt.

Fleur de Lis Dress

Support the Saints like a pro with this fun yet professional dress. The black side panels and gathering in the back create a fitted, flattering silhouette, while the cap sleeves and square neckline add sophistication. Head straight from the boardroom to the game on a busy day without missing a beat in the Fleur de Lis Dress.

Fleur de Lis Scarf on White

As seen in New Orleans’ Gambit, this stylish accessory is an ideal embellishment for any outfit on game day. It’s lightweight, ethically made, and expertly crafted. You can even use it as a home decoration. This scarf is also available in black here.

Saints Season Tailgating Tips

Once you’ve settled on an outfit, you’re ready to get out and go tailgating. Win or lose, make it a game to remember with these Saints season tailgating tips:

• Pack the night before so you’re ready to snag a good spot first thing in the morning.
• Refrigerate beverages the night before so they’re easier to keep cool.
• Freeze bottles of water so you can spend less space on ice and more on staying hydrated.
• Turn one of your coolers into a warmer before you leave using wet towels, aluminum foil, and bricks.
• Don’t forget the little things, such as sunscreen, bottle openers, tape, markers, napkins, hand sanitizer, phone chargers, extension cords, and trash bags.

Shop Passion Lilie for All Your Saints Season Fashion Needs

Looking for even more Saints season fashion? Shop the Black & Gold Collection from Passion Lilie. Browse our blog for more affordable ethical clothing and other fashionable and sustainable ideas, or shop today for our full range of apparel.

Teachers are a big part of our children’s lives. They spend a significant amount of time with students, shaping their education and even serving as role models. A good teacher can make all the difference, inspiring a lifelong interest in math, reading, science, or learning in general. Whether it’s at the beginning of the school year or after a parent-teacher conference, go the extra mile to build a relationship with your child’s teacher. Passion Lilie has several teacher gift ideas to help you show your appreciation.

Teacher Gift Ideas and Tips

Choosing a gift for a teacher can be tough. You want to show your gratitude, but in many cases you need to be careful not to overspend—otherwise, the teacher may not be able to accept your gift. Follow these tips when considering teacher gift ideas:

• Give something practical. Most teachers have more than enough coffee mugs, but they end up paying for school supplies out of pocket. Many of the best teacher gifts are ones they can actually use to improve their classrooms.
• Put thought into your gift. Even the cutest knickknack doesn’t say much if there isn’t a story behind it. Consider the teacher’s personality and interests when shopping.
• Don’t spend more than $20. Several teachers surveyed in different parts of the U.S. said that $20 should be your limit. A few bucks over won’t hurt, but don’t spend much more than that.

Show Your Appreciation with These Teacher Gift Ideas

Now that you know what to look for in a gift, consider these teacher gift ideas from Passion Lilie.

Butterfly Greeting Card ($3.00)

Passion Lilie sells a variety of recycled greeting cards that are perfect for thanking a teacher on any occasion. Add it to the rest of your gift, or fill it with thoughtful words from yourself and your child to make a perfect, low-cost gift all on its own. Even better, these cards are made of recycled (and cleaned!) elephant waste, making them eco-friendly and part of an important cause: improving the treatment of elephants in Sri Lanka. If that weren’t enough, each card is hand block printed by a young adult with autism or a severe handicap in India, and the proceeds help pay for their education and ongoing training. Learn more about our recycled cards and give a gift that keeps on giving.

Le Plume Tote ($20.00)

Between all the folders, worksheets, school supplies, and other miscellaneous items, teachers end up carrying a lot of things from work to home and back. Wouldn’t it be nice if each time they reached for their bag, they were reminded of a student or parent who cared? This tote is colorful and attractive, while its measurements are large enough to fit standard papers and folders. It can also function as a reusable grocery bag for environmentally friendly teachers on the go.

Mint Paisley Scarf ($22.00)

Many teachers are more concerned with helping others than themselves. Treat them to something just for themselves: a bright, beautiful, lightweight scarf. With its refreshing mint color and gorgeous mixed patterns, the Mint Paisley Scarf is a great way to give a little TLC to a teacher.

Shop Passion Lilie Today

Every piece of apparel and accessory from Passion Lilie is ethically made, so you can feel good about every purchase. We use sustainable, environmental practices and provide fair wages, long-term employment, and safe working conditions to artisans in India. Learn more about our mission, read our blog, or shop more of our products today.

Summer always flies by, and this year is no exception. As we enter back-to-school season, college fashion becomes top of mind for young women looking to revamp their wardrobes before setting foot on campus this fall. The National Center for Education Statistics predicts that overall enrollment in degree-granting institutions will increase in Fall 2018, with female students in particular increasing 16% from 2007 to 2018. That’s a lot of women on campuses this fall! Find college fashion that makes you look and feel great when you shop for ethical apparel from Passion Lilie.

College Fashion from Passion Lilie

College fashion for the fall semester should embrace the last bit of warmth from the summer season while also staying practical. As students, you’re always busy, headed from class to the library, club meetings, and more, fitting in social lives and healthy habits in between. College fashion needs to embrace this on-the-go lifestyle. Clothing and accessories should be easy to wear—versatile, comfortable, and, of course, fashionable.

Not only that, but as you begin taking on new responsibilities and learning about different cultures and philosophies at college, it’s the perfect time to start shopping ethically. By buying from ethical brands, you can reduce your impact on the environment and improve working conditions for artisans in developing countries. Read more about why you should buy fair trade clothing today. Since budget is always a concern for college students, Passion Lilie has a clearance section to make it easier to find our most affordable ethical clothing. Discover a few of our favorite college fashion pieces for 2018 below.

Blue Triangles Top

This trendy shirt is bold enough to get you noticed, and it’s also easy to accessorize with a range of jewelry, scarves, or jackets. Comfortable and easy to slip on, you can pair it with your favorite jeans and be out the door in minutes. It’s also ethical, so when your friends ask where you got it, you can tell them it was proudly made in India by artisans who receive fair wages and sustainable employment.

Chevron Sweater Organic Fleece

This adorable organic fleece sweater is great for long walks across campus when the weather cools down. The long-sleeved pullover is a classic look for college students, and our sweater features a stylish chevron print to create unique texture and eye-catching detail.

Cranberry Scarf

Who doesn’t look amazing in red? Not only is cranberry a great fall color, but a scarf is an excellent way to amp up your fall college fashion. Slip this cotton scarf in your backpack just in case you need it when the classroom A/C is too strong or a cold front has swept through campus.

Spinnaker Grey Pants

These flowy pants are at once chic and cozy. Wear them tied or untied for a variety of fashionable looks. They even look great with a basic tee, making them an easy choice any day of the week.

Shop Passion Lilie for All Your College Fashion Needs

Passion Lilie sells these fashionable pieces and more online. Shop now or contact Passion Lilie with any questions.

The Greeting Card Association reports that we purchase around 6.5 billion greeting cards annually in the United States. There are so many special occasions that are even better with a card, but that’s a lot of cards and a lot of paper. Did you know that recycling just one ton of paper can save 31 trees and 3.5 cubic meters of landfill space? According to the Southern Waste Information Exchange, that’s not only true, but we’re also not making enough efforts toward embracing recycling. Not enough places offer recycled cards. Although they’re often harder to find than they should be, rest assured that you can always buy a recycled card from Passion Lilie for your next special occasion!

A Recycled Card for a Good Cause

When you buy a recycled card from Passion Lilie, you support a good cause. Our cards not only help you support recycling, but support elephants in Sri Lanka, too. Each card is made from elephant dung, which is a free resource in Sri Lanka and makes great recycled paper once it’s cleaned and processed. It may sound odd, but you would never know from looking at (or smelling) any of these cards! Sri Lankans have long neglected elephants as an economic resource and killed them off, but by turning their dung into paper, we are helping to shift how Sri Lankans view and treat elephants.

While it already feels great to buy a recycled card to support elephants, the good that comes from your purchase doesn’t stop there. Each recycled card is hand block printed by a young adult in India who has autism or handicap disabilities. These individuals are part of a training program for those with special needs, and each recycled card’s proceeds contribute to their education and training.

Learn more about the story behind Passion Lilie’s recycled cards on our website.

A Recycled Card for Every Occasion

Can’t wait to start purchasing our recycled greeting cards? Here are a few perfect occasions with a recycled card to match.

Back-to-School Teacher Welcome Card: Butterfly

If you’re a parent sending your child back to school this fall, send a greeting card with your student. You can introduce yourself and thank them in advance for guiding your child through the next step in their education. It’s a lovely way to show your appreciation. The recycled Butterfly Greeting Card is great for this occasion, because butterflies are often associated with growth, and the hand block design is eye catching and beautiful.

Good Luck Card: Bird

A greeting card is one of the most meaningful ways to wish someone good luck. No matter if it’s for the first day of school, a big interview, or another significant event, the recycled Bird Greeting Card from Passion Lilie is sure to bring a smile to their face. Birds are brave and soar high, and seeing one is an excellent inspiration for anyone preparing for something big or intimidating.

Shop Passion Lilie

For all your recycled card and ethical fashion needs, check out Passion Lilie’s selection of products today. If you like this post, read about why we’re proudly made in India and any other posts on our blog. Shop now or contact Passion Lilie with any questions.