When most people think of silk, they think of China. China has been the largest producer of silk throughout history. This is because the original wild ancestor of the commercially grown species of moth that produces silk was unique to China. So it makes sense that the Chinese invented sericulture, or the process of creating silk. Sericulture has since spread to all areas of the globe, namely countries in Southeast Asia such as Cambodia. Here at Global Goods Partners we sell a wide range of products made from Cambodian silk. These products include everything from silk ties and knotted necklaces to wallets and notebooks.                                      Yet silk production in Cambodia doesn't have it so easy as compared to its counterparts in China, Vietnam and Thailand. Due to Cambodia's turbulent history, sericulture has been put on the back burner - so much so that the government has recently listed silk as one of eight priority export items to be developed by the Ministry of Commerce. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is even helping to fund silk sector development. Cambodia certainly has the potential to develop this industry as experts agree that the quality of Cambodian handmade golden silk is far superior to that of the mass produced silk in other areas of Asia. Creating silk is super interesting but also time consuming! The process begins with the breeding of butterflies. Male and female butterflies mate for about 12 hours. Females then lay up to 300 eggs and then die soon after breeding. The breeder will then gather the eggs on a sheet of paper and incubate these eggs for 12 days under a bell and a piece of wet cloth. Caterpillars then hatch out of these eggs and eventually turn into what we commonly know as silk worms.

Once the worm is fully developed it is ready to spin its cocoon of silk. Worms used to be individually placed into bundles of twigs to spin, but nowadays they can be placed in bamboo trays that have a spiral inside around which the caterpillar can spin its cocoon.

The process of spinning silk takes about 3-4 days, during which time the larva has gone through its entire growth cycle. The quality of the silk produced is dependent  on the health of the worms and their environment as well as the quality of the mulberry leaves that they eat. Once the worm has finished spinning, the breeder has 10 days to unwind the cocoon before the worm completes metamorphosis and eats its way out of the cocoon in the form of a moth. Unwinding the cocoon can be quite a difficult process as the procedure is completed in very hot water. 10kg of cocoons produce just 1kg of silk yarn. This intricate process makes us appreciate our beautiful silk products even more! Check out our online store to find more Cambodian silk items.

Some of you have been dedicated supporters of ethical trade, and some are just discovering it. With #FairTuesday* campaign, we are promoting the idea that buying fair trade and changing lives in whole communities is easier than ever. It's all about making small changes to your daily choices as a consumer. Here are our three favorite ways to do it.

1. Coffee & Tea

Make your daily cup of coffee or tea fair trade. All major grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, have fair trade options for your favorite hot drink. If you pick up your daily dose of caffeine at a coffee shop, ask your barista if they offer fair trade coffee and tea.

2. Bananas

Bananas are one of the most popular and most consumed fruits in the world. Opting for fair trade bananas at the produce stall won't affect your budget, but will give much needed support to farmers and their families.

3. Gifts

Many fair trade and eco-friendly businesses specialize on gifts. Handmade, artisan goods from around the globe make great Holiday gifts, on top of supporting a great cause. Check out our #FairTuesday partners (full list here) for easy Holiday shopping that gives back! [caption id="attachment_3143" align="aligncenter" width="454"] Fair trade gifts from Global Goods Partners[/caption]

What do all of these items have in common?

                      

If you guessed that they are all Global Goods Partners products, you are correct! But did you also guess that they are made of Alpaca wool?

Alpaca wool is one of the finest luxury materials in the world, and was once only reserved for Inca royalty in the Peruvian Andes. Alpacas have been domesticated in this region for over 5000 years, and were utilized by the Incas for almost everything, including transportation, food and fuel. Nowadays they are mainly used commercially for their fleece.

In Andean mythology, Alpacas were once worshiped due to their association with the goddess "Pachmana", also known as the Earth Goddess. When the Spanish Conquistadores came across the Inca civilization in Peru, they soon discovered that this society relied heavily on the Alpaca, even building infrastructure out of the fibers from this animal. Cloth was akin to currency in this ancient civilization, as textiles made from Alpaca fibers were widely traded and armies were even paid in the form of Alpaca textiles. The Spanish attempted to conquer the Inca by slaughtering herds of Alpaca, yet Alpaca wool is still widely used even today.

        

Alpaca wool is incredibly strong and is also considered to be as light as cashmere and lighter than sheep's wool. There are 22 different shades of Alpaca wool, including white, black, brown, grey and tan, which are some of the most popular colors used commercially. The finest and most usable wool is found on their back and sides. Alpaca's are shaved like sheep, and after their wool is combed and cleaned it is ready to be spun into usable wool. Alpaca wool also retains dye very well which allows for the creation of a wide variety of products. The two breeds of Alpaca that are most commonly utilized for wool are the huacaya and the suri. The former has a denser, thicker fur and the suri is known for having long and separated fur.

Interestingly, Alpaca's are known for being environmentally friendly animals. They have padded hooves which do little damage to the Earth. Additionally, they drink very little water and their stomachs are comprised of 3 compartments which means that they digest grass and hay with ease.

Here at Global Goods Partners, we have a wide range of Alpaca scarves that are handmade by women in Bolivia and Peru. In purchasing these scarves, not only will you be contributing to sustainable agriculture in the Andes, but you will also be positively influencing the lives of women and entire communities in South America. Check out our website for some great Alpaca scarves to keep you warm this winter season!

I have never been on a hunger strike, joined a sit-in, or lobbied in Washington for the liberation of Tibet. But I am changing my world. How? It’s simple. Fair Trade. On #FairTuesday, November 27th, 2012 fair trade, eco-friendly and sustainable organizations will come together with one goal: To inspire people to buy fair trade.

As a consumer, you have purchasing power. You choose where you spend your hard earned dollars. So why not harness that power and make an impact in another community? By making small changes in your consuming habits, you can improve lives in a whole community.

WHAT IS FAIR TRADE?

Have you ever heard of the saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats”? That’s how we like to think of fair trade. In opposition to systems in place which keep producers in marginalized communities down, fair trade practices ensure that workers are compensated fairly, profits are reinvested back into communities and production adheres to strict environmental standards.

FAIR TRADE DOESN'T MEAN COMPROMISE

Companies that offer fantastic fair trade finds are sprouting up as more consumers are demanding trading transparency. You have the right to know that your money is not getting sucked into the black hole of antiquated trading practices, but instead positively impacting communities where your goods are produced. It’s never been easier to be a conscious consumer. These days we don’t have to sacrifice quality to see that fair trade logo attached our favorite products. We can dress and accessorize stylishly with sustainable fashion and enjoy delicious fairly trade coffee, chocolate and wine!

TRANSFORM THE WORLD WITH SMALL ACTS

You don’t have to chain yourself to a tree or power your car with vegetable oil to make a difference. By thinking more about the purchases you make and the origins of the products you use, you can be the change you want to see in the world. It's simple. It's effective. Support fair practices by buying one fair trade item on Tuesday, November 27, and help us spread the word about #FairTuesday on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and your Blog by using hash tag #FairTuesday and linking to www.fairtuesday.org.

If you are represent an organization or press, find more info on www.fairtuesday.org and join the movement by sending us an email at fairtuesday@globalgoodspartners.org.

Ever heard of batik fabric? Here at Global Goods Partners we are selling these beautiful Indian Clutch Bags, which have been hand-batiked by women in India. One would think that the designs on the fabric were difficult to create; yet the process of batiking fabric is surprisingly easy and super interesting!

 

Batik is the art of decorating cloth using wax and dye. It has been practiced for centuries, originating on the island of Java in Indonesia. The process of batiking fabric has since spread to all areas of the globe, yet Java is still home to some of the world’s finest batik products. Interestingly, the word batik actually comes from the Javanese word tik, simply meaning “to dot”. The process of making batik fabric includes pouring hot wax over the fabric in a particular design or pattern, and then dyeing the fabric over the wax. Once the wax dries, it resists the dye so that once the wax is removed, the original colour of the fabric is retained in that spot. This allows for an array of beautiful and interesting patterns and designs to be created. Several layers of dye and wax can be used to created intricate details on the fabric, which make for eye-catching products like our new Indian Clutch Bags. Contemporary batik differs quite a lot from its traditional predecessors. Nowadays, batik is often created using stencils and waxes of varying degrees of resistance. Additionally, materials such as leather, cotton and even wood can be batiked. In conjunction with our partner, the Community Friendly Movement, these clutches were hand-batiked by women in New Delhi, India. Women all over India are boosting their communities by batiking fabric, like 15 year old Shona, who batiks in her free time. If you’re interested in creating your own batik fabric, follow these 10 easy steps!