For the Love of Justice: Summer Fun

Today I’m excited to introduce you to Jessica from For the Love of Justice. I love Jessica’s practical approach to an ethical lifestyle — her posts remind me that small changes are a great way to make a difference in the world. 

Hi everyone! I’m Jessica from For The Love of Justice, and I’m so honored to be sharing on Fair Fashion Friday! Fair trade and ethical living has interested me for years, but it was only last fall that I really began to live (and buy) more thoughtfully. I love that we literally can make a difference in the world by simply switching up what we buy! As a mom of three in the midst of the crazy little years, it’s easy to feel like I’m not making much of a difference outside of raising my children and taking care of our home. Buying fairly is one of those simple things I can do that actually has a big impact, and I can do it right now, even in our normal everyday life. I like that!

Now that summer is here we are spending a lot of time outside, soaking up the warm breeze and sunshine! Here are just a few of my favorite summer-inspired products, plus a few tips for buying fair trade!

A Fair Day At The Beach
1. Esperos tote ($45)
2. Warby Parker sunglasses ($95)
3. Purse & Clutch floppy sunhat ($94)
4. Feel Goodz flip flops ($25)
5. Mod Cloth bathing suit ($63)
6. The Fair Line handwoven beach towel ($26)

Afternoon At The Park
1. Everlane backpack ($65)
2. Pocket Disc ($15)
3. Nalgene water bottle ($11)
4. Parker Clay blanket ($58)
5. Equal Exchange Geo Bar ($3.75)
6. Burt’s Bees sunscreen stick ($10)

Relaxing in the Backyard
1. Ten Thousand Villages hammock chair ($94)
2. Ten Thousand Villages citronella candle ($16)
3. St. Pierre Horseshoes Set ($65)
4. Serrv hanging planter ($30)

When shopping fairly, keep it simple! It’s so easy to get overwhelmed and think you have to buy everything fair trade all at once. You don’t. Pick one area you know you can work on and start there. Do it well. And when you get that area figured out, move on to the next one!

If you have a limited budget, like I do, buying fair trade can be challenging. I make it work by purchasing just one or two fair trade items at a time. I look for pieces that go with a lot of other things I already own so I can enjoy my purchase for more than one season! Also, most fair trade retailers hold seasonal sales and offer discount codes for signing up to receive their emails. This is a great time to buy fairly but still save some money!

In the end, just give yourself grace. In a perfect world I would buy everything ethically and it would be all rainbows and butterflies. In the real world I forget and I buy things without thinking, I can’t always find the ethical alternative, or the only alternative is out of my price range. I am learning to give myself grace in situations like this. I mentioned this the other week and it’s still on my heart: just because we aren’t doing everything perfectly doesn’t mean we aren’t doing something right. If the thoughtful, good purchases outweigh the unethical ones, I am good with that!

There ya go! Thanks again, Christy, for letting me take over your Fair Fashion Friday for the day! You can find me at For The Love of Justice where I blog about all things fair and good. Have a great weekend!