Safar: Along Roads Less Traveled (2012 Calendar) Journey Through 2012 with AID's work with communities in India.

Custom Equal Exchange Holiday Gift Baskets from Awaz featuring fair trade chocolate, coffee, tea, holy Olive Oil and woven natural cotton napkins.

Dec 14-16, 2012 Awaz Trunk Show at Yoga Shala of Portland offering natural fiber clothing and yoga accessories from artisans in India and Nepal.

 

 Preserving craft and traditions. Handcrafted block printed fabrics.

 Stitched by women with joy. Empowering women through fair wages, economic empowerment, dignity and respect.

Use your purchasing power to create positive change.

Create the natural home you've always wanted. Fair Trade Cotton Napkins, Aprons, Table Linens and more from Awaz at Tropical Salvage until Dec. 31st

Check out what these weavers make at our online shop. And come on by and pick one up!
Discover a showroom of all natural, handcrafted hardwood furniture made by artisans in Indonesia from salvaged wood - and bring the presence of beauty to your home.

Self Employed Women's Assocation (SEWA) creates 10 minute film about empowering women through income generation and cooperative assocations

Everyone who has read books on social change in India or even globally, has heard about SEWA. They are an amazing trade union for the unorganized sector and have helped thousands of people throughout India self-organize, secure livelihoods and have rights. I had the opportunity to visit them in 2010 and appreciate the work from their craft program and experience the great history of their work.
This short video is a depiction of the success of their work empowering women through income generation and cooperative assocations doing:

• selling plant seedlings
• food processing and package of spices and pulses
• crafts
• salt collection
• cleaning and sanitation cooperative for maintaining waste in villages
• production of vermi-compost
• business technology centers

VIEW THE FILM ON ONEWORLD SOUTH ASIA

Self Employed Women’s Association
SEWA is a trade union registered in 1972. It is an organisation of poor, self-employed women workers. These are women who earn a living through their own labour or small businesses. They do not obtain regular salaried employment with welfare benefits like workers in the organised sector. They are the unprotected labour force of our country. Constituting 93% of the labour force, these are workers of the unorganised sector. Of the female labour force in India, more than 94% are in the unorganised sector. However their work is not counted and hence remains invisible.	SEWA’s main goals are to organise women workers for full employment. Full employment means employment whereby workers obtain work security, income security, food security and social security (at least health care, child care and shelter). SEWA organises women to ensure that every family obtains full employment. By self-reliance we mean that women should be autonomous and self-reliant, individually and collectively, both economically and in terms of their decision-making ability.	SEWA is both an organisation and a movement. The SEWA movement is enhanced by its being a sangam or confluence of three movements : the labour movement, the cooperative movement and the women’s movement. But it is also a movement of self-employed workers : their own, home-grown movement with women as the leaders. Through their own movement women become strong and visible.

Offering an expanded collection of all Natural Fiber Clothing for the Sustainable Lifestyle

At Awaz we continue to offer new products to encourage sustainable living by fostering our existing long term relationships with artisans and developing new ones. Utilizing these good relations and sustainable supply chains allow us to source the highest quality fibers that are mindful of the environment in which they are produced as well as where they end up.

We are excited to announce an expanded offering of natural fiber clothing for both Men and Women featuring Organic Cotton from India, Cotton, Hemp and Wool blends from Nepal, Block Printed Plant Dyes from India and 100% Alpaca Wool from Bolivia.

All our fabrics and garments are woven, printed, embroidered and/or stitched by hand.

Our wide range of casual to dressy styles gives you a great selection, from button up shirts to everyday cotton leggings. We use traditional designs such as wood block printing and hand-woven fabrics adapting them to western tastes and styles for producing the highest quality natural fiber clothing.

Enjoy your visit to our online shop and pick up one of our new pieces today!

Organic Cotton Jersey Scoop Neck

Olivewood, Black

Soft Organic Cotton Leggings

Grey, Black

Made for your active lifestyle, these pieces take you from running around town to an evening out.  Certified organic and fair trade fashions from a women's co-op in Mumbai, India providing employment and economic independence for over 200 women.
The cotton in our line of organic clothing comes from an organization of 6,000 cotton farmers in Maharashtra, a state that has been plagued by high debts and farmer suicide.
Cotton farmers in India often do not receive a fair enough price to cover production costs. Many farmers have been forced to borrow money at extortionate rates from predatory lenders. Unable to repay debts or support their families, suicide is common. In the Amravati district of Maharashtra, 5,000 farmers commit suicide every year. Your purchase of organic and fair trade clothing grows the organic movement and helps farmers regain their self-dignity.

Striped Cotton Long-Sleeve Kurta Top

Light weight handwoven cotton long-sleeve kurta style shirt, perfect for the cultured soul. This traditional Indian and Nepali shirt is our favorite top and features beautiful cotton threads.

Hemp Wallets and Belts

Hemp comes in various weights for making our bags, hats, belts, wallets and vests. The heavier Hemp yarns are hand spun and hand woven in the villages providing a steady source of employment and income.  Our hemp yarns originate from natural wild hemp that grows sustainably in western Nepal.  Hemp is the perfect crop for the Himalayas. It requires no cultivation or pesticides, is native, and has long been an economic asset for the rural mountain villages. 

Knitted Wool Socks and Hats from Women in Nepal 

Our wool is a soft, high quality blend with long fibers for strength, warmth and durability.  In some cases we blend two fibers for our knitwear creating a 50/50 hemp/wool blend.

Like these great warm winter hats and socks.

This blend creates soft heathery tones that compliment the brighter tones of all our wool knitwear.

Our products are carefully considered to create unique collections for mindful living.   Now you can enjoy a clothing wardrobe that feels good and you can feel good about.  we stand behind our goods quality, commitment and consistency is truly is a way of life. 

Our commitment to natural fibers and sustainability is in all our products so you can fuel and wear change, everyday.  

Awaz 2012 Holiday Event List - Join us for some Community Focused Alternative Holiday Shopping!

We are pleased to announce our jam packed holiday event list for your holiday shopping pleasure!

We hope that you will join us in supporting a just and ethical holiday season. We are a channel for social change and you are the driver. Please do think of supporting us this holiday!

We have many new products including clothing, hemp products, alpaca scarves and African Drums and Shea Butter. Always something new and fresh!

We have been working hard to organize and sponsor the 2012 Fair Trade Holiday Market series in Portland this year. We have some great local organizations represented with beautiful projects overseas needing your support.

Happy Holidays!  

Saturday, November 10^th

 Alternative Gift Faire

10am-2pm

Hillsdale United Church of Christ

2948 SW Capitol Hwy

Portland, Oregon

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 13-14^th 

Kansas State University Fair Trade Marketplace

Student Union

Our summer intern Melissa from the KSU Textile and Marketing Dept. will host a table for us. Sarah started this annual holiday event as an undergraduate student at KSU in early 2000.

Sunday, November 18^th

 Portland Fair Trade Holiday Market

sponsored by Northwest Fair TradeCoalition

10am – 3pm

First Unitarian Church

Buchan Building

1011 SW 12^th Ave

Portland, OR 97205

Co-sponsored by Economic Justice Action Group

This is the 1^st of the series that Awaz is sponsoring this year! We'll have a big display for you and your shopping pleasure at all three!

Beginning the 20^th of November until the end of December

Holiday Trunk Show at Tropical Salvage

Showroom / Warehouse
2233 NW York Street

Featuring Awaz handloom cotton napkins, tablecloths and placemats

TropicalSalvage makes high quality, artisan crafted, furniture from reclaimed wood in Indonesia. In doing so, they create fair trade, conservation supportive jobs in Indonesia and support among consumers for conservation of bio-diverse and carbon-rich tropical forest ecosystems.

Take a walk in their showroom in NW and be amazed!

http://tropicalsalvage.com/

Friday-Sunday, November 23-25^th

3rd Annual International National Gift Market

sponsored by Women's Opportunities Worldwide

Eugene5th Street Market

Women’s Opportunity Worldwide (WOW) was formed in the Spring of 2010 to provide opportunities for networking and collaboration among the many nonprofit organizations  based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley working to benefit women locally and internationally.

We're glad to join this great annual event of local global justice organizations located in the heart of downtown Eugene. What a great place to promote fair trade to so many people!

Friday, Novemb^{er 30th}

Aurora Artists Association

Holiday Open House

6:30 – 9:00 pm

White Rabbit Bakery

21368 Hwy 99e

Aurora, OR 97002

We return to join local artists for their annual holiday show in the rural, antique town of Aurora, just south of Wilsonville. Discover one of Oregon’s oldest towns and their history for a day visit and evening gathering at the local coffee house and bakery. My favorite place!

Recommended stops:

• St. Josef Winery
• Aurora Movement and Healing Arts
• Colony Museum
• The Farm School

Saturday, December 1^st

^{We will magically appear in two events this day in honor of World Aids Day!} 

Fair Trade Holiday Market

10am – 2pm

Meridian United Church of Christ

Frog Pond Church

6750 Boeckman Rd.

Wilsonville, OR.

1st Annual Ethical Holiday Shopping Bazaar

Hosted by Sister's Coffee Company and Eye See Media

4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Sister's Coffee

1235 NW Marshall

Pearl District

Featuring ethical, fair trade and empowering businesses and products from around Oregon and Washington

Check out this awesome Ethical Holiday Shopping Guide they put out every year!

Sunday, December 2^nd

4th Annual Holiday Market

12-5pm

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse

22115 NW Imbrie Drive, Suite 310

Hillsboro, Oregon 97124

Saturday, December 8

Portland Fair Trade Holiday Market

sponsored by Northwest Fair Trade Coalition

10am – 3pm

Portland Mennonite Church

1312 Southeast 35th Avenue  

Portland, OR 97214

 

This is the 2^nd big one Awaz is sponsoring this year!

 

Sunday, December 9

Portland Fair Trade Holiday Market 

sponsored by Northwest Fair Trade Coalition

11:30am – 2pm

First Presbyterian Church

Geneva Hall (basement)

1200 SW Alder Street
Portland, Oregon 97205

Co-sponsored by the Fair Trade Leadership Team of the Advocacy & Social Justice Committee

This is the 3rd big one Awaz is sponsoring this year!

 

Sunday, December 16

Alternative Holiday Gift Fair

10 am - 1 pm
Multnomah Presbyterian Church

Multnomah Village

7555 SW 45th Avenue

 

and you can always shop online!

 

 

 

 

We announce the Awaz Fair Trade Buying Club for events and office buildings for the Portland-metro featuring coffee, tea, food, kids toys, eco-clothing, stationery and gifts

For four years, we’ve been bringing the fair trade message to Portlanders and I’m excited to announce yet another way we want to help you bring fair trade into your life.

We are proud to announce the Awaz Fair Trade Buying Club for the Portland-metro that delivers high quality, ethically sourced food and everyday-use products at affordable rates, right to your door. With over ten years of experience working in the fair trade industry, we bring to you a variety of socially conscious, high quality goods that are available for your consumption direct from small producers around the world.

Awaz Fair Trade Buying Club

Natural, socially responsible and environmentally conscious goods brought to your door!

affordable ~ convenient ~ fair

Support small producers. Keep business small.

The buying club aims to help more people access the wide variety of fairly traded products available today by providing the added convenience of ordering direct from us and custom ordering. We specialize in affordable coffee, tea, food, kids toys, eco-clothing , stationery and gifts for your events, home-use , office building, daycare center, faith organization and community group.

In the 80 years of fair trade history, there has been an evolution of certified raw materials and products which are fairly traded that companies can source and offer, such as oils for cosmetics and clothing made from hemp and cotton. 

We’ve handpicked some of the best natural skin care, clothing, kids toys and more we think you should know about and are now pleased to offer them to you!

Equal Exchange Chocolate Bars - order individually or per case!

featuring:

Equal Exchange Organic Coffee, Chocolate, Tea and Snacks
 including Olive Oil, Breakfast Bars and Baking Cocoa

peace making Olive Oil from Palestine only $14

assorted herbals, greens and blacks - $3.50 for 20 tea bags in a box or $20 for 6 boxes

Ojoba Collective 100% Pure Unrefined Shea Butter from Ghana
all around skin moisturizer rich in Vitamin A and E
great for healing dry skin, wrinkles and eczema

Just $12 for 4 oz tin - your purchase supports the 400 women of Ojoba Shea Cooperative

Mr. Ellie Pooh Greeting Cards and Stationery from Elephant Dung from Sri Lanka
cards and notebooks from 100% recycled paper and elephant dung.
assorted themes and designs available
 Save elephants, save the environment.

Holiday Collection of cards and notebooks

Awaz Natural Kids Collection
kids soft toys, mobiles, baby quilts and room decor from natural fibers

Eco Clothing and Fashion for Men and Women

men's pants, traditional tops, women's skirts and tops, bags, belts, wallets from cotton and hemp 

HOW TO ORDER: 
Does your break room currently buy Folgers coffee from a big box store? Do you have an event coming up and need 60 fair trade chocolate bars? Do you sometimes buy fair trade products, but need someone to help you keep it stocked? Let us bring fair trade to you!
Send us an email and we'll send you the order form today!
sarah@voiceforempowerment.com
503-970-5847

Submit your orders by Wednesday each week for Friday delivery.
Minimum order $30.
Delivery location negotiable.
Free delivery on Portland-metro orders over $50.
Payment: cost on delivery. Cash, check or credit card.

Your consumption choices do make a difference. By supporting the Awaz Fair Trade Buying Club, you choose to create a new economic model that:

• honors producers, consumers and the environment
• promotes transparency and respect in trade
• values the human connection
• sustains cultural traditions around the globe
•  fuels just livelihoods and ethical business in your community

Awaz is a local Portland sustainable business dedicated to providing high quality, ethical products that consumers can feel good about. We trade direct with small producers and represent a network of farmer and artisan groups who make every day products for every day living.