JA News
01/05/08 Just Apparel Website Goes Live
The website goes live. This is the story file.
01/22/08 JA Online Market Goes Live
01/22/08 JA online market goes live!
04/30/08 Just Apparel Donates Totes to be Raffled off for IHF's $10x1000 Campaign
Just Apparel is partnering with it's parent organization, the IHF, to support it's $10x1000 Local Change, Global Impact Campaign. As a testament to the change the IHF has created all over the world, Just Apparel is donating three of its JA totes to be raffled off among the 1000 donors. Click below to become a donor.
Just Apparel Receives DO Something.org's Plum Grant
Heidi McAnnally-Linz received a Plum Grant in September from DO Something.org for her work with Just Apparel. The $500 grant, given out to outstanding 25 and under volunteers who have created an outstanding community action project, will go towards publicity materials and operating costs for Just Apparel.
Just Apparel Joins Fair Trade Federation
On October 16, Just Apparel (JA), a new project with an innovative approach to fair trade, was accepted as a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF). JA partners with an artisan's association in Guatemala to produce custom apparel for organizations, businesses, and individuals. Our partner artisans use traditional techniques to embroider polo shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tote bags.
Based in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, JA is working to bring economic opportunity to a community burdened by a devastating mudslide in 2005 and by a thirty-six year internal armed conflict. Founder and director, Heidi McAnnally-Linz says, “In light of the dramatic consequences we’ve seen from unethical business practices around the world, it’s about time for a business model with ethics at its core. Consumers are ready for this idea.”
JA's products are manufactured in a local family workshop and hand-embroidered by the women of the Ropa Justa artisan’s association. The women earn up to four times the prevailing local wage for handicraft production. As JA Partner Artisan Maria Reanda Pacach says, "When we get an order, we all get together at the office to have fun, laugh, and of course, work. When we work for Just Apparel, we get paid enough!"
The Fair Trade Federation is a trade association dedicated to strengthening and promoting North American organizations fully committed to fair trade. Their support will allow JA to expand its outreach and change the lives of even more partner artisans.
Just Apparel is a not-for-profit initiative of the International Humanitarian Foundation (IHF). The IHF has been promoting partnership-driven community development around the world since 2003. For more information, visit www.internationalhf.org.
Just Apparel Video on Youtube
As part of a grant application for Energize Your Community, we put together a little video about JA's work in Santiago. The production is not very slick, but the message is right on. Check it out.
Video Profile: Dolores
In the first of what we hope to be a series of video profiles, we introduce you to Dolores, the Guatemalan Project Manager for Just Apparel. Tweet questions or comments @JustApparel. Here's the video.
