Ethical Brand: Introducing Rich Earth Jewelry from Manila, Philippines

All images courtesy of Rich Earth Jewelry

During my recent visit to my home country of the Philippines, I finally got the chance to meet Rica Banares Manuel in person, the Manila-based boss babe and creator behind Rich Earth Jewelry. Rich Earth Jewelry is particularly special to me, not only because of their gorgeous, hand-crafted jewelry, but because of their mission to promote sustainable luxury and social good. 

Rich Earth Jewelry is made with 24K gold plated aluminum metal and devastation free, semi-precious stones sourced through socially responsible procedures. According to their website: 

Aluminum is Rich Earth Jewelry's metal of choice for its dedication in promoting a conscious effort on protecting the environment and passion for social responsibility. This type of metal is highly sustainable for it is 100 percent-recyclable, without compromising quality. It is currently the third most recycled material in the world. Aside from its lightweight feature, Aluminum is a non-toxic metal. It is lead and nickel free, so it won't tarnish nor cause skin discoloration.
 

In addition to their partnership with Save Philippine Seas, Rich Earth also seeks to give back to communities through partnerships with other individuals and organizations committed to bringing more good to societies across the globe. 

Intrigued? Check out Rich Earth Jewelry on their website, and prepare to be mesmerized. 

Smart Shopping Habits I Learned from Parisian Women

Ah, the Parisienne—the most revered and idolized woman in the world. Her elegance, her nonchalance, and her famed je ne sais quoi attitude has hypnotized men and women alike forever. But those perfectly masculine-inspired outfits and chic frocks don't just fall out of the sky. Women in Paris shop for their clothes, too. They just do it differently. 

As an American living in France, I’ve noticed a distinction between the way a French woman shops versus the way Americans do. And I'm not alone. Iconic fashion legend Christian Dior noticed it. According to his personal memoir, the designer, upon his first visit to the United States, noted significant differences. Among them was the observation that the American woman was often more likely to choose quantity in her shopping, while the Frenchwoman would naturally value quality.

To explore her allure just a bit further, let's look at how the Parisiennes make even the practice of acquiring goods stylish, smarter, and more sustainable.

Read the rest of my new article on Verily Magazine, a magazine encouraging women to be 'less of who they should be, and more of who they truly are'. 

Why Fair Trade Fashion is a Women's Issue

My primary cause as a changemaker is the cause for empowering women. This is precisely why I’ve also made a decision to champion ethical fashion and change the way I shop, because fashion largely affects women on both the production and the consumer end.

Women make up about 80% of garment workers worldwide, and are often some of the lowest paid workers in the world. In Bangladesh, women only make $68 per month (Source: International Labor Rights Forum).

According to this article by Mic, women are preferred at factories because of the following reasons: As Liana Foxvog, director of organizing and communications at the International Labor Rights Forum, explained to Mic, “Factory owners prefer to hire female workers because they believe that not only are they better suited for sewing with their smaller hands, but that they're also more docile and, therefore, willing to work longer hours for less pay, without organizing or trying to change their conditions.’”

On the flip end, women are also the largest consumers of fashion. This means that we women have the power to change the nature of the industry, buy casting our votes for fair trade fashion with our wallets. 

Next time you consider buying something, ask yourself, who made my clothes?

To get you going on the ethical path, check out my article on NBC featuring women-owned, ethical brands.

More brands coming on the blog soon, stay tuned! 

To shopping well, wise, and with women in mind,

Ruby

Curious about fair trade fashion and conscious consumerism? Let's work together to bring Glamourbaby Diaries to your school, organization, or venue this year!