Hi everyone! I’m Hannah, the new intern here at SUSU Accessories. I’m a 19 year old college student here in Chicago. I’m attending Columbia College Chicago for fashion merchandising. But I’ve been considering switching to study fashion history. I'm very interested in eco friendly, and fair trade fashion. As well as up cycling and thrifted fashion.
So why is all of this relevant? Well, as of the past 6 months or so, I’ve been increasingly wrapped up in the impending climate crisis we are facing. I’ve been changing my habits pretty dramatically, reducing my consumption, and doing lots of research on what I buy and who I buy it from, especially when it comes to fashion and beauty.
One ethical fashion resource I like to use is called Good On You, it’s both an app and a website. So basically you can search up any brand and this site will tell you how ethical their products are, with a super simple rating system. It’s super helpful when trying to shop mindfully and ethically. (Check it out: https://goodonyou.eco/ )
But, still I kept hitting a wall when trying to justify my interest in a career in an industry that is so harmful to the world. The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluting factors in the world, not to mention the great cost of human suffering that it causes.
Fortunately this led me to SUSU Accessories. I guess it was fate really I just stumbled onto the posting as I was searching for a part time job. But when I saw the company and position description, I just had to apply. I have to admit, going into the interview I was pretty nervous. This is really my foray into the world of business, and so far I am really enjoying it! I must admit it’s been a bit challenging, and I’m still figuring out how to balance everything well. But, I know that I have lots of room for improvement and I’m looking forward to continuing to work and grow here at SUSU Accessories!
]]>When brainstorming about the inspiration and mood of our next collection, we knew we wanted to take things on a very different direction. While keeping with the amazing quality and authenticity of our products, it kept swirling in our minds the comments from some people new to SUSU, in which they loved the bags but wouldn't know where to wear them to, how to style them and even if they would look good on them. Invariably, every time I personally had this conversation with anyone, as soon as I put their favorite SUSU Bag on them and show them that "there is no rule or matchy-matchy premise" when using one, people fell in love and completely understood that these pieces were wearable art.
It was then important to us to make a more "grounded" collection, in which the whimsical soul of Wayúu Designs would merge with our every day surroundings, making it raw, real, urban...
Bogota, Colombia
I personally always loved the fact that the Wayúu found inspiration to their creations in the rough nature and landscape of La Guajira, finding art in the most ingenious of places like the "Head of a Fly" or the "Tripe of the Cow". Yes, they also knit beautiful flowers, but something about seeing the pattern on these mundane subjects and bringing forth their inherent beauty made us wonder about what would result if we switch their environment and brought it to a congested city like Bogota.
Modernist art pieces, ingenious building lines, patternless interconnecting roads and thick morning smog gave way to finding that allusive, every day charm of a city full of people and dreams.
We shoot the editorial this summer in Bogota, with Jenniffer, the coolest Colombian model with an earthy grace and incredible attitude; and Juan and his team, our most loyal companion and photographer, who has been with us from the beginning, understanding our passion for all things Fair with the Wayúu and the biggest champion of SUSU.
It was an incredible experience with results we could not be more proud of: a collection that shows the adaptability of the Wayúu artistic technique; how the #susugal, a confident woman unafraid to take chances, can style and complement her daily life with her SUSU; and an homage to the city, with its inclement sharp angles but with a soft, pulsing heart.
We hope you love it as much as we do.
Welcome to SUSU's URBAN FANTASY.
]]>Within my journey I have been blessed to meet like minded individuals with the same work ethic and sense of ethical responsibility. We partnered up together to make something amazing following the idea of THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN ITS INDIVIDUAL PARTS. Enter: The Guild.
]]>Within my journey I have been blessed to meet like minded individuals with the same work ethic and sense of ethical responsibility. We partnered up together to make something amazing following the idea of THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN ITS INDIVIDUAL PARTS. Enter: The Guild.
Laura Mcmahon, Emily Janson and Nicci Pain-Weitz, The Guild founders
Like with everything else in life, I needed to find the right partners, who understood the need for a place in which the conscious consumer could shop with their mind at ease, knowing that every product was carefully selected for their craftsmanship, quality and made with sustainable and Fair Trade Practices. The right partners, hard working and reliable, with the skills that I don't have.
I still can't believe I found those partners in Emily from Rue de Emily Bijoux and Nicci from Koluntu. With amazing products within their respective brands, these two very talented women not only shared my dream of making this concept a reality but they also have the skills I've been lacking to do it on my own:
Emily is an incredible jewelry and interior designer, with her own home being featured several times on Better Homes and Gardens.
Emily and Skip Janson's Outdoor Lounge
When I meet Emily we both thought "wouldn't it be great if we open a store together?" Our products and styles go so well together, we partnered up a lot, showcased each other pieces and supported one another for years. Very high work standards, incredible style and an eye for all things beautiful, Emily also cares deeply for how everything is made and practices sustainability.
Nicci is a South African expat from Johannesburg, with a deep love of ostrich feathers and a huge passion for all things sustainable in her home country. With Koluntu, Nicci brings a fashionable and sustainable take to leather and feather products, using scraps from the meat industry to make artful pieces.
Springbok Hide and Leather Clutch from Koluntu
Nicci's no-nonsense attitude, reliability and wit made me think right the way "this is who we were waiting for!". Talk about getting it done! Nicci was right on board with the idea of opening our own space, tired of the "rent your booth" places who don't place any extra interest in your products, other than collecting a fee. Knowing that she has a quality product that needs to be featured in the correct setting to thrive, Nicci knew that together, since it didn't exist yet, we would create it.
And then, there was me. A Colombian Electrical Engineer with a great passion for all things Wayúu, growing SUSU Accessories, a Fair Trade business along my partners, with around 350 Wayúu artisans depending on a steady stream of work from us, looking for the right place and project in which to give our handbags and accessories the platform they need to be really seen in person.
SUSU Maraa Tote from the WÜI Collection
Sometimes being good with numbers, devices and organizational skills isn't enough, specially when Emily tells you she has the idea of making bright pink beach ball lamps for the store! (didn't see it in my mind girl but I learned not to doubt you ever again!)
Shot of Beach Balls fixture at The Guild
The three of us got together, brainstormed over coffee, tea and good food, put the word out to some amazing Brands we knew and the rest is history!
The Guild opened on June 1st with an incredible launch party on June 6th and we couldn't be happier! Women helping women isn't only a slogan; it is a mantra with which we live and work by, helping each other while helping the communities of artisans who make all of our products. It is a place of gathering where we host many amazing events, partnering up with great charities and social causes, creating a collective environment of beauty and style.
Rue de Emily Bojoux at The Guild
Come and visit us at The Guild! A nomadic retail experience...
]]>
By Alia Ansari
Student Bachelor of Arts in International Studies DePaul University
]]>Hoda Katebi is a political fashion activist and blogger in the Chicago area that has had a strong influence on the way I feel about the fashion community.
(Source: http://www.joojooazad.com/)
Growing up I always adored fashion and wanted to be involved in any way that I could. Talking about my interest in fashion always made me insecure because it felt that many saw the work to be vain. I was first introduced to Hoda Katebi during my junior year of college through her article, “On the Political Value of Fashion”. This article changed completely my outlook into the fashion industry, inspired me to get involved and showed me how important fashion can be.
The clothes you wear make a statement to the world and understanding where your clothes came from is important. Although flash sales and on sale items can be beneficial, it is important to take a step back and understand how it can be ethical for a shirt to cost only $5. How were the individuals involved in the process properly paid for their hard work?
“Pictured: Clarissa (right), 13, who, along with her fellow child-laborers, is forced to work rather than attend school, and is verbally and physically abused by her employers. The farm is owned by Burkina Faso "fair trade organic cotton," aka Victoria's Secret's cotton supplier. 2011. (Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)”
Sustainability became important to me because although I enjoyed fashion and finding new pieces for my wardrobe, I knew my environmental impact was growing more and more with every purchase I made. I began to stray away from buying particularly trendy pieces as I knew they would only be recycled out of my closet within a short period of time. When I did want to shop I decided to look for staple pieces I knew would never go out of style or items that were unique.
Everlane is a wonderful example of a brand that continues to push towards transparency. Everlane is a clothing brand based in San Francisco, CA and represents the change needed within the fashion industry. The company will breakdown the exact cost of an item based off the materials, labor, transportation, duties, and hardware to present customers with the true cost and their price. Additionally, Everlane shows video footage of the factories they are partnered with and what conditions their employees are working under. Everlane is one of the largest icons of the sustainable and ethical fashion movement.
(Source: http://www.joojooazad.com/2016/12/on-political-value-of-fashion.html#BlackLivesMatter march, Chicago | July 2016)
Fashion is a political statement. Deciding to support unethical brands is a form of privilege. Brands are so focused on consumption and profit and do not prioritize the means of production and quality of the product. Refusing to support unethical and unsustainable brands is the first step to reshaping the standards of the fashion industry.
Get involved and do not support brands that do not follow proper ethical standards by referring to Katebi’s Boycott List.
By Alia Ansari
Student Bachelor of Arts in International Studies DePaul University
]]>By Alia Ansari
Student Bachelor of Arts in International Studies DePaul University
]]>
If you are unsure of what it entails to be a Fair Trade company, it ultimately requires that a company is fairly paying its producers. Fair trade is an alternative business model that focuses on the triple bottom line: people, the planet, and profits. More than 1 billion of the world’s population survive on less than $1 per day. Fair trade aims to combat this widespread poverty by providing opportunity for economically disadvantaged producers, cultivating transparent trade partnerships, ensuring safe working conditions and the rights of women and children, and focusing on environmental sustainability through all stages of production.
Ten Principles of Fair Trade (Courtesy of WFTO)
The fair trade movement is a global movement that prioritizes individuals and the planet. Being fair trade shows that we value what is morally right and put the livelihood of others above individual/company profits. Here at SUSU Accessories we value and appreciate the work and traditions of the Wayúu community. It is important to us that we provide our artisan partners the proper compensation for their hard work and dedication.
The Wayúu, like countless communities around the world, work hard to provide for their families and we at SUSU are proud to be a part or their journey, growing together and showing the world their beautiful skills. Each SUSU bag spends nearly forty hours with one of our artisans, each with their own story, family, and history.
Today, we want to highlight our wonderful and hardworking artisans in honor of World Fair Trade Day!
Thank you for supporting the work of these amazing artists through SUSU and buying Fair Trade!
Love,
SUSU Accessories
]]>By Alia Ansari
Student Bachelor of Arts in International Studies DePaul University
(Source: http://www.womenfitness.net)
Unsure of how to begin shopping sustainable? Follow my simple guide!
The first step to shopping sustainable is to avoid fast fashion clothing stores. These are the stores that mass produce trendy pieces practically overnight. Not only do these stores lack authenticity, they lack quality. Low cost clothing should not be seen positively! Shop smart and think practically!
(Source: https://media2.fdncms.com)
Second, check out your local thrift stores for vintage or upcycled pieces! If the item isn’t perfect, just remember you can alter it to make it more personable and unique. Thrifting is a great way to prevent clothes from being added to the landfill. Give someone else’s clothes a second life!
(Source: https://www.vir.com.vn)
Third, look out for how transparent the company is with their customers. Are they open and honest regarding production and manufacturing? SUSU Accessories is! Check out our post on Instagram featuring one of their artisans, Tila!
Additionally, what organizations are the company affiliated with? Try to keep an eye out for brands apart of the Fair Trade organization. Don’t be afraid to use rankabrand.org as a guide.
Lastly, the easiest way to shopping sustainable is to focus on investing in quality pieces versus pieces that are currently on trend. Quality over quantity!
By Alia Ansari
Student Bachelor of Arts in International Studies DePaul University
]]>Here is where I'd like to introduce the Wayúu Mochila.
]]>Here is where I'd like to introduce the Wayúu Mochila.
By definition, a Mochila is a bag used to transport provisions during excursions and travels, made with a resistant fabric, often waterproof that is carried as a backpack. Since most of us are not down with wearing a backpack or travel on the daily basis, the Mochila I want us to consider does not have such a limited description. It is in fact most often worn cross-body, leaving us with our hands free! Take it from a busy mom of two, living through Chicago winters, hands free is a game changer!
But not only that, it is so versatile that it can be used on one shoulder and even have a shorter strap.
Sofia Vergara - Image Credit The Daily Mail UK
It is true, there is only one Sofia Vergara, but any of us can rock a Mochila while running errands in comfy jeans, basic top and sunglasses. Forgo the high platform heels and choose comfortable flats instead and you are ready to tackle that grocery shopping list or grab some brunch with friends.
A fun colored and patterned Wayúu Mochila brings dimension to day to day runs with your basics on (black slacks and white top anybody?), making choosing the right outfit an easy task.
Going out? the right Mochila will bring a new flair to your outfit that nobody saw coming! Keep all your essentials with you, without sacrificing style.
Wayúu Mochilas are wearable art, not needing to be matched exactly to the colors of what you're wearing. that makes the decision to wear one that much easier, since it would go with literally everything.
Not into bright colors? no problem! Although Wayúu Mochilas are known for their vibrant designs, SUSU Mochilas come is a wide range of earth tones and darker hues that keep things interesting without compromising your personal brand.
But if all of that wasn't enough, SUSU Mochilas are Fair Trade and made sustainably and buying one provides steady incomes to the most talented Wayúu artisans and their families!
Be fair, look amazing and help make the world a better place!
]]>Then why do it?
]]>Then why do it?
The vast majority of people turned migrants around the world become one for one or more of a series of common reasons that are commonly know as either "Pull" or "Push"; they are derivatives of the status of their country of origin
(prosecution, violence, lack or opportunity, environmental disasters, displacement: Push) or what the destination country has to offer (family reunification, job opportunities, healthcare, peace: Pull).
When I decided to leave Colombia I had just graduated form College; I was young and clueless of what was to come. Too bad (or thank God!) nobody told me about how different it feels to have longer daylight during the Summer (seasons? what's that?, you mean winter isn't just a few days of rain?); or what it's like to scrape ice from a windshield when your gloves are cute but film thin; or that not everybody in the world has the same driving rules as in my country and I had to re-learn how to pump gas...
But judging from my arrival trip alone, why would I be surprised things would be so difficult?
It all started with my mom buying the biggest suitcase know in history for me (not sure why a bag as tall as me would be a more maneuverable solution than two suitcases in rollers but ok!); I arrived at EL Dorado Airport in Bogota, it being the biggest airport I've seen in my life. My traveling budget was $100 and my suitcase was extremely overweight. Back then you didn't google every question you had, and frankly we didn't know the weight of my bag was an issue. So here I am, at this big airport with thousands of people, with my "person size" bag, which was so heavy that my dad broke the handle just bringing it down the stairs of our house, ready to check it. I was of course told with a smirk by the agent that the bag would not pass the weight requirements and that I had to take some things out. With no other bag to switch items to, I was subsequently provided with an empty box to use as an alternative. I proceeded to open my bag and switch shoes, a couple of bags of Colombian coffee (gifts from my parents to my aunts, whom weren't aware that you can buy Colombian coffee in the US) and other items into the box. I'm not sure how I procured some tape but now I was ready to embark. Quite frankly, looking back, I must've looked like the clueless, young migrant I was.
I arrive in NY believing myself as "bilingual", thanks to the 2 years of English tutoring I received when I was 9, not counting on the fact that I had never heard English being spoken by an American, just a Colombian with an accent, and was shocked to realize that I couldn't understand a simple "How are you?". I stayed there for 2 days after which I had eaten, hanged out with an old friend who was living there and was left with $50 to make my way from NYU to Newark airport in New Jersey. Had I had a normal suitcase I could have taken the subway (train) to the airport; with my broken huge bag and box, I barely made it to the door to wait and think on a solution to my transportation dilemma: a taxi to the airport would be more than the $50 I currently had and my plane to Chicago was leaving in 2 1/2 hours. Your know, us young people love the drama of waiting until the last minute to do things!
As I contemplated my options or lack thereof, a young Colombian man I had meet on the plane came out with his suitcase and went to stand next to me. It was evident that he was waiting on a ride and I proceeded to ask him where he was going; "New Jersey" he said, "my aunt is picking me up". My instant answer was " I'm going with you!" to which he replied with an adamant "NO!". No? Who says "No"? Not deterred even a bit, I repeated myself over and over "I'm going with you!" to his continuous "No's", in the hopes to make him understand that he didn't have any say in the matter. You see, he hadn't seen his aunt in years and felt uncomfortable asking her to give me, a total stranger, a ride. Little did he know that this total stranger wouldn't take no for an answer since, in my view, God had sent him to me to help me in my predicament.
When said aunt showed up 10 min later, (in a pick up truck no less!) I immediately put my monstrous suitcase and box (I really think I was missing a chicken to completely nail down the "small town" look!) and followed up by introducing myself as her lovely nephew's friend and asked her for a ride to the airport. What could she say? No? My luggage was already on her truck bed! It is important to point out that said nephew continued to denied that he knew me, but his very rude attempts were drowned by the sound the car door made when I got myself in the car and shut it.
We made it to the airport in the nick of time, after a minor fender bender on the Lincoln Tunnel (thanks to traffic we weren't going fast and the cars weren't damaged) and I finally caught my flight to Chicago. When I arrived, I looked around after I collected my weary looking luggage and didn't see any member of my family waiting for me. I managed to scourge a few quarters and called my aunt. "Where are you?" I asked; "Where are you?" she asked. "What do you mean?" I said. "Which airport are you at?" she chimed. "How many airports are there?" I counter. You see, where I am from, there is only one airport, in which one plane leaves/arrives at a time. Therefore my parents (or me for that matter) didn't think to let my aunt know about my airline, flight number and overall itinerary other to say that "She arrives on Wednesday afternoon".
I looked around and asked a lady in my great-for-Colombia-bad-for-the-US English "What's the name of this airport?"; after inspecting me as the clueless, maybe crazy person I looked like, she said "O'hare". Information on hand, my aunt told me that they had guessed correctly and that I should stay put and wait for them to pick me up.
Thus began my journey into becoming a migrant in a new country which I love, a new culture that embraced me and made me appreciate even more, every day, who I am and where I came from.
]]>Depending on where we live in the world and which culture we adhere to (as well as your budget), your gift giving list can be as short as one or as long as every human being you have crossed paths with for the last 5 years. Even for anti-shopping personalities, the task doesn't have to be daunting and we can help the world we live in by giving sustainable gifts! So, where to start?
]]>Depending on where we live in the world and which culture we adhere to (as well as your budget), your gift giving list can be as short as one or as long as every human being you have crossed paths with for the last 5 years. Even for anti-shopping personalities, the task doesn't have to be daunting and we can help the world we live in by giving sustainable gifts! So, where to start?
Once your list is ready, here is a list you can use to pick your gifts and look like a champ with your close ones and the world! (ethically shopping, remember?):
LIKES TO COOK/ENTERTAIN?
Fair Trade Coffee, $12.95
Spice of Life Gift Basket, $32
Bicycle Pizza Cutter, $20
Of course, for a more personal touch, how about a basket with all these amazing products!
INTO FASHION?
Yakwool Scarf Large, $25
SUSU Essential Tote, on sale $280
HAS EVERYTHING ALREADY?
Adopt a Giant Panda, Starting at $3.38 a month
WANT TO GET PERSONAL
Rose Gold Horizontal Bar ID Necklace, $80
LIKES TO SHOP?
There are tons of other options out there (not listed here) to shop sustainable, thanks to humanity's gradual switch to ethically made. As great as that it, too many options can be overwhelming so I hope this guide makes the process more streamlined and enjoyable, and we can all look like champs when our loved ones open what we got them!
I'd love to hear from you if you have any other ideas, how your holiday shopping is going, what you think about this guide or just to say hi! Chime in below and let's ethically shop together!
]]>Being Colombian, but specially "costeña" or from the Caribbean coast, I grew up very close to a few indigenous tribes like the Aruhacos and the Wayuu. Those are only two of the over 100 tribes in Colombia alone. Being able to work directly with the Wayuu I feel a strong sense of responsibility in bringing awareness to how our products are made, not only in technique but also the human artisan behind them. Here is the story of how a rough journey sealed the deal for me.
]]>Being Colombian, but specially "costeña" or from the Caribbean coast, I grew up very close to a few indigenous tribes like the Aruhacos and the Wayuu. Those are only two of the over 100 tribes in Colombia alone. Being able to work directly with the Wayuu I feel a strong sense of responsibility in bringing awareness to how our products are made, not only in technique but also the human artisan behind them. Here is the story of how a rough journey sealed the deal for me.
On a very hot morning in Valledupar (as most mornings are there), we hop in two cars and make our way to Rioacha, the last city town before we take route to deep in La Guajira, where a very talented group of Wayuu knitters and their families live. Most of the Wayuu tribe live in the desert, an arid region in the north of Colombia and Venezuela and they are the largest indigenous tribe in Colombia. Like most indigenous tribes in Latin America, the Wayuu are subjected to government negligence which have left them with one of the highest rates of infant mortality year after year due to malnutrition, a horrible sense of desolation and abandonment and a truly humanitarian crisis.
In Rioacha we switch cars to "all terrain" ones, with expert drivers that know the region like the back of their hand. After 6 years of drought, the rains finally came; with them any trace of a semblance of a road disappears, and in its place, huge mud holes threaten to make an already difficult trip, a much longer one. In the end, we travel 21 hours to get to our destination.
Our team consists in Zulima, Nadia and myself, the three SUSU partners, Juan and Juan, our photography team and Marine, our wonderful designer. We bring provisions to last us a week and groceries to give to the knitters (getting their hands on food, even the conventional kind, is very difficult deep inside the desert), along with payment, for coming to our workshop and working with us. Along the way, we encounter dozens of people, most of them children, begging on the side of the "road" for some food. We are more than glad we brought what we did and hand out provisions at every stop.
After catching a few hours of sleep in our hammocks on a makeshift shelter, since it was too dark to continue, we move along and finally make it to the house of our Master knitter, Señora M., our host. She welcomes us with lots of charisma and hopefulness, which is a pleasant surprise coming from someone who loves and is so loved by the Wayuu community. She has worked relentlessly towards improving their situation but has seen first hand the abandonment by local and national governments, and how time and time again their art has been undervalued, under paid and even stolen.
As we are launching a new collection, our visit has several purposes:
We knew our visit was important and even relevant but we couldn't have imagined the extend to which it would change each and every one of us, for the better.
Expecting about 50 new knitters, over 100 showed up. Talented, beautiful women (and even two men!), hungry for work and opportunity. Proud members of a community that has suffer for centuries the oppression of those in power, but always fighting to keep their tradition, customs and way of living intact, and succeeded.
Playing games as ways to break the ice, working together and learning from each other, we find ourselves achieving all of the goals for our visit but so much more: the realization that what we are doing has real value; the renewed conviction that the Wayuu don't want anything for free, just a fair chance to earn a living and we can help them with that; the sweet pressure of knowing that we can't fail them and that we need to use our voices to create change all around us.
Leaving tomorrow, with over 100 new friends, work partners and their stories in our hearts, we realize that we are able to pay them for their time and work with money but the food we brought as extra gifts will not be enough to distribute since so many people showed up. We ask Señora M. to keep the groceries and distribute them among those with the biggest need. Her answer fills up with same amounts of sadness and admiration: "you guys take them with you, because here you will always find need but on the road back you will find misery... those people need it more".
As we make our way back, with our commitment to this community seared inside of each of us for ever, delivering the groceries to extremely malnourished children without hope in their eyes, watching a rail thin child bathe himself on a deep tire-print filled with rain water, I know with total certainty that we are heading toward a new tomorrow, an era in which humans, not things, are held dear.
]]>Traveling with kids doesn't have to be a burden and decisions like what to eat and where to visit can be fun to make as a family, specially when done sustainably!
]]>Being a mom of two awesome kids is one of my biggest accomplishments (they are alive and functioning after all!) and a constant push for self-improvement. It is incredible to see them grow and become partners in our family's decisions like where to go on vacation and what to do when we get there.
Traveling with kids doesn't have to be a burden and decisions like what to eat and where to visit can be fun to make as a family, specially when done sustainably!
This summer we decided to go to Barcelona, Tarragona and Valencia, three places with lots of cultural site seeing and amazing food. When picking our destination and planning our trip, there are a few considerations that helped us decide where to go, other than never having been there:
1. Pack light. For the first time in our family history, every one in our family brought only a carry on bag and a backpack. Well, I actually packed a few other bags that don't take up much room, weigh very little and help keeping my style on point!
But giving kids the responsibility of bringing what they need, pack it and take care of it gives them a sense of control and much less worry to us. We even asked them to bring their own money (dudes have so much cash from birthdays and christmas alone!) so they could buy whatever they like. I can't even tell you how freeing this is!! "Oh, you would like to purchase your 23rd hat that you will wear about two times? go right ahead! it is your money after all".
2. Great public transportation. Being able to move around efficiently can make or break a trip. Public transport is fun and sustainable!
It is definitively good to be flexible when it comes to moving around but a little planning goes a long way. By mapping out a cluster of activities within an area accessible by public transport you can optimize your time, see more while spending less time moving around, sitting on a cab or simply deciding where to go next. Add to that, kids get tired quickly and if you are past the stroller stages, nobody wants to be carrying a kid on a 85 degrees weather! Oh, and good luck trying to understand why Gaudí designed a fire place like a mushroom at the Casa Batlló when you have a tired kid telling you repeatedly how "tired they are"!!
3. Great food. So, picky eaters... It is great to have tons of options so you don't miss out on what the local cuisine has to offer while keeping the little ones happy. When planning your trip, there are very exotic destinations, with food worth trying but maybe too out there for the whole fam; that doesn't mean that you are destined to a diet of chicken nuggets and fries everywhere you go!
One great rule of thumb, have them try everything once; if they don't like it, they don't have to eat it! My kids aren't that picky but my daughter still tried sushi for the first time on this trip (and liked it) and my son discovered that he loves spicy octopus with olive oil. And of course...
Paella!!!
4. Kid's accessible activities. The whole trip doesn't have to be "kid friendly only" but I find that many activities deemed appropriate or entertaining for kids are actually pretty awesome for everyone in the family. We come from Chicago so we took a pass on the aquarium and amusement parks that we can find at home (I know, not the same but still!) and chose to go to places that are unique to Spain, with hearing and visual aids if possible when admiring art and architecture. Kids loved to be in control of their interactive experiences, learned a lot without even thinking about it and we all had tons of fun!
Emilia at the Wax Museum in Barcelona
5. Down time spots. It is possible to have "too much of a good thing", specially when on vacation. Sprinkling slow days into the vacation schedule can recharge batteries and set you on a path of success when wanting to see and experience as much as possible. We as a family love the beach and made sure to have a beach day on each town in between a couple of days of cultural experiencing. After a few questionably made sand castles we were all relaxed and ready for more!
Side note: on this trip, my husband got severe sun poisoning, my son got a rash and my daughter got a huge spider bite that kept getting bigger. Happily, each crisis was successfully averted; most Spanish metropolitan cities have a pharmacy in almost every corner and pharmacists are very knowledgeable and helpful. We would wake up every day and I would give the three of them allergy medicine, cool mask for my husband's eyes as well as diuretic pills to lose water retention, hats and sunblock for everyone and let's go!! I also bought the biggest beach umbrella I could find...
In conclusion, knowing your family likes is key to plan an amazing vacation but doesn't have to limit you in what you could experience, take a few risks, have an opportunity for growth, take care of the environment and have an amazing time!!
Now, back to work!
]]>Hi guys! welcome to the very first post from "The SUSU Gal"! I am super excited to start this new chapter with all of you!
Working with SUSU and making sustainable choices has been a journey that it's not always easy but never fails to be rewarding! and yes, you guessed it, I love handbags! and even more when they are ethically made. But, if you had to choose one, which one to go with?
]]>Hi guys! welcome to the very first post from "The SUSU Gal"! I am super excited to start this new chapter with all of you!
Working with SUSU and making sustainable choices has been a journey that it's not always easy but never fails to be rewarding! and yes, you guessed it, I love handbags! and even more when they are ethically made. But, if you had to choose one, which one to go with?
In a perfect world, with unlimited resources, time in our hands and closet space, we wouldn't have to choose... just get a bag for every occasion and call it a day! However, there is something fascinating about finding that gem of an accessory that can be used and used again, without losing its charm, perfect for (almost) every occasion, confortable, functional, affordable and made with high ethical standards, to add a hitch to your step every time you think about how much safer the environment is every time you use it. Ah! and don't forget, fashionable!
There are literally dozens of articles online that try to narrow down the field; I have found that those that take into account all aspects of life, (almost) invariably always land you with a "practical leather tote", with lots of pockets and zero charm. Not the best choice for a night out of dinner and dancing for instance... Not to mention, questions like where did it come from? who made it? is it good for the environment? are not always answered. So, where to start?
Like most of us, I love a deal in every purchase I make and when I get compliments on what I'm wearing I can't wait to tell the person how much I saved when I bought it! But when I started working closely with a community of artisans and seeing first hand how much people tend to under-pay them for their work, in spite of producing works of art under some of the most difficult conditions (no electricity, no running water, lack of access roads, desert weather...), I realized that if I were to be ethically responsible at work I would have to become so, as much as I could, in every other aspect of my life. See how SUSU works with the Wayuu here.
Why Fair Trade? Most of us understand the impact our choices make to our planet to some degree and want to help. The best way I have found to show people the importance of Fair Trade purchases, is by relatability: how much do 20 hours of your work are worth to you? We all value our own work, why not the work of others?
So, when it is time to choose your favorite ethically made handbag, here are a few simple steps to help you out:
1. What style to choose? When it comes to handbags, big or small, crossbody or short-strap, handmade or don't care... here is a quick guide in how to choose! once you've settled on a style (or if you already know which one you love) then,
2, Even if they claim to be Fair Trade or ethically made some brands simply are not. Look for any kind of certification logo from global entities like Fair Trade International, Fair Trade Certified or even more local like Fair Trade America or even Chicago Fair Trade. These organizations take care of the guess work for you and certify businesses in their practices.
I am a firmly believer in asking, so if you don't see the logo on the tag (when at the store) ask for help and extra information on the brand. If it is not available, take your search online; certified brands will always list their certification logo on their website.
3. When shopping online you can use a plugging on your phone browser like aVOIDwhich tells you which products are associated with child labor. It works with Asos, Yoox, Amazon, Target, Macys, Zalando, Google Shooping and others.
4. There is an app for that!! Apps like Good On You gives you a rating for labor, environment and animal treatment for most major brands. You can even suggest a brand they haven't include yet, discover new ones and find shopping deals.
5. Most importantly, inform yourself; switching to Fair Trade products doesn't have to be a hassle. Most of the time a few clicks will let you know how something is being made and at the very least give you a starting point towards making a more sustainable purchase!
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