Fair Trade Film Festival Recap

World Fair Trade Day 2010 is behind us now, but we hope that everyone had the chance to be involved in the day's festivities in some way! Thank you to everyone who sent in information about their own WFTD events, as well. We had responses from all over the country, and we were happy to promote them to our friends and network.

We participated in the First Annual Austin Fair Trade Film Festival. Three documentary films about Fair Trade were screened at the famous Alamo Drafthouse cinema. Handmade Expressions screened a pre-show video and our founder, Manish Gupta, was asked to be a panelist for the discussion: "Humanity and Affordability in the U.S.: Do we have to make a choice?" Outside of the theater, a mini-festival went on all day for the public, featuring Fair Trade retailers, food vendors, educational activities, and live music.

Handmade Expressions decided to give the public an insight into the craft of our artisans and how some of our products are made. We chose to highlight our Wood-block Printing group, who make some of our tablecloths and bags, among other items. We brought several wood blocks from India and trays of paint for people to attempt their own prints on recycled paper. Many people joined in the fun and came away with a greater understanding of the skills required to make the hand-printed products. Many left even more impressed by the talent of our artisans!

It's always exciting to be involved in our local Fair Trade community. We are looking forward to having more opportunities throughout the year to reach out to the public and our community, and we encourage all of our friends to do the same.

Fair Trade My Home, My Office and My Life!

World Fair Trade Day, May 8, 2010, is an international celebration and promotion of Fair Trade. It is organized by the Fair Trade Resource Network in North America. Events will be held in over 80 countries. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches, student groups, civic associations, stores and activists host events – including Fair Trade food tastings, talks, music concerts, fashion shows and much more – to promote Fair Trade and campaign for trade justice together with farmers & artisans.

Handmade Expressions is a proud sponsor of World Fair Trade Day 2010. We have provided the Fair Trade Resource Network with pictures, information about our fair trade operations, and other consulting help to make World Fair Trade Day 2010 a great success! We are also very involved in the Fair Trade Towns movement in Austin, and we are helping organize the first Austin Fair Trade Film Festival on Saturday, May 8 (more info below).

In honor of World Fair Trade Day 2010, the people who work at Handmade Expressions explain how they have adopted fair trade into their daily lives!

Theme for 2010:

Celebrating in Austin, Texas, on May 8, 2010

In celebration of World Fair Trade Day 2010, Handmade Expressions is working closely with Ten Thousand Villages of Austin and the Austin Fair Trade Towns movement to put together the first ever Austin Fair Trade Film Festival! Our goal is to promote awareness and education of fair trade business practices.

The festival will take place Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 12pm-9pm at the locally owned Original Alamo Drafthouse Theater on South Lamar.

There are three documentary films that are going to be screened, each dealing with a different aspect of fair trade. After each film, there will be Q&A panels with experts and community leaders on trade economics, social justice, and sustainability. Manish Gupta, from Handmade Expressions, will be be part of the panel of “The Price of Sugar”.

The movies that will be screened are:

• MAQUILAPOLIS
• The Price of Sugar
• Buyer Be Fair

Outside of the theater in the parking lot, Handmade Expressions will have a booth next to other vendors from around town. While we won’t be selling anything directly to the public, we will be having a wood block printing activity for children and adults! We have carved, wooden blocks that our artisans have retired, and we will show the public one of the techniques employed by the artisans to make some of our products.

If you happen to be in Austin on May 8, we invite you to come and have fun at the Alamo Draft House Theater in South Lamar!

Handmade Expressions Special Promotion

On top of providing help to Fair Trade Resource Network, we are also offering a special packet of items to decorate your home, with FREE SHIPPING! For a wholesale value of $200, you can get the following items:

• RMK 101 – Eco Shopper – 6 units $36 (OUR BEST SELLING SHOPPING BAG)
• HCR 107 – Multi Stripe Runner – 2 units $20 (A SUSTAINABLE RUNNER MADE OF NATURAL MATERIALS)
• IRG 104 – Honeycomb Rug – 2 units $36
• OTLWH101G – Green Tree of Life Wall Hanging – 1 unit $30 (MADE WITH ORGANIC COTTON)
• TTCN 101 – Table Cloth – 2 units – $40 (VERY GOOD SELLER!)
• TTCN 201 – Matching Napkins – 2 units – $20 (4 NAPKINS PER SET, 8 TOTAL)
• VKCC 104 – Tree of Life Cushion Cover – 2 units – $18
• 100 flyers FREE ($5 value)
• 18″ × 24″ fair trade poster FREE (only given to people who order over $500, we are making an exception here)

NOTE: For the cushion covers, table covers/napkins and the wall hanging, we may need to contact you regarding the color availability.

TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER, TYPE IN “WFTD2010 EVENT” IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THE CHECKOUT PAGE