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Rituals are important in our lives in many ways. The ways we create and use rituals have the potential for profound effects, either positive or negative. The more conscious we are of how we create and act out our rituals, the better off we will be. This is quite clear when we think of rituals…

Mom always said, “play fair.” This is just one of the many lessons we have taken to heart from the loving voices of our mothers. Fair trade embodies the sense of fairness our mothers wanted to instill in us. A good mother wants to bring out the best in her children, witnessing them take others’…

An artisan embroiders a garment in the chikankari style for Sevya’s fair trade clothing collection. Heirloom Quality For the past few months I have been referring to some of Sevya’s finest creations as “heirloom quality” items. At first I was simply referring to the most common definition of “heirloom”; but after a little reflection, a…

As many scholars and thoughtful observers have so often pointed out, environmental issues are really social and cultural issues as well. This Earth Day, we at Sevya would like to take a look through a particular lens to observe some of the ways the health of our planet depends upon trading practices that respect the…

Young women enjoying the Holi festivities. It could be said that color is the spice of life. Consider what this world would be like if we only had browns and greys to look at. It is no accident that vibrant color is found in nature. In fact, most natural dyes are made from various plant…

After a long, tiring day at work our beds are safe and comfortable havens. Yet there is always room for improvement. For instance, if we take the simple step of switching to natural fibers and dyes in our bedding we have created a less toxic environment that could very well contribute to our overall health.…

When we are finding ourselves encumbered it is a great practice to become more playful and creative. This applies in all areas of life, including family time, work, hobbies, and whatever else occupies us. Such times call for an infusion of child-like sense of wonder and readiness for capricious fun. Here is an exercise you…

When I was in Europe two years ago I noticed something of a departure from the usual Western business attire for men. There were more than a few men hopping on and off trams in Zurich and other towns who wore scarves instead of neck ties. They appeared to favor finer, hand woven designs with…

Rose Tunic- Part of Fair Trade Clothing Collection by Sevya How can we make our holidays and special days more meaningful? One idea is to build into our interpretations of these special times deeper understanding and more compassionate practices. Good examples of this can be found during any holiday. For instance, during the North American…