Boston Apparel Company 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. To learn more about Just Apparel and our partner artisans, or to place an order, visit www.justapparel.org.
Customers can buy plain text goods on the website or contact customerservice@justapparel.org with their logo for custom logo orders.

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.