Profile of a Latina woman with a pink flower in her hair, collage accents, and “LATINA” repeated in the background.

Fair Pay, Fair Trade: Closing the Gap on Latina Equal Pay Day

Imagine working almost an extra year just to earn what someone beside you makes in twelve months. For too many Latinas, this isn’t a metaphor — it’s their daily reality. That’s why Latina Equal Pay Day 2025 is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a powerful reminder of how far we still have to go in closing the Latina wage gap. At Lumily, we see this injustice up close — and it’s exactly why we’re committed to fair pay for Latina women and artisan empowerment through fair trade.

Our founder, Giovanna, knows this struggle firsthand. As a Latina in the corporate world, she was consistently underpaid and undervalued. That experience became part of the fire behind Lumily — a fair trade brand built to make sure women, especially Latinas and Indigenous artisans, get paid what their work is worth.

Lumily's owner and a Latina women artisan smiling together, wearing colorful handmade clothing, representing empowerment and fair trade for Latina Equal Pay Day

What is Latina Equal Pay Day?

Latina Equal Pay Day isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s the day Latinas finally “catch up” to what a white, non-Hispanic man earned the year before. In 2024, it falls on October 3rd. That means Latinas need to work almost 22 months to earn what many colleagues make in 12.

Behind that number are real women — mothers, daughters, and artisans — whose talents are undervalued and overlooked.

Lumilys owner measuring guatemalan colorful woven fabric at a worktable surrounded by vibrant textiles and sewing materials.

Why It Matters to Us

The wage gap isn’t an abstract statistic at Lumily. We see the ripple effects when women aren’t paid fairly: food insecurity, children unable to stay in school, traditions fading because craft can’t sustain a living wage.

That’s why fair pay is at the heart of everything we do. Every artisan we partner with earns wages that allow her to support her family, send her kids to school, and invest in her future. Fair pay isn’t charity. It’s justice.

Group of Lumily's Latina artisans smiling together in colorful traditional blouses, symbolizing unity, resilience, and empowerment for Latina Equal Pay Day

Representation Matters Too

Here’s another hard truth: Latinas make up only 1.6% of Fortune 500 executives. That number speaks volumes. It shows how few Latina women are seen, heard, or trusted in leadership. Representation doesn’t just open doors — it redefines what leadership looks like.

Giovanna knows this story well. She was an underpaid Latina in corporate America, constantly overlooked. Then she built Lumily from the ground up. Her journey proves that when Latina women lead, they shift power, change outcomes, and make space for others to rise.

When Latina women lead, they not only change their own lives — they open doors for others.

Two Latina artisans hand-embroider vibrant floral designs, highlighting the skill, creativity, and fair trade work.

How We Close the Gap, Together

The wage gap is massive, but change is possible. Here’s how we all play a part:

Support policy change by amplifying organizations that fight for wage equity.
Champion representation — in hiring, in leadership, and in boardrooms.
Choose fair trade so women artisans can thrive on their own terms.

Every time you shop consciously, you’re investing in women’s independence. You’re saying no to exploitation and yes to equality.

Shop Fair Trade Collections

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Moving Toward Equality

Latina Equal Pay Day isn’t just about pointing out what’s broken. It’s about choosing to be part of the solution. At Lumily, that solution looks like women artisans in Guatemala weaving hope into every bag, every hacky sack, every piece they create. It looks like a Latina founder who turned unfair pay into a mission for equality. And it looks like customers — like you — who believe that handmade can change the world.

Every handmade piece tells a story of resilience, fair pay, and Latina empowerment through ethical trade. These aren’t just products, they’re pathways to dignity. When you support women-led brands, you help close the pay gap for Latina artisans worldwide. Equality grows when conscious consumers choose impact over exploitation.

Fair pay. Fair trade. That’s how we close the gap.

Meet Our Artisans

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