7 Ways to Celebrate Fair Trade Month

Fair Trade Month happens every October, and it is the perfect excuse to shop with a little more heart.

Good news: you do not need a big budget or a free weekend. A few small habits do the job.

We are Lumily, a Latina-led, woman-owned fair trade brand in San Diego. For 17 years, we have worked with more than 200 artisan partners in Guatemala, Mexico and Northern Thailand.

So we know a thing or two about Fair Trade Month. Here are seven ways to celebrate it. Each one comes with something you can actually kick, wear, hang or gift.

What is Fair Trade Month?

Fair Trade Month is an October tradition. Fair trade businesses use it to spotlight better ways to do business. You can find many of them in the Fair Trade Federation community.

Fair trade means the people who make things earn fair pay. It means safe work and long-term partnerships, not one-off orders.

Think of it this way. Every handmade piece has a person behind it. Fair trade asks a simple question: was that person treated well?

It is not charity. It is respect. We dug deeper into fair pay in our post on the truth about handmade and fair pay.

7 ways to celebrate Fair Trade Month

Pick one, pick all or pick the one that sounds the most fun. We will not judge.

1. Start with a hacky sack (yes, really)

Our crocheted foot bags are made by Guatemalan artisans, and they are our best seller. Our founder Giovanna's team has sold more than 20,000 since April. On our biggest day, we sold over 1,000.

Our team grew from two people to six just to keep up. The San Diego Union-Tribune even wrote about the hacky sack revival.

Each one is crocheted by hand and filled with recycled plastic pellets. Prices start at $14.99. Meet the women behind them in the full artisan story. Then browse the handmade foot bag collection.

Here is the part we love most. Four groups of Guatemalan artisans and their families crochet these. Juana is our original maker. She leads a collective of 20+ women and has worked with us for over 15 years.

Never played? Our beginner's guide to hacky sack will have you kicking in ten minutes. Even the Wall Street Journal came calling about this one.

2. Gift small: fair trade for $15 or less

Fair Trade Month does not require a big spend. Small gifts count too.

Our mini foot bag keychain is $7. Artisan Juana crochets each one by hand, and she has been crocheting for 40 years.

Our friendship bracelets start at $3. Rebeca and her family weave them in southern Mexico. Friends have traded them for generations as a sign of loyalty. Your latte costs more than that.

Small gifts add up fast. Buy five bracelets and you have party favors, teacher gifts and a few "thinking of you" surprises. Each one supports a maker, not a factory line.

3. Swap one everyday thing

Fair trade does not have to mean changing your whole life. Swap one thing you use daily.

Start with your keys, backpack or gym bag. The Hmong embroidered heart zipper pull is $10. Artisan Nee makes it in northern Thailand.

Prefer something playful? The elephant keychain is $7. It is stitched from upcycled fabric swatches.

Here is a fun challenge. Pick one swap this month. Then count how often someone asks where you got it. That question is where the fair trade conversation starts.

4. Choose upcycled

Upcycled pieces are the quiet heroes of Fair Trade Month. Every piece is one of a kind.

Our huipil cosmetic bags start at $13.50. Laura and her team make them from upcycled embroidered blouses. Laura and Francisco have been our partners for 16 years.

Our corte foot sack is $13.99. Laura and Juana stitch it from remnants of corte, the woven skirt fabric worn by Maya women.

Upcycling also keeps culture alive. Corte and huipil fabrics carry patterns that Maya women have woven and embroidered for generations. Giving that fabric a second life honors the weaver and the planet. Want the textile story? Read our guide to Maya textiles of Guatemala.

5. Do your holiday shopping early

Yes, it is only October. We know. Your future self will thank you anyway.

Artisan Yulisa beads our ornaments in Guatemala. She uses glass seed beads and recycled plastic bags to shape each one. The hummingbird ornament is $24.50. The star ornament is $15.50.

Early shopping also means less stress and fewer last-minute impulse buys. Tuck a few ornaments into a drawer now. You will have thoughtful gifts ready for teachers, neighbors and coworkers. Curious about the bird? Here is what a hummingbird sighting means.

6. Wear the story

Some jewelry is just jewelry. This one is 20 million years old.

Erika shapes each piece of amber by hand in southern Mexico. The single amber bracelet is $12.50. Mexican amber comes from Simojovel, in Chiapas. Learn more in our post on Mexican amber jewelry.

Amber is said to bring good luck and a sunny outlook. We cannot promise the luck. We can promise the story is real. Each bracelet comes with a card that explains the amber and how to wear it.

7. Pass the story on

The best fair trade habit is also the easiest one. Our worry doll pouch is $11. It holds four tiny dolls in a crocheted bag made by Juana and Maria.

Maya legend says you whisper a worry to each doll at night. Then you tuck them under your pillow. They are small, so keep them away from kids under three. Share your favorite finds and tag @shoplumily. We love to see them.

Not sure what to ask? Try these three questions on any brand:

💛Who made this, and can I learn her name?

💛How are the makers paid?

💛How long have you worked together?

A brand that is proud of its answers will happily share them. We are.

Your quick Fair Trade Month checklist

Short on time? Here is the whole Fair Trade Month plan on one screen.

💛Kick around a handmade hacky sack with a friend.

💛Give one small gift with a story attached.

💛Swap one everyday item for a handmade version.

💛Choose an upcycled piece over a brand-new one.

💛Start your holiday list with fair trade gifts.

💛Ask "who made this?" before you buy anything.

💛Tell one friend what you learned.

Do three of these and you have a great Fair Trade Month. Do all seven and you are basically one of us.

Shop our Fair Trade Month picks

Here is every pick from our list in one place. Each piece is handmade by artisans we know by name.

How we celebrate Fair Trade Month at Lumily

Fair trade is not a once-a-year thing for us. It is the whole business.

Our name tells the story. In Tzotzil, a Mayan language, "lum" means world. Add "family" and you get our world family.

Our founder Giovanna started Lumily in 2009 in City Heights, San Diego. Today we partner with more than 200 artisans across three countries. She spent years in the corporate world first. She wanted a business where fair pay was the foundation, not an afterthought.

Some partnerships are older than our website. Juana has been with us for more than 15 years. Laura and Francisco have been with us for 16.

Meet more of the makers on our artisan partners page.

Fair Trade Month FAQ

When is Fair Trade Month?

Fair Trade Month is celebrated every October.

What does fair trade mean?

Fair trade means makers earn fair pay and work in safe conditions. It also means lasting partnerships.

Is handmade the same as fair trade?

Not always. Handmade describes how something is made. Fair trade describes how people are treated and paid. Our guide on handmade vs. artisan-inspired explains the difference.

How can I tell if something is really fair trade?

Ask who made it. Look for the maker's name and country. Ask how long the brand has worked with them.

Why does fair trade matter?

Fair pay lets makers support their families and keep their traditions alive. It also builds steady income, not just seasonal sales.

Where can I buy fair trade gifts?

Start with brands that name their makers and share their stories. You can also shop our full collection of handmade pieces.

Can I celebrate Fair Trade Month after October?

Absolutely. The best Fair Trade Month habit is the one you keep all year.

Keep Fair Trade Month going all year

You made it to the end, so you are already a fair trade fan. Thank you.

Pick one way from this list and start today. Small choices add up, one handmade piece at a time.

Next October, we will be here with new makers, new stories and probably a few more hacky sacks. Until then, keep asking who made it.