Costumes with a Cause

Everybody loves to dress up for Halloween. Some choose something scary like vampires, witches, and black cats, while others choose fantasy like fairies and elves, while still others go for pop culture references. Whatever the costume, Halloween is always a fun time.  But is there a way to make Halloween a learning experience? Have you ever thought of a costume with a meaning? Since it is Fair Trade Month, we thought we’d come up with a few costume ideas that have a cause. The following are some fun ideas that are sure to get the party conversation started.

Costumes with a Cause

1) Fair Trade Logo:  Dress up as the Fair Trade Certified Logo. An easy way to do this would be to sew together a stretch suit of black and white. You can also carry two coffee mugs, one black, one white . And if you want to drive home the message, consider carrying a sign that says “Fair Trade Certified.” That way when people ask what you are, you can explain Fair Trade in general.

2) Fair Trade Farmer: Dress in some work clothes and a farming hat. Make sure to look healthy, happy, and well fed. You could also carry some farm tools and a sign with the Fair Trade logo on it. If someone says, “Oh you’re a farmer!” you can respond that you are actually a “Fair Trade farmer.”

3) Fair Trade Coffee: Probably the single most recognized Fair Trade product is coffee. Find a burlap sack or a large coffee bean bag and turn it into a dress. You can add coffee beans to the outside for extra effect and be sure to add the “Fair Trade Certified” logo!

4) Sweatshop Worker: In case you want to show what can happen without Fair Trade certification, dress up in your best interpretation of an overworked and underpaid sweatshop worker. Find some factory worker’s uniform. Be sure to put bags under your

eyes and dirty your clothes. You could even go barefoot for extra effect. Another great idea for a couple’s costume is for one to go as a sweatshop worker while the other goes as a happy Fair Trade farmer. You’ll be sure to get the party conversation started that way!

5) Fair Trade Head to Toe: Dress in Fair Trade clothing from head to toe and represent Fair Trade Month. You can find Fair Trade goods in almost everything from jewelry, hats, tees, pants, dresses, and even shoes!  When someone asks you what you are supposed to be, explain you are a walking example of Fair Trade Month!

 

Reverse Trick or Treating

Before long we will all hear that age old adage of “Trick or Treat?” as the small ones dressed in their best witch and pirate costumes will hold out a pillowcase in hopes of receiving chocolate. But what if we mixed it up a bit this year?! Global Exchange is promoting a new way to celebrate Halloween, while promoting a great idea: Reverse Trick or Treating. The idea is to have each Trick or Treater hand out Fair Trade Chocolate with an informational card about Fair Trade to each house they visit on Halloween. What a great way to spread the message, and really who is going to turn down a piece of Fair Trade Chocolate? 

Global Exchange was providing kits for free, however, due to the popularity of the idea they have run out! Never fear though, you can request the informational cards from them and buy some delicious Fair Trade chocolate from Equal Exchange or other Fair Trade Chocolate companies. Also, Equal Exchange has posted the informational cards online in English and Spanish and you can order chocolates to hand out.  Also, Global Exchange sells a Halloween themed Fair Trade Action Kit which includes mini Fair Trade chocolates, postcards, Eco-friendly trick or treating bag, and a Fair Trade poster to hang up!

Whether you are taking your littlest family members out to gather sweets or if you are at home passing out candy, please consider spreading the Fair Trade message. Unfortunately, conventional chocolate companies are known for various labor and environmental abuses. Seriously, there is no better way to educate others on the perks of Fair Trade chocolate than to give them out on an American holiday now centered around candy. Enjoy your Fair Trade Halloween!

 

A Green Halloween

Halloween is coming up this Friday and if you’re looking to make this year’s monster bash a little more ethical, than we’re here to help! You don’t have to succumb to the holiday’s unhealthy consumption-driven tendencies. Check out these creative ideas on how to make your pumpkin a little greener this year and get ready to have the best Hallow’s Eve ever!

Go Organic: We were tickled pink (or orange?) to find out from New York Times blogger Kate Galbraith that there IS such a thing as an organic pumpkin!  Call up your local farm or pick-your-own organization and see what they’ve got before swinging by the ‘seasonal’ aisle of the grocery store like usual.

Go Vintage: Why bother buying a new plastic costume every year, when the best costumes are usually found at vintage stores?  Buying vintage not only recycles clothing thus keeping them out of landfills, but supports local business and your local economy.  If you don’t have a vintage store near you, check our Grandma’s closet.  You never know what kind of goodies you’ll find in there!

Exercise Your DIY: Even better than buying vintage is making a costume yourself!  Rather than tossing those old scraps, foils, empty beer cans, and rags in the trash, re-use them and let your creativity go wild.  Anything goes when it comes to building your own and you’ll have a ton of fun in the process.

Buy Fair Trade: Skip the Reese’s and M&M’s and instead buy Fair Trade chocolate.  There are a ton of ethical, independent businesses out there offering super yummy Fair Trade-certified and organic chocolate bars.  Check out your local markets and gift stores for these products.  You’ll be surprised at the great stuff you find there!  Some of our favorites include Equal Exchange, Theo and Alter Eco.

Reverse trick-or-treating: Join the leagues of Global Exchange and the International Labor Rights Forum and make Halloween a meaningful holiday of solidarity, activism and education.  Rather than encouraging your kids to go out and take candy, youngin’s participating in reverse trick-or-treating hand the adults at the door a Fair Trade chocolate with an educational card.  The goal of reverse trick-or-treating is to raise awareness, especially amongst youth, of the poverty and abusive labor conditions in the cocoa fields.

And after it’s all over and you’ve come down off of your sugar high…what do you do with the litter of candy wrappers, cardboard boxes and torn costumes?  Toss ’em by the wayside?  We think not.  Check out this cool contest from SustainLane.com:

1. Take a ‘before’ photo of your prized mound of rubbish for posterity.
2. Make something cool. Check out these candy wrapper purses from Ecoist for inspiration.
3. Take an ‘after’ photo and blog about your creation on SustainLane.com
4. SustainLane will evaluate all entries received by November 15 and the winner will receive a reusable bottle from Klean Kanteen.

Not digging that much effort?  Then donate your wrappers to the Candy Wrapper Museum and hang up your witches hat ’til next year!