Fair Trade

At BirthMark, we offer socially and environmentally responsible shopping. What do we mean when we say that? Let's start with Fair Trade. We are located in Media, PA, America's First Fair Trade Town.

What is fair trade?

Wikipedia defines Fair Trade as:

Fair trade an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods.

BirthMark works with many companies that are working within this philosophy, to include Under the Nile, Bla Bla, Fair Trade Quilts and One World Projects. Most other products sold are made in the USA or Canada. We work with local artists, crafters and artisans whenever possible.

What do we mean when we say that we offer socially and environmentally responsible shopping?

Many of the products we offer center around practices that are more gentle on the environment. Like cloth diapering and breastfeeding. Babywearing minimizes strollers and other equipment in landfills. Our wooden toys are unfinished, and we sell a variety of organic cotton toys and products. Organic means grown without pesticides. In addition, we do our best too: we never assume that our customers want a bag, and if they do, our bags are recycled. We offer a water cooler for parents to fill up their water bottles with. We try to keep the a/c at a minimum and open the door for fresh air. There's more, but you get the idea.

One of our popular items are dolls made by Blabla. Blabla's collection is designed by Florence Wetterwald and knitted by Peruvian artisans.

Why Shop Local?

Shopping local:

Builds strong, thriving and attractive communities
Keeps dollars in the local community
Supports environmental sustainability
Answers the needs of the specific community
Ensures accountability: the local small business owner wants you to come again and again!
Is fun and feels good!