Link Love from Home Ec 101

Ivy over at Home Ec 101 featured ghia in a recent post:

"Socially responsible products AND a Nashville connection? I’m so there, y’all!"


Thanks!

ghia featured on Keetsa! Blog

Keetsa! Blog posts about eco-friendly products and people, and they recently feature ghia!

Check it out:
Ghia the Eco Friendly Store

Press Release

Savvy shoppers have a new option for finding hip, socially-responsible gifts and apparel without spending fuel and time searching from store to store for the perfect product.

ghia is an Nashville-based internet retail store that offers jewelry, clothing, purses, and other items at www.shopghia.com. The store focuses on products that are socially responsible, including fair trade and locally made products.

According to ghia owner Christy Nicholson, "We are going for the twenty- and thirty-something audience that loves boutique shopping but also cares about social responsibility and sustainability."

Current product lines at ghia include:

• Lotions, lip balms, and candles from Thistle Farms. The products from Thistle Farms are made by the women of Magdalene House, a rehabilitation center in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Jewelry and purses from World Finds, a company that works with fair trade organizations in India and other countries to ensure artisans are paid a fair wage for their work and to foster economic growth in the manufacturing communities.
• Apparel and stationery from StarCat Designs, created by ghia owner Christy Nicholson.
• Earrings from Freckle Dog, designed and hand-crafted by Nashville singer-songwriter Ariana Terrell.

In addition to social responsibility, ghia also focuses on the affordability of its products.

"There are several great options in Nashville and on the internet for fair trade items or unique products from local artists, but affordable options are much harder to find. I want my store to be a place that welcomes diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, a place where anyone feels comfortable to shop, learn, and ask questions."

Most items from ghia ship within 3 to 5 days via UPS or the U.S. Postal Service. A few items can be special ordered, shipping within two or three weeks.

For more information, contact ghia owner Christy Nicholson at christy@shopghia.com

Vegan Shoes -- and They're Stylin'!

Thanks to Keesta! Blog, I just found this awesome site called Moo Shoes. The store focuses on vegan-friendly, cruelty-free products. The prices are a little high for my Target-leaning tastes, but they are fairly standard for cute, well-made shoes.

Check out one of my favorite product styles:

New products to check out

Howdy,

There are some new products on www.shopghia.com, so if you haven't visited the main site in a while, be sure to stop by.

We recently added clothing from StarCat Designs and American Apparel, including an organic cotton 'Peace' t-shirt. We picked up a few of our favorite bags at last month's "It's in the Bag" sale to benefit Blood:Water Mission and now our offering them to our customers. We also have new jewelry designs from Freckle Dog, by East Nashvillian Ariana Terrell. There are some new arrivals in 'Accessories' and 'Stationery,' too!


'peace' t-shirt made of
organic cotton

Fair trade? Huh?

Fair trade. Independent. Socially responsible.

What's the meaning of it all? It's easy to toss around some catchphrases, but do they matter?

At ghia, we think they do. We hope to provide our customers with a shopping experience that supports and sustains our community and our planet. Here's a quick guide to what some of these terms mean to us.

Independent: These products aren't designed by corporations. They are designed and crafted by creative types trying to make a living through art. Examples at shopghia.com include Freckle Dog and StarCat Designs.

Fair trade: Organizations that are "fair trade" pay workers and artisans fair wages for their work and ensure proper working conditions (no sweatshops, no child labor, etc.). These organizations also work with the communities involved to create sustainable economies. For more info, check out fairtradefederation.org. An example from shopghia.com is the World Finds brand.

Socially responsible: These organizations often are committed to fair wages and benefits for workers, environmentally friendly products, and/or making a difference in their communities. Examples from shopghia.com include Thistle Farms and American Apparel.

No, we probably aren't going to change the world, but we can try!.
Happy shopping!