The Cauldron

Organic clothing lines the racks at Revive.

Revive, a new boutique in Cleveland Heights, aims to promote fair trade and healthy, safe working conditions for workers of the labels they carry.

Owner Lisa Dunn decided to open her own boutique housing fair trade clothing after learning about where items were being produced and under what conditions while working in retail for six years.

"I have been a fair trade organizer for about four years for a local human rights group," said Dunn. "What I do is promote and educate fair trade as an alternative. Through that experience, I have researched lots of compa-nies on my own as to where I can shop."

Most of the lines carried at Revive are members of the Fair Trade Federation. "They basically regulate whether you are fair trade and follow the fair trade principles. In example, safe working conditions, democratic representation (you have a voice), environmentally sustainable products, and long term rela-tionships."

Labels available at Revive include Texture, World of Good, Ecolution, Global Mamas, Maggie's, Bamboosa, Goddess Gear, Tara Handknits, and No Sweat. Each company is against sweatshops and uses mostly organic textiles to create their clothing.

"All the companies here have a great mission," said Dunn. "A lot of them are environmentally friendly."

Maggie's is made by a women sewing cooperative in Nicaragua called Nueva Vida, or New Life. Clean Clothes, the maker of Maggie's brand, provides affordable, durable clothing that support their beliefs and values of humility and social responsibility.

"The factory [of Maggie's] is amazing," said Dunn. "It employs 47 women, all heads of their household, so every woman has ownership in the business. They built it from the ground up. They poured the cement and hauled the cement while working other jobs."

They had a vision of sustainable employment and really cooperative ownership. They worked these other jobs while they built the factory and while they built production. They don't make a lot, but make enough to live comfortably, eat well and send their kids to school. They have done it, worked very hard at it and now they are very successful."

No Sweat, another label sold at Revive, is all union made, including the tennis shoes and the tee shirts. Their vision is to provide sweatshop-free, eco-friendly and vegan products. Their "converse-like" shoes cost $42. They pay their workers a wage for living. According to the company, "Together we can show the garment industry what a real fashion statement looks like."

Alaffia is a skin care line sold at Revive. The line is made with fairly traded shea butter, which is the oil from the seeds of Shea Trees. Shea butter is known to be used as a decongestant and as an anti-inflammatory for arthritis and sprains. Uses also include wrinkles, muscle aches, and stretch marks. A bar of Alaffia soap at Revive costs $5.

Certified Jeans are coming to Revive this week. "This jean company has always used this small manufacturer in Texas when they run their jeans," said Dunn. They pay a premium to the lowest paid worker and are guaranteed $10 per hour. Their goal is to increase production to be the main company that is producing jeans."

"Those are our top seller," said Dunn, referring to "Knit Mitts" by Texture. Knit Mitts are like mittens, but without the fingertips. They are made of hemp.

Revive carries the "Deepa Bag" by Market Place for $39. The bag is tan with bleached circles embellished by yarn. It also carries beaded necklaces by World of Good starting at just under $15 and handmade journals by artisans in Bali for $17.95. The "Every litter bit helps journal" is made of leaves, twigs, and recy-cled paper.

Revive ranges in prices depending on the brand. They carry clothing for men, women, and children, along with accessories, jewelry, home goods, and shoes.

"Cleveland is actually the number one per capita market for fair trade copy," said Dunn. "We're really fortunate in Cleveland to buy fair trade."

Revive is located at 2248 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. Their hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. To contact Revive, please call (216) 371-2778 or visit www.revive-clothing.com.

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