Category Archives: Fair to Others

10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue

10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue | Fairly Southern

Sometimes the hardest things to watch are the most important things to watch.

Social justice can be a topic that makes people uncomfortable, because it often involves acknowledging that certain groups of people don’t have the same privileges as everyone else. But we shouldn’t shy away!

What does “social justice” even mean? The term refers to a situation in which a society is just in terms of fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges.

Obviously, no society gets it right all the time when it comes to just distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges. It is so important that we strive to do better and make life fair for all people. To me, that’s a key part of what it means to be “Fairly Southern.”

Netflix offers a great selection of social justice documentaries that can teach us more about the injustices present in the world today and how we can push for change and equality. Here are my top 10 recommendations! I haven’t watched all of these myself, but the ones that I haven’t watched are in my queue!

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Target’s Fair Trade Denim: Does It Live Up to the Hype?

Target's new Fair Trade Denim: Does it live up to the hype? Unsponsored review! | Fairly Southern

I was PUMPED when Target released its first fair trade denim several weeks ago. When a major retailer like Target begins offering fair trade clothing options, it makes fair trade accessible to so many more people!

I decided to investigate Target’s fair trade denim further. How do you find it? What is the quality like? Does it live up to the initial hype?

I went to several different Target locations to scope out their fair trade denim options and tried on the pants. Here are my honest thoughts!

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Sustainable and Ethically Made Swimwear Shopping Guide for Women, Men, and Kids

Last updated August 11, 2019

When I first made my commitment to buy ethically made and/or sustainable clothing, swimwear wasn’t something I was worried about. I already had plenty of swimsuits and wasn’t in need of new ones. However, as time has passed and some of the suits no longer fit or have gotten worn out, I have had to purchase some new suits.

Below is a list of the brands I have discovered, including the ones I have personally purchased!

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Finally Finding Fair Trade Home Goods…with Amani ya Juu!

This post is sponsored by Amani ya Juu. All opinions are my own and reflect my honest thoughts on the products.

Napkin set by Amani ya Juu - fair trade home goods made by artisans in Africa | Fairly Southern

I’ve done a great job over the past several years of going ethical with my wardrobe. I pretty much exclusively buy fair trade or eco-friendly clothing items. But extending fair trade purchasing into other areas of my life has been more of a struggle. The next fair trade frontier on my radar? Home goods!

For some reason, my mind doesn’t automatically turn to fair trade when I’m in need of a home good item. When I say home goods, I really mean anything that I use at home, from decor to more practical items like dishes. When I need a set of oven mitts, I don’t think twice about running out to Bed Bath & Beyond and buying the first pair I see on the shelf. This is so different from how I shop for clothing, which is much more selective and thoughtful! Part of the problem is that I have no idea where to even begin shopping for fair trade home goods. And I’m ready for that to change.

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Southerner Spotlight: Making Fitness More Inclusive with Hannah Setzer

For me, part of what it means to be “Fairly Southern” is to be fair to and inclusive of people of all races, genders, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and cultures. One of my original intentions for this blog was for it to be a space that promotes diversity and inclusion in the South. Social justice is an undercurrent in many of my posts about ethical fashion and sustainability, but I also hope to publish more posts that directly focus on promoting a more inclusive Southern culture. I am excited to do just that today with a spotlight on Hannah Setzer, a Virginia native with a rare medical condition who is on a mission to make the world, and especially the fitness industry, more inclusive for those with disabilities and medical needs!

I did a Q&A with Hannah to learn more about her background and her mission. I can’t wait for you all to get to know this spunky lady! Without further ado: meet Hannah!

Hannah Setzer of Feeding Tube Fitness: Making the fitness industry more accessible for people with disabilities and medical conditions! | Fairly Southern
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Sustainable Sandals: Oka-B Review

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Oka-B sandals in exchange for a review. This review contains my unbiased, independent opinions.

Oka-B Sandals Review: Sustainable, Fashionable, Comfortable, Women-Owned, Made in the USA | Fairly Southern

I used to always choose fashion over comfort when it came to my shoes. Now, I won’t settle for one or the other! I want super comfortable shoes that still look cute and are practical (i.e. can be worn for multiple occasions). And, it helps if they are made ethically and sustainably, too!

I had heard about Oka-B shoes and had contemplated ordering a pair for about a year or so. Then, Oka-B reached out to me and asked if I’d like to try some. The brand seemed like it could check all of my criteria boxes, so I jumped at the opportunity! I chose the Quinn Sandal.

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Why It’s Important to Buy Less Stuff

This post is part of my Why Series here on the blog. I often write about fair trade, eco-friendly, socially conscious living, but I am not always able to fully address in each of my blog posts WHY I choose to live this way. This series goes into greater detail about my why!

Why It's Important to Buy Less Stuff | Fairly Southern

Personally, I’ve never thought of myself as a big spender or stuff accumulator. However, after reading Jen Hatmaker’s book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess several years ago, I began to turn a critical eye to what I was purchasing. Clothes, beauty products, home decor: It’s all stuff. I began to realize that perhaps I was buying more stuff than I realized, even if it didn’t necessarily seem like a ton in comparison to other Americans in my demographic. I began to consciously scale back my shopping habit.

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Snakeskin, Styled Two Ways

If you’ve gone clothes shopping lately, you may have noticed a new trend hitting the racks: snakeskin! This animal pattern is popping up everywhere. Unsure about how to wear it? I’ve teamed up with my favorite ethical fashion boutique, The Flourish Market, to show you a couple of different ways to style this versatile pattern! (And I’ve got a coupon link for 15% off your first order at The Flourish Market, too!)

Y’all have been asking me for outfit styling posts for a while now. While I often blog about fashion, I come at the topic from more of a social and environmental justice perspective. I don’t actually consider myself much of a fashion expert! So, I asked Katy, Chief of Style at The Flourish Market, to help show me (and y’all!) different ways to wear one of the latest trends in the fashion world, all while keeping it ethical! (You can read more here about why I choose to purchase ethically made clothing.)

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