Trip to India Inspires Fair Trade Business
Written by Olivia Putnal Thursday, August 25 2011
Snapshot: Maureen Dunn, founder, Mata Traders
Maureen Dunn, entrepreneur, fashion guru, and fair trade advocate, is cofounder of Mata Traders. Inspired by a trip to India in 2003, Dunn works with fair trade companies in India and Nepal to provide her customers with affordable yet stylish clothes and accessories, all made by workers from honest producer groups.
Mata Traders sells online, but Dunn also concentrates her business efforts toward independent boutiques, fair trade stores, off-site events, and festivals.
Womenetics: Articulate your dream in building this business – who or what inspired you?
Maureen Dunn: On my first trip to India, I met some interesting and enlightened women business owners and importers. I met some women from different parts of the world, and their wisdom and lifestyle really inspired me. It was a gradual conceptualization. It didn't start out with a master plan, but I was constantly connecting the dots among my passion for travel, textiles, and my nature as a seller – I love to sell things. It was a synergy of all the things that I love and that I’m good at. I knew that I wanted to do something that helped people – something with a social mission.
Womenetics: What has been your biggest challenge?
Dunn: Growing the business and spending time on it without startup capital. It was hard to get it up and running and support myself until it was a successful model. I started small and from the ground up – selling directly to the public at street fairs in the summer. I got to test the products, price points, and the styles before I transitioned into wholesale.
Womenetics: Who has inspired or mentored you the most?
Dunn: The collection of women I know with similar businesses. We rely on each other, collaborate together, and share ideas – it’s one of the neat things about the fair trade community in Chicago. We are all connected.
Womenetics: How are you marketing Mata Traders?
Dunn: As a fair trade clothing brand with a stylish bohemian look. The style consists of cute and playful dresses and accessories that are hard to live without. I generally look at it like this – products first, mission second.
Womenetics: What is your sales channel?
Dunn: We have several sales channels. The majority of our business is wholesale – selling our product to independent boutiques and fair trade stores through trade shows and catalog mailings. We also do direct retail at off-site events and festivals. We don't have a brick-and-mortar store and are always online.
Womenetics: What new styles and trends do you anticipate to have for the fall season?
Dunn: I’ve seen a lot of high-waisted Ikat skirts paired with leggings and boots, long dangly necklaces, tops embellished at the yoke for holiday parties, and wide-leg trousers.
Womenetics: Your mission states: “To work with organizations that educate, employ, and empower women.” What are some of these organizations that you love the most?
Dunn: The producer groups in India and Nepal that handcraft our products. They are like family to me, and I’m continually inspired by the women who work at these cooperatives. It always amazes me that no matter how traditional a background they have, they are able to learn the skill set and can begin to make their own money. They love their work, being active, having a voice, and being challenged, not to mention they transfer this power and confidence to their family situations and their community.
Womenetics: Your items are all affordable yet unique and beautiful. Was having affordable pricing for your products a mission too?
Dunn: Definitely – I'm really passionate about creating products that can compete in the marketplace, and I wanted to create a line that I could afford to buy. I didn't want to price the average person out of fair trade products. I also work to create designs that are affordable. I start from the price and use materials that fit.
Womenetics: What do you think is the biggest challenge for female entrepreneurs? Did anyone ever tell you that you couldn’t do it?
Dunn: The biggest challenges are taking the risks associated with owning your own business, believing in yourself, and having confidence. One of the best things about my work is that we have a staff of six and we're all women. This didn't happen deliberately, but it is a space where we all feel safe and creative in a very collaborative environment.
Womenetics: Do you take time for yourself, and, if so, what do you like to do?
Dunn: I like to spend time with friends, read, and see movies. I love working out in the mornings at the gym with my colleague Jonit.
Olivia Putnal is a writer and editor in Atlanta. She formerly wrote web articles and blogs for WomansDay.com in the areas of health, fitness, beauty, fashion, entertainment, news, and food.
