Meet Meredith Blair | Entrepreneur and Fair Trade Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Blair and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My inspiration to create Artruism Imports began my junior year of college. I was taking business classes and seeking out an internship opportunity. I knew my ideal internship would be with a company that supported women and their creativity, but I was struggling to find an opportunity that felt right for me- and the clock was ticking. A friend introduced me to a local Fair Trade shop called Eternal Threads, and the owner agreed to mentor me. The opportunity fit the parameters of my ideal internship, but as it turned out, it fulfilled so much more- it changed my life.

Prior to my internship, I had no concept of the meaning or mission of Fair Trade. I had so many questions! When the owner explained to me the mission of Fair Trade- to create a world where all workers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods so that they can thrive and have the freedom to decide on their own futures- I only had more questions. I learned that many people around the world, particularly women, are paid little to nothing for the work that they do. These same women create products we buy everyday- clothes, jewelry, shoes, home décor, and more. Because these workers live far away from us, and because they are so far down in a product’s supply chain, they and their situations are invisible to us. Fair Trade’s goal is to shine a light on the people who create the products we buy, so that they are no longer invisible to us. I whole-heartedly embraced that mission and determined that I would someday create a Fair Trade business of my own.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The name Artruism Imports comes from a portmanteau of the words “art” and “altruism”, words I chose to highlight because those attributes are what sets us apart from other businesses. We are proud that every piece we sell is handmade by talented artists whose work is appreciated and are paid fair wages for their creativity and expertise. Celebrating everyday artistry and honoring respect and kindness for others are our two most important goals. Every business decision stems from those two beliefs.

One of the biggest challenges I face is educating others about WHY Fair Trade exists. Many people are unaware that modern-day slavery exists, and it is disheartening to have to be the bearer of that news to someone else. My goal with educating others is to never talk about injustice without talking about improvement. Anytime I bring up the injustices that Fair Trade is combatting, I always follow up that information with either hope or solutions. Whether the improvement is statistics I provide to show that the problem is getting better, or the improvement is a list of helpful ways that we can make real change, I will never speak about injustice and leave it at that. Thankfully, there are other retailers and non-profits who engage in the fight against modern-day slavery, so there are many ways that people can make a difference!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many great things to do in DFW! When friends and family come from out of town we love to take them to Main Street Grapevine. There are so many unique places to shop, a fantastic Farmer’s Market, and delicious restaurants. We especially love to eat at Harvest Hall- the European-style food hall has a great atmosphere and so many different cuisines to choose from. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is a fun experience for the entire family and a unique way to see the DFW area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is no way I could do the work I do without the support of my family and friends. Their encouragement means the world to me. I’m also enormously grateful to Linda Egle, who taught me about Fair Trade and the importance of creating a more equitable world through business.

Website: https://www.artrusimimports.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artruism_imports

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BKLv19TEz/