Rachel Biel, the dynamic founder of the TAFA List, (a vibrant community of nearly 500 fiber artists, designers, and businesses) recently wrote in support of Fair Trade organizations and initiatives in the TAFA member blog. Coincidentally I’ve been thinking a lot about my friend Novi, founder of Java Ixora, a member of the WFTO Asia. Last year I spent half a day plus a car ride from Yogjakarta to Solo learning about her business, and meeting the young people she was training and mentoring at that time. I am hoping to receive some unique textiles from her again soon as she works to support Indonesian craftspeople from her base in Yogjakarta. In the meantime, please see the “Bama” ikat pillows made from ikat she supplied. Novi maintains that President Obama wore an ikat with this pattern at some point during his visit to Indonesia in 2011! Not so sure about that but here he is wearing a totally, different but great looking shirt. More on socially conscious suppliers in a forthcoming post when we take a brief look at Clean Batik.