January 24 marks the International Day of Education, a time to reflect on the power of learning and the barriers that prevent access to it—especially for women and girls around the world. At Just, we believe education is not only a fundamental right but also a transformative force. And through conscious shopping, you can help bring that transformation to life.
When you support eco friendly products made by women artisans, you’re not just choosing beauty and sustainability. You’re contributing to opportunities for education in underserved communities. From the sale of sustainable clothing to handcrafted sustainable bags, each purchase can help a child attend school, support literacy programs, or fund a training course for a woman entrepreneur.
The Link Between Economic Empowerment and Education
Many of the artisans Just partners with live in rural areas where educational opportunities are limited. Income from their work allows them to send their children to school, pay for uniforms and supplies, and in some cases, return to education themselves.
This ripple effect is well documented. According to UNESCO, educated women are more likely to break cycles of poverty, raise healthier families, and participate in economic and political life. Supporting sustainable brands that invest in women creates long-term educational outcomes that benefit entire communities.
1. Every Tote Bag Can Fund a Lesson
It might sound simple, but when you purchase tote bags from women-led cooperatives, your money often supports more than just the artisan’s income. In many communities, even small purchases can fund school tuition, supplies, and after-school programs.
Just’s tote bag collection includes designs from makers who reinvest a portion of their earnings into local schools or community education efforts. These bags are made with low-impact materials, making them eco friendly, functional, and powerful tools for change.
Explore more about how fair trade supports education through Fair Trade Certified.
2. Sustainable Clothing That Educates
Many of our artisans use their skills not just to create but to teach. Older generations pass down weaving, dyeing, or embroidery techniques to younger women, preserving heritage while enabling financial independence. Buying sustainable clothing supports that intergenerational knowledge.
Each piece in our sustainable clothing collection reflects centuries-old craftsmanship. When you wear these pieces, you celebrate education in its most traditional form: hands-on, peer-led, and culturally rooted.
Choosing eco friendly fashion that supports both formal and informal education ensures your wardrobe becomes a statement of values.
3. From Sustainable Bags to School Bags
In many cases, artisans producing sustainable bags use their income to provide school bags, shoes, and books for their children. What may feel like a personal treat—owning a beautifully crafted bag—can mean the start of a school year for a child elsewhere in the world.
Explore our makers’ stories on the Just About page to learn how these income opportunities translate directly into educational outcomes.
To dive deeper into how artisan income impacts access to schooling, read CARE’s report on economic empowerment and education.
4. Shopping as a Form of Advocacy
When you shop from sustainable brands, you signal that you value transparency, dignity, and opportunity. You’re choosing not to fund exploitative labor practices that keep families in cycles of poverty and instead investing in systems that empower.
Use your voice as a consumer to:
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Share stories about the artisans you support
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Leave reviews that highlight how your purchase aligns with your values
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Choose gifts that include education impact
You can also explore 1% for the Planet to find other businesses that invest in global education and environmental causes.
5. Raise Awareness in Your Circles
Education expands when awareness spreads. Tell your friends about how your eco friendly tote bags help fund schoolbooks. Share the impact of your sustainable clothing purchases in your workplace or community group.
Small stories have big ripple effects. As more consumers understand the link between ethical shopping and education, demand grows for sustainable brands that prioritize people and purpose.
Celebrating Education Through Everyday Action
This International Day of Education, let your choices reflect your hope for a more educated, equitable world. Whether it’s choosing sustainable bags made by mothers funding their children’s schooling or wearing sustainable clothing dyed by women learning to run their own businesses, every action counts.
Education begins with access—and access begins with opportunity. At Just, we believe opportunity can be built with a loom, a sewing needle, and a marketplace that values people over profit.
This January and beyond, explore our full collection to make purchases that uplift, educate, and empower.
Choose impact. Choose learning. Choose eco friendly goods that give back