Found online at a shop called designers + artisans, the truly beautiful twirly dresses are made of hand-woven, indigenous Indian cotton that has a silky sheen to it, but as cotton it has a heavier weight than silk. Which means I'm sure we'll be wearing them well into fall with little cardigans over top, or long-sleeve tees underneath. The colors are spectacular, and the little touches of contrast in the stitching or the lining are lovely.
I love the company's ethics; the cotton is grown with minimal pesticides, then harvested in small batches and hand-dyed all direct by small Indian farmers. I also like the prices which are crazy reasonable for such craftsmanship. And of course, I like that I can just toss them in the wash--a good thing when your daughter wants to wear her favorite twirly dress three times a week.
Also, don't miss the charming child's purses that Grandma got them both to match the dresses. (Fortunately they haven't seen the cute girls' tees and hair accessories. Yet.)
At this rate, I suppose there will be a Cool Grandmom Picks spin-off site coming soon. -Liz
Find beautiful fair trade compliant dresses and accessories for girls online at designers + artisans. Official Fair Trade Certification coming soon.
