Solidarity eXchange Launches New Ethical Commerce Platform

MILFORD, Mass., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizations purchase an estimated $50 billion annually in custom merchandise made in sweatshops. This May Day (also known as International Workers' Day), Solidarity eXchange (http://solidarityexchange.com) offers activists a way to challenge this status quo.

Solidarity eXchange (SX) is a sales organization engaging members in direct action in support of the sweatfree, labor, buy local, fair trade, and environmental movements. Members earn money by creating demand for ethically produced, custom-designed, and embellished merchandise, including apparel, stickers, mugs, and a variety of other products.

The program supports unions and other social justice organizations by consolidating buying power and increasing the demand for ethical goods.

Solidarity eXchange was developed by visionaries in Ethix Ventures, Inc. (http://ethixventures.com), including co-founder and industry expert Kevin O'Brien. "Solidarity eXchange exists to advance the movements for social and environmental justice. Activists refuse to believe that the status quo is all we can attain. By combining that idealism with industry education and the opportunity to make a living, Solidarity eXchange makes a unique and important contribution," says O'Brien.

The SX regional pilot program focuses on colleges in the New England area, though applications have been accepted from around the country, and members do not need to be college students. Robert J. S. Ross, activist-academic at Clark University, author of Slaves to Fashion, and mentor to Solidarity eXchange, has spoken internationally about the need for unions in the apparel industry.

"The Solidarity eXchange concept is built on both early and current, successful anti-sweatshop campaigns, and the urgent need to address climate chaos," Dr. Ross says. "People are already having grassroots conversations about the need for good jobs and environmentalism - Solidarity eXchange is one more way to take this message to the streets."

SX may well be the first opportunity for activists to earn money while receiving education and training about the ethics of supply chains, including all the steps of production and delivery from the raw materials to the final consumer product.

Aria DiSalvo, program organizer, explains, "During my time in the university community, I was balancing work and school with activism. Today, a student or activist could work with Solidarity eXchange to earn money while promoting tangible ethical values. Ethical commerce can be part of someone's multifaceted approach to solving the issues we face."

Solidarity eXchange details are online and the fellowship program is accepting applications for its sales team. For more information, visit: http://solidarityexchange.com.

About Ethix Ventures

Ethix Ventures (http://ethixventures.com) is a trusted corporation with the legal ability to conduct commerce and the spirit to do it thoughtfully. It is operated by successful activists, academics, and empowered leaders who share the Sweatfree vision. The company was founded by three partners who met while working on the SweatX project (http://www.sweatx.net) for Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's.  

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SOURCE Ethix Ventures