The Founders
Virginia Dooley and Nicole Jones traveled independently throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America before becoming friends at the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies), while pursuing their Master of Science in International Development Studies. The two bonded over many things from the start: obsession with travel and exotic textiles, New Jersey roots, and a belief that they could give back to the global community by uniting fashion and sustainability. Inspired by the prevalence of fair trade goods in the U.K. and the lack of such products in the U.S., the friends started Rising Tide Fair Trade in 2004 to fill a hole they saw in the American market and to disseminate fair trade labor practices to mainstream shoppers. All Rising Tide Fair Trade bags are made with the highest quality craftsmanship and most eye-catching raw and re purposed materials available from fair trade cooperatives across the globe.
