Parker students, parents, and staff walk back into a place they haven’t walked in for months. There are bright holiday lights scattered across the shop, and pictures of people from around the world can be seen along the walls. There are colorful clothes on display across the shop, as well as the sight of different foods and beverages.

People are engaged in chatter and and cheerfulness, looking at the unique things that makeup the previously bare location. Most people in the shop just see it as an average holiday shop, but it is operated much differently than most would think.

Cosi’s leaving its famous spot by Parker at the corner of Clark and Webster was a shock to the community, but something at last has replaced it.

Chicago Fair Trade’s Third Annual Holiday Pop-Up Shop, at 2200 N. Clark, opened its doors on the November 26 and will close on December 23rd. The Shop works not only to provide things for Chicagoans on the holidays, but to make sure the people making the products have their human rights protected as well. It is the policy of Chicago Fair Trade to make sure that the workers they are supporting are getting fair wages and good working conditions, and that all of the products sold are handmade and fairly made.

It is unclear what will replace the shop when it closes up. “I could imagine Cosi was probably a very popular destination when it was across the street,” Assistant Principal and Interim Head of Upper School Ruth Jurgensen said. “I meet with the Alderman fairly regularly, at least four or five times a year with other members of the community, and we talk a lot about empty storefronts on Clark street.”

Some students expressed sincere nostalgia about Cosi. “ I would go there before every cello recital,” sixth grader Gabriel Logan said, “and you could see the pizza being made.”

The shop is filled with a variety of products, such as intricately woven baskets, unique necklaces and bracelets, and dolls, as well as all natural chocolate from real cocoa beans. Many of the items sold at the shop feature very vibrant and colorful designs, such as the shiny pottery.

Katherine Bissell Córdova, Executive Director of the shop, started her own fair trade business, and moved on to the board of the organisation a couple years ago. Córdova said, “Our mission is to educate people about fair trade, increase awareness about fair trade, and in doing so increase demand for fair trade products.”

The Chicago Fair Trade Organization has many other places like the Holiday Pop-Up Shop across the city. They organize a coalition of places, including educational institutions, congregations, non-profit organisations, member businesses, and individual activists. These different groups and individuals contribute the the Fair Trade program, in accordance with the ideals of the group: fair wages, working hours, and working conditions.

The fair trade organization works around the United States, as well as places such as Peru, Guatemala, Kenya, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, and especially India, because of the large population and fair trade problem there. Around 80% of the artisans that the group works with are women, a lot of them widowed or rescued from some type of trafficking.

“When they start, the women are really shy, especially to Americans,” Córdova said, “and they’ll come back a year later, and all of a sudden these women are leaders in their communities.” Chicago Fair Trade sends members out to other countries, to help gain better wages and worker conditions.

“A lot of these countries where these products are being made there is zero opportunity. The only opportunity is to work in the garment industry. There you get paid maybe two or three dollars a day, in dangerous working conditions, but people are desperate so they will work there anyways,” Córdova said.

Córdova hopes that Chicago Fair trade will foster leaders in the younger generation.

“There is so much more transparency now in the digital age, where you can go and see who made the product. I would encourage students at Parker to get involved, and would be happy to partner with them on that.” Córdova suggested the idea of a Fair Trade Committee for Parker, and finding ways to help spread more word on the cause.

Chicago Fair Trade is a non-profit organization, which means they use their revenue to pursue a mission rather than spread that money among shareholders.

Chicagofairtrade.org, the website promoting the the organisation, includes news, information, and a way of contacting the shop. It lets you know about all of the local shops in Chicago that are promoted by this program, and offers a way for you to donate to the cause as well. The place where Cosi once stood was empty and missed for a long time, but it looks like we have a worthy replacement, for now.