Boutiques are known for their sassy, trendy fashions.

While many women would die if they don't get to raid the tops at Chloe's or House of Avant on their lunch breaks, some women are indeed dying while sewing the buttons on these boutique tops.

Question. What if you knew that the pencil skirt you're sashaying around the office in, the one that gives you such a mark of exclusivity and elitism serves to exploit a child in Guatemala or a woman in Thailand, would you still have bought it?

As in most free trade markets, when traders transact without interference from government, there is poor labor regulation. So, this means that many times boutique imports are products of laborers who work extremely long hours, very rarely earning more than 50 cents an hour.

White Saffron, a boutique in New York City, has chosen a path less traveled, however.

Nestled in the heart of North Little Italy, White Saffron hardly looks different than many of the other boutiques that line Mulberry Street. Still, what's inside tend to surprise their patrons.

Nevertheless, with their chic cotton bubble dresses, trendy oversized clutches and finest handmade jewelry, they are still one of the few boutiques in the area that sell fair trade clothing, that is clothing that furnishes equitable pay and treatment for the producer.

"We love, believe in, value and promote handwork because we feel that handwork is a skill that has been passed down (tradition) and with modern creativity and teachings, we can translate these skills into creative fashion (accessories or clothes). In a way, it is organic," says owner of White Saffron, Ying Ying Chong, a native of Singapore.

Chong says the name of the boutique comes from the concept of translating traditional art into modern substance. The words White and Saffron are combined. White as a light and it is crisp, modern, clean and sophisticated. Saffron is a traditional, expensive, elegant spice native of Southwest Asia.

What will always set White Saffron apart from every other fashion forward, Sex and the City-style New York boutique is its call to social and environmental justice.

While New York may be at the forefront of the United States green movement, very few shops would sacrifice cheap wholesale to accommodate fair trade products.

It may mean that the handmade Italian accessories by Yena Design or thar Pamela Kay's origami-styled handbags that White Saffron carries leave you $100 or so lighter, but this forward-thinking store in New York City reflects "a composition of art, culture, fashion, lifestyle and globalization."

It is a mission that Chong deems to be the core value of its store; she takes it very seriously and won't skimp on it.

"It has to be from the heart. This is why we wrap our merchandise with an origami heart made from magazines. Each item in the store is carefully selected from our heart. We want to translate the heart (love) to our customers," said Chong.

White Saffron carries products made by international designers and artisans from Italy, France, Spain, India and Singapore. The especially enjoy featuring local and up and coming designers and artists out of New York.

"I feel that social justice is a big word. It all comes down to morality and love. ".....Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)..." It really doesn't matter who you are and what you do," said Chong. "If you are a genuine person with love, and you love others as how you love yourself. Justice is in the air, as its own. We can only set a good example for others and try to cultivate the culture but it would be impossible if there is no love."

One great partnership that White Saffron has made is with Nomi Network. Nomi is a leading non-profit organization based in New York, bridging the private, public and non-profit sectors through enterprise and education to end human trafficking.

Introduced by a mutual friend, Supei Liu, VP of Commerce and Product Development, and Chong both share some of the same passions in life.

"The passion she has to sell socially-conscious products is great! Ying has great taste and pays attention to detail. I share her zeal for wanting to make a difference," said Liu. 

Some of the other items that can be found in White Saffron are the Vintage button collection by Marie Jose (designer), handmade felt hair bonnet with leather and feather trims, the Abyzz spaghetti-strap drape dress by Desmond Yang (designer), and origami bloom collection (necklace, bracelet).

With 12 years of fashion experience and a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Chong believes that fashion can created by anyone.

"We encourage friends and designers who are out of job to create stuff for us. No one really [modern customers] appreciates the art of hand-making anything anymore. Mass production has taken over as the principle art of creation," said Chong.

Chong carries Nomi's line of Buy Her Bag Not Her Body tote bags made of recycled rice bags and cotton, but more importantly, were made by survivors of sex trafficking.

Nomi Network's mission is creating sustainable job opportunities for at-risk women and survivors of sex trafficking in Cambodia so that they do not fall back into an industry that exploits them for use of their bodies.

"We are about prevention and re-integration. By generating more demand for products made by them, they can have a dignified living and provide for their children, plus prevent the vicious cycle from happening," said Liu.

White Saffron also encourages recycling, fair trade and an ethical working environment in other developing countries like India and Thailand.

Something to note. White Saffron's recycled shopping bag was featured as the official gift bag of the NEWD Magazine re-Launch party in New York City on June 23.

"I feel that if everyone can do their bit to help. A little will add up to a whole lot," said Chong.