Fair Trade
Fair Trade Clothing For The Conscious Consumer
Fair trade products offer an affordable, high quality alternative to mass-produced items for the conscious consumer. Purchasing fair trade products directly supports a more equitable international trading system, and provides numerous benefits to both the producers and the consumers.
Fair trade is a social movement that seeks to bring greater equality and justice to the system of international trade. Fair trade products are made in small production units and cooperatives and the producers are paid a fair and sustainable wage for their work. Further, the traditional production methods ensure that fair trade products are made with the least amount of environmental impact. The use of natural fibers, dyes, and other materials means that both the producers and the consumers benefit; the producers are not exposed to toxic and hazardous materials and the consumers can rest assured that the products are non-toxic for the person that is using or wearing them.
Developing countries are increasingly becoming sources of cheap labor multinational companies. Most of the internationally established businesses have their presence in either one or more developing countries and cheap labor is the main reason for which multi-national corporations flock to these countries. More competition in the global market often leads to increasing exploitation of producers in the developing nations.
There are many fair trade organizations that work in developing countries to provide an alternative system of international trade. These organizations work with the local cooperative and non-profit organizations to keep the artisan traditions alive and provide sustainable livelihood to the producer communities. Apart from investing in social programs to uplift the marginalized producers by helping them maintain a sustainable livelihood, fair trade also safeguards the natural resources and helps the cooperatives to grow and meet future investment needs.
As consumers, we can support such a movement by buying wisely. There are multiple contributions that you can make by buying wholesale and retail fair trade products. You can help:
- Preserve Indigenous Cultures.
- Support Traditional Artisan Communities.
- Invest in Community-Based Development Programs.
- Safeguard Natural Resources.
- Protect the Earth from Exploitation & Pollution
If you are curious about the availability of these fair trade products, you can just do a brief search on the internet to reveal the nearest supplier in your neighborhood. You can order many types of fair trade products from the various online stores that provide them.
Fair trade products have a wide range, from home décor to personal accessories and clothing. Such items are handmade by artisan communities that come from a long lineage of master craftspeople. The traditions of weaving, embroidery, block-printing and tie-dye are ancient art forms that will go extinct if they are not supported. These traditions involve deep knowledge bases and this knowledge will only be passed on to the next generations if there is a market for their products.
Fair trade products are fashionable, affordable and uniquely blend the classical art traditions with contemporary style. Fair trade clothing is made with numerous art forms combined in a single garment. For example, a fair trade cotton tunic can be made from hand-woven fabric that is then hand-block printed in a particular motif, hand-embroidered and finally stitched in small cooperatives. This means that four different artisan communities are directly benefiting from that single piece of clothing. Further, the dyes that are used are often plant-based dyes, and these natural dye techniques are elaborate systems that only particular communities have knowledge of.
By purchasing fair trade products, you not only support fair labor practices, you also get products that are made under high ethical standards with substantial savings and uncompromising quality. Anyone can make a difference by shopping with a little more awareness and effort. So if you haven’t yet thought about it, start by buying fair trade clothing and other fair trade products. You will be a part of a movement that truly makes a difference.
About the Author
The writer is associated with Sevya, an organization promoting organic fair trade clothing that is handmade in India.
Fair Trade – The Movie. An eq.tv original.
|
|
Asian International Trade Fair, Bangkok, Thailand 1966, Prosperity through Trade $14.50 |
|
|
Gourd Artisan Hand Carved 3″ Hair Barrettes~Hair Clip Set of Three Fair Trade $16.95 |
|
|
Natural Patchwork Tote/Gift Bag- Fair Trade Winds $29.99 |
|
|
Sand Dollar Pendant Necklace – Fair Trade Winds $27.99 |
|
|
Ladies Trendy Tote Bag Aztec Box & Turtle Lime Global Mamas Fair Trade $28.00 |
|
|
Ladies Trendy Tote Bag Aztec Box & Turtle Lime Global Mamas Fair Trade $28.00 |
|
|
Ladies Trendy Tote Bag Aztec Bronze Global Mamas Fair Trade $28.00 |
|
|
COTE D’IVOIRE GURO PEACE Fair Trade Artisan Hand Carved Wood MASK African Art $44.46 |
|
|
Colombian Tagua Nut Bracelet Crossroads Trade Fair Eco $49.75 |
|
|
Fair Trade Hat with Flower, Handknit in Peru $24.00 |
|
|
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Organic Fair Trade Shikakai Soap $15.29 |
|
|
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Organic Fair Trade Shikakai Soap $15.29 |
|
|
Colombian Tagua Nut Bracelet Crossroads Trade Fair Eco $39.75 |
|
|
Fair Trade Hollow Egg Nativity Ornament, Made in Peru $12.00 |
|
|
Colombian Tagua Nut Bracelet Crossroads Trade Fair Eco $39.75 |
|
|
Dangling Cluster Pearl Earrings – Fair Trade Winds $31.99 |
|
|
Colombian Tagua Nut Bracelet Crossroads Trade Fair Eco $39.75 |
|
|
Swirly Heart Dangle Earrings – Fair Trade Winds $19.99 |
|
|
Colombian Tagua Nut Bracelet Crossroads Trade Fair Eco $39.75 |
|
|
Leipzig Trade Fair Stamp East Germany 1980 $1.49 |
|
|
Leipzig Trade Fair Stamp East Germany 1980 $1.49 |
|
|
Rippled Double Teardrop Earrings – Fair Trade Winds $32.99 |
|
|
Fair Trade for All: How Trade Can Promote Development (Initiat Policy Dialog Ser $4.48 |
|
|
Wool Rug Hand Woven 5′x5′ Paracas Design Fair Trade $249.99 |
|
|
FAIR TRADE GRINGO HIPPY BOHO FLOWER KEYRING $4.74 |
|
|
Clothes: from Fur to Fair Trade NEW by Elizabeth Raum $27.78 |
|
|
Fair Trade Laptop Case, Handmade in Peru $36.00 |
|
|
FAIRTRADE WHITE ORGANIC 100% COTTON ETHLETIC SHOELACES $3.46 |
|
|
Mirasol Fair Trade Miski 102 Lilac Baby Llama Yarn Per Skein $7.95 |
|
|
Mirasol Fair Trade Miski 124 Red Baby Llama Yarn Per Skein $7.95 |
|
|
Fair Trade Painted Kissii soapstone hippo 3″ pink brown $7.82 |
|
|
– DEBBIE BLISS – eco aran Fairtrade 100% Cotton – Color #619 – Celery $4.00 |
|
|
Mirasol Fair Trade Miski 112 Green Baby Llama Yarn Per Skein $7.95 |
|
|
African Telephone Wire Mbenge Plate Fair Trade new twx4 $117.99 |
|
|
Fair Trade for All NEW by Andrew Charlton $19.49 |
|
|
6 Foot Fitted Polyester Tablecloth A new and economical alternative to using table skirting is to cover your table with a fitted tablecloth. Fitted tablecloths fully drape most standard rectangular banquet tables, and can be combined with other table linen accents such as overlays or table runners to take your presentation to the next level of elegance. These durable, machine-washable tablecloths are made of a heavier fabric than m… |
|
|
Molcajete – Authentic Mexican Mortar and Pestle $23.95 Our authentic Mexican mortar and pestle is handcarved of natural volcanic stone so it’s just the right shape and texture for grinding herbs, whole spices and rubs, and for mixing sauces and pastes. The molcajete is a must-have for Mexican cuisine including salsa and móle sauces. Each piece is unique, and a beautiful display item for the kitchen, too. Hand-wash. Handmade in Mexico. • Mortar: … |
|
|
Baronet Coffee Fair Trade Organic Espresso Dark, 18-Count Coffee Pods (Pack of 3) $23.63 Baronet Coffee Fair Trade Organic Espresso is a specialty Fair Trade Organic coffees that is dark roasted to develop deep smoky flavor with a rich finish…. |
|
|
Hurt & The Healer $6.99 The Hurt & The Healer is a celebration of that moment when these two worlds collide… the deep need for healing and the God who provides it. Produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckula,The Hurt & The Healer features signature MercyMe anthems, engaging pop songs and worshipful and intimate moments. The title track radio single is sure to find it’s place at the top of Christian radio to continue th… |
|
|
The Hurt & The Healer $1.29 … |
|
|
Blessings $8.99 … |
|
|
Fair Trade $1.99 … |
|
|
The Great Courses Video Series – Economics: An INtroduction Parts 1, 2 & 3. -9 Video Tapes Timothy Taylor is Managing Editor of the Journal of Economc Perspecties, an academic journal published quarterly by the American Economic Association. The purpose of the journal is to encourage communication and cross-fertilization across the many fields of economics…. |
|
|
Star Trek – Voyager, Episode 56: Fair Trade [VHS] $2.75 … |
|
|
Black Carbon Transfer Paper 24 X 48 Inches 4 Sheet Pkg – Reuseable $7.33 If you are buying any of the 29- series plans and need tracing paper, this is one to choose from since it comes from the same warehouse, you will save on shipping. Place our special formula transfer paper on your wood, ink side down, then lay your tracing pattern on top. Trace the pattern lines with a stylus or a ballpoint pen, pencil or anything with a dull point on it. Too sharp a point and you … |