Fair Trade is Fashionable

In 2006, Brussels Fashion Fairs (www.bff.be) has initiated an ambitious project. F3 is the name of the Fair Fashion Fair, giving a platform to brands putting fair trade high on the agenda.

Thanks to the Fair Trade Centre, 17 organisations presented their Spring summer 2007 collection, on July 23rd and 24th, 2006.

As a symbol of futility, as the pinnacle of consumer society, fashion is a vehicle of values that in principle are not particularly fair (not all people have access to fashion) nor ethical (textile companies are especially accused of social aberrations). Moreover, as a synonym of volatility and versatility and destined to short seasonal cycles, fashion seems difficult to combine with sustainable development, which implies actions on the long and medium term and a focus on ecological sustainability.

But with coffee as well as with fashion, it is never the product that is fair or ethical, but the production and the exchange underlying the sales of those products. Therefore it is possible to reconcile what seems irreconcilable, both for fashion and for other sector.

Fair Trade Fashion has the wind in its sails. It seems that a growing number of shops intends to start selling clothes produced according to ethical principles and manufactured in improved workshops. Fashion victims will soon scramble to buy the newest trends in fair cotton.

Afesip - Cambodia

Afesip is a non-governmental, non-political, and non-religious organisation that exists to combat trafficking in women and children for sex slavery, to care for and rehabilitate those rescued from prostitution. Afesip Fair Fashion is an income generating activity that supports victims who have been trained in Afesip rehabilitation shelters to return to a normal social life. www.afesip.org

Agrocel - India

Agrocel Industries markets agricultural products including cotton and promotes sustainable production, organic farming and fair trade practices with 20,000 farmers across six states in India. It pays a sustainable price with premiums for organic and fair trade cotton. www.agrocel.co.in

 Dezign - Zimbabwe

Dezign Inc is a screen printing company based in Harare, Zimbabwe with worker share ownership. Women make up more than half the workforce. They are socially and environmentally aware, subsidising training and continually reassessing all materials and processes used to reduce environmental impact. Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe - Tel + 263 4 755 851 - dezign@mweb.co.zw - www.dezigninc.co.zw

Craft Aid - Mauritius

The Craft Aid Project was founded in 1982 in Rose-Hill, its main aim being to provide paid employment to disabled people and therefore helps in their rehabilitation. Sir Edgar Laurent Street, Rose hill - Tel + 230 464 2922 – craftaid@telbox.com - www.craftaid.org

Asarbolsem - Bolivia

Asociation Artesanal Senor De Mayo (ASARBOLSEM) was founded in 1989. It is a grassroots organisation, whose principal objective is for women to get on a more equal footing with men by earning a decent living while caring for their children. ASARBOLSEM focuses particularly on women, disabled people and street children.  Villa Juliana Avenida Norte #250 el Alto Casilla 9380 La Paz (Bolivia) - Tel + 591 22831061 - srdemayo@entelnet.bo - www.senor-de-mayo.org

Getrade – Ghana

Getrade supports and co-ordinates local independent artisans and encourages the export of their products: musical instruments (maracas, drums, djembes), Bolga baskets, wooden decorative objects and furniture. P.O. Box 1260 Accra Ghana - Tel + 233 21 221 752 – fpsrosi@africaonline.com.gh - www.getradefps.com  

IFAT L.A.

IFAT L.A., Latino Americana de Commercio Justo, is the regional chapter of IFAT, the International Fair Trade Association. Products from different producer organisations will be shown: Sinchi Sacha - Ecuador, Estación - Paraguay, Comparte - Chile. Calle Lérida E14 - 13 y Lugo - Quito, Ecuador - Tel + 593 2 2527-240 - Tianguez@interactive.net.ec - www.ifat-la.org

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