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What exactly is fair-trade fashion? Is there anything to it beyond scarves and beaded necklaces?
Fair trade is a unique business model that was developed more than forty years ago to create a sustainable economy for disadvantaged communities or areas that don't have access to the marketplace. Fair-trade indicates a trading partnership puts consumers in touch with the manufactures, where the supply chain is transparent and often certified by a third-party such as The International Fair Trade Association. A fair-trade label also ensures that artisans receive long-term trading agreements, living wages, fair working conditions, and, often, reinvestment back in their community through education and other facilities.People Tree, a label based out of the U.K. and Japan, really helped put the term "fair trade fashion" on the map. The founder, Safia Minney, and her team, partner with talented cooperatives throughout a number of countries and help provide design and marketing assistance to develop wearable, fashion-forward pieces for men, women, children, and teens. Companies like TopShop and Marks & Spencer have made fair trade brands more widely available to the public, too.
Numerous other labels have also emerged. Original Good has a creative retail and wholesale program, as well as an Ebay Community at Worldofgood.com that engages shoppers in conversation. Yes, Original Good offers scarves and beaded necklaces, but they also have bags, cosmetic cases, and house wares. I've been working with Allan Schwarz, the fair trade designer behind the a.d. schwarz line of jewelry and home wares, for three years because I truly believe in what he's doing in the area of sustainable development and forest restoration. Not to mention that his sustainably made products-from furniture to bracelets-are absolutely magnificent.
Ethika Boutique is another impressive business working with Pakistani women to create exquisite garments. I've also done some modeling for Lotus by LOA, and even though they don't have a clothing line, they do have lovely hand-embroidered silk quilts and pillowcases that I have purchased for my bedroom. I also absolutely love the work of for Koseyya which doesn't have a proper website, but appeared at the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris. The label makes clothes from ethically produced silk in Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. The pieces use natural dyes in rich hues, are very feminine, and well tailored. Any serious businesswoman would want one of their outfits in her closet.
Summer Rayne Oakes is Planet Green's fashion and beauty expert. Got a pressing question you'd like her to tackle in this column? Email asksummer@treehugger.com. Read her previous columns here.
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