I love a Trade Fair, especially a fashion one. At the PURELondon Trade fashion show earlier in August at Olympia London it was three Spanish brands that stood out with the best event bags.

CUSTO made a  bold statement with a Woven PP laminated gloss bag and webbing handles. The use of block colour and a bold graphic with a retro inspired lady on one side and man on the other  was a head turner.

Desigual returned with their signature graphic a paint pallet explosion of colour with a matte non-woven laminated bag also with webbing handles

Sidecar was my favourite in a gloss woven PP reusable bag. The design was a tutti frutti graffiti delight that didn’t leave a pantone colour out.

Maybe British brands haven’t explored the potential of a strong woven bag. These bags will make many more outings after the event.

If you want to find out how a full colour laminated woven or non-woven bag can make you stand out at your next trade fair or exhibition, please get in touch with leanne at Smartbags or visit www.smartbags.co.uk.

Smart Bags is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We stock a large collection of fair-trade and ethical gifts and jewellery.  We have something for every gift occasion from birthdays, Valentines Day, Christmas, Anniversaries and other special occasions.

We are currently offering Free UK Delivery on all orders, with low cost upgrades for next day and named day delivery.

Gift ideas include:

Handmade Kazuri Jewellery in many exciting colours.

A wide selection of colourful and stylish Jewellery Rolls from Earth Squared.

and a range of handmade journals from Nkuku and many more.

Keep an eye on our store at iadoreyour gifts & jewellery, we are always adding ranges from new ethical and fair-trade suppliers.

If you work for an ethical company and have a product that you think would work well on our Gifts & Jewellery store please see our new supplier page for details of how to get in touch.

iadoreyour gifts & jewellery is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

One of our main suppliers in India – Freeset Global- has been awarded full membership of the World Fair Trade Organisation.

In 2010 Freeset gained provisional membership of the WFTO and in 2011, full membership has been awarded.

As an established social enterprise Freeset has been committed to fairtrade principles and practice. Not only are fair wages paid but the business deliberately focuses on employment for women who have been trafficked and exploited by prostitution.

When buying Freeset products, you know that fairtrade is at the heart of the business and that the Freeset employees are at the heart of the business.

Well done Freeset!

For Freeset’s custom printed bags visit www.freesetbags.co.uk and for their range of retail bags, visit http://www.globalseesaw.co.uk/ethicalstore/brand/freeset

Freeset is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We all know that buying ethical clothing is the responsible thing to do; it’s better for the environment and protects producers in the developing world.  But are they cool and comfortable enough so your children will want to wear them every day?

At Boys&Girls, our range of children’s clothes is quirky as well as fairly traded, organic and ethical.

When we set the company up, we wanted everything to be “created with care”, so the production process had to be safe and fair for everyone involved – including your kids.

We’ve stuck to that mantra and only use 100% organic GOTS and fairly traded FLO certified cotton for the whole range, which allows your child’s skin to breathe in summer and winter and is perfect when  running around at the rate of knots.

No nasty chemicals, pesticides or genetically modified organisms are used in the process, which means your little one’s sensitive skin is unlikely to react to the dyes we use.

But organic clothing doesn’t have to mean boring clothing either! We believe that our strapline “more parks & playgrounds than paddocks & ponies” really reflects our range of easy to live in, vibrant and funky kids clothes. All of our clothes come in bright colours and bold patterns your kids will love – so they can feel confident all the time. Even our organic baby clothing comes in brilliant colours!

Thankfully, our clothes are good for you too. All of Boys&Girls clothes are hard wearing and can be machine washed, so you won’t end up with mountains of hand washing.

Visit Boys&Girls to check our full range of ethical kids clothes.

Boys&Girls is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Love Makes the World Go Round

Why not show someone how much you care about them and the rest of the world to by giving a Fair Trade Valentine Gift

• Say it with Love …………… Fair Trade Namaste Cushion with ‘love’ embroidery
• Say it from the Heart …    Fair Trade Bracelet – Dark Blue Glass Hearts by Manumit
• Say it with a picture …….  Fair Trade Namaste Mini gem mirror heart photo frame   

…and many more ideas for Valentine’s day at www.mimosastyle.co.uk

Give a little love to that special someone and also to the world today !

Mimosastyle is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Hi  Everyone – We are Mimosastyle Ltd – a Fair Trade on-line retailer selling fashion accessories (Handbags, scarves, purses, brooches), jewellery, gifts (candles, stationary) and childrens toys. All our products come from Fair Trade, ethically sourced or eco-friendly suppliers, many of whom are BAFTS members as we hope to be ourselves soon. We are delighted to join Ethical Junction and become part of the wider ethical business community.

so check us out at http://www.mimosastyle.co.uk

 All the best, Gary and Katrina, Mimosastyle.co.uk  

Mimosastyle is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

As the first Christmas tree grower on a global scale, Bols Forstplanteskole has succeeded in achieving membership in the worldwide World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

Although most people have removed the Christmas tree decorations and scrapped the tree by now, Christmas is not over yet in Central Jutland. Bols Forstplanteskole has just achieved a much-coveted membership in the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). The achieved membership is a result of the nursery’s long-term focus on improved working conditions and sustainable production of Christmas trees.

“Under the concept of Fair Trees®, we’ve worked hard for many years to improve working and security conditions among the poor Georgian cone pickers, who collect seeds for the European Christmas tree production under perilous conditions,” says Marianne Bols, proprietor of Bols Forstplanteskole.

So far, Fair Trees has been authorised through Fair Trade Denmark, of which Fair Trees is however still a member. Nevertheless, Marianne Bols makes it abundantly clear that the newly-achieved membership, which has been in the pipeline for two years, is a seal of approval that opens the way to future development. This membership is the fi rst of its kind in the Christmas tree business on a global scale.

“There is no doubt that it is of great importance to us to be endorsed by the world’s oldest Fair Trade organisation. It is a well-known logo around the world, and a logo that opens up new export opportunities,” says Marianne Bols, who adds:

“But first and foremost the membership emphasises the importance of the fact that we will continue our work in Georgia and intensify our demands in order to ensure ongoing sustainable Christmas tree production.”

FACTS: Christmas Tree Production and Fair Trees®
More than 80% of the Christmas trees sold in Europe are based on seeds from Ambrolauri-Tlugi provenance in Georgia. Today, Fair Trees has 25 percent of the harvest rights in Tlugi, corresponding to sixteen tons of seeds.

Fair Trees is a concept developed under Fair Trade Denmark, ensuring sustainable production and decent standards of wages and terms of employment. Fair Trees makes use of third-part auditing to inspect working conditions and the gathering and production of cones. Today, Fair Trees is a member of WFTO.

Fairwind is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

This Christmas the serious ethical issues surrounding the Christmas tree industry are being brought to the attention of the public in the UK. The UK campaign is being lead by Fairwind, a leading fair trade retailer and importer and there are BBC documentaries and news items being aired on TV and radio in early December 2010. MAAssist is proud to be the first UK business, outside of the fair trade community, to financially support this campaign.

Fair Trees® – fair trade real Nordmann Fir Christmas trees

About 5 million Nordmann Fir Christmas trees are sold in the UK each year. But until now, very few people in the UK have been aware of the serious ethical issues behind buying these trees at Christmas. Although they are farmed in the UK and Denmark the seeds for Nordmann Firs are sourced from natural forests, mainly in Georgia.

Harvesting of the seeds in Georgia is carried out by hand under remarkably primitive conditions. The Georgian cone pickers climb up 30 metre high fir trees in order to reach the seeds. Until now, they have worked entirely without safety equipment and in 2004 two workers fell to their death during the harvest. Several accidents happen each year, but despite working in such dangerous conditions the cone pickers are usually paid such low wages that it is difficult for them to support their families.

A Danish Christmas tree grower called Bols Forstplanteskole is changing all of that. Bols source their own seeds from Georgia using fair trade principles, and in 2007 was awarded fair trade accreditation by Fair Trade Danmark – Bols is the only Christmas tree grower in the world with fair trade accreditation. In 2011 Bols will have full accreditation by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). Not only does Bols pay a fair wage and provide health insurance to the cone pickers but proceeds from the sale of Fair Seeds and Fair Trees® are donated to the Bols Xmas Tree Fund, a charitable fund based in Georgia.

The Bols Xmas Tree Fund aims to create awareness about and improve the terrible conditions under which the Georgian cone pickers live and work. The Fund provides the cone pickers with Danish-made safety equipment and ensures that the workers are instructed on safety. In addition, the Fund works towards creating proper conditions for workers and their families through financial support for hospitals, schools, books and health care.

MAAssist fundraising

MAAssist will set aside £1 for every claim with value received from 1^st January 2011 for the Fair Trees® project.

MAAssist will also welcome support from any insurance clients who are willing to make a donation to the Fund. In return for such a donation, the insurance client will be able to use the Fair Trees® name in any corporate social responsibility and marketing promotional material.

MAAssist staff will also be carrying out various fund raising activities in 2011.

A team of tradesmen will go to Georgia in August/September 2011 to renovate the local school in the cone picking region of Ambrolauri.

Contacts – further information

If you would like to be involved in the Fair Trees® fundraising activities for 2011, or would like more information, please contact:

Teresa Owen, Fairwind

Email: t.owen@fairwindonline.com

Tel: 0845 196 0256

 or

 Paul Hayman, MAAssist

Email: Paul.Hayman@maassist.com

Tel: 01296 678100

Fairwind

This innovative company is owned and run by Teresa Owen. Fairwind is a thriving online business that is passionate about fair trade and providing affordable, quality fair trade gifts and accessories from around the world.

In 2007, Fairwind was shortlisted for an Observer Ethical Award and is a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) – visit www.bafts.org.uk for more information.

Fairwind sells gifts, home accessories and textiles, jewellery, children’s toys, candles and garden accessories. To see Fairwind’s full range, or for further information, visit www.fairwindonline.com or phone 0845 196 0256.

High-resolution images of all products are available and in most cases also cut-out images – they can be downloaded from http://www.fairwindonline.com/resources.asp.

MAAssist

MAAssist Limited specialises in domestic building repairs on behalf of some of the UK’s largest insurers and property related markets, using its in-house construction company MABuild Limited, supported by a nationwide network of trade professional companies, creating an established Building Repair Network (BRN) and Control Centre function for its clients.

With its niche range of products and services MAAssist has consistently helped insurers and property portfolio managers to materially reduce their claims management, claims settlement and budgeted spend and expenditure, through correct building claims validation and delivery of quality building works.

And MAAssist’s ability to settle and fulfill buildings claims, and offer customers and clients a real choice in their preferred method of claims settlement, enables them to consistently deliver a positive claims experience. For more information please go to www.magroupltd.co.uk

Bols Forstplanteskole

Established in 1989 by Marianne and Lars H. Bols, Bols Forstplanteskole has always been an innovator in the Christmas tree industry. Although both Marianne and Lars were studying at the time, they were excited by the forestry industry and by the challenges of supplying top quality products with the right provenances.

Their first business trip was to Georgia, in 1989, to buy 8 tons of Nordmann Fir seeds. As Georgia was then still part of the USSR, it was a long, tough battle to get the seeds and have them shipped to Denmark. But it was the start of a minor revolution in raising the quality of the Christmas trees coming onto the market. Marianne and Lars were moved by the generosity and warmth shown to them by the Georgian farmers: “Even though they were poor, they invited us in and many of them remain close friends. They were also one of the main reasons why we continue to collect seeds from Georgia.” Another reason for continuing to do business in Georgia, despite the many obstacles, is that the Nordmann Fir seeds obtainable there are simply the best in the world.

Apart from providing a full-spectrum catalogue of plant and trees to a broad multinational market, Bols’ more recent initiatives include organic and fair trade products: www.fairtrees.co.uk

Fairwind is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Fairwind is now taking orders for the only fairly traded Christmas trees (“Fair Trees®”) in the UK this year. They are available nationwide from www.fairwindonline.com and will be delivered in the week beginning 6th December.

The BBC, with help from Fairwind, has filmed a documentary on the serious ethical issues around Christmas trees. This will be aired in early December on TV and radio, so Fair Trees® will be a hot topic this Christmas.

Fair Trees® has celebrity support from Katie Melua:
“I am absolutely thrilled that fair trade has reached the poor cone pickers of Georgia. Fair Trees® is a wonderful project that helps improve the lives of many people in remote areas of Georgia, the country where I was born.”

Nordmann Fir trees

The trees are genuine Nordmann Fir trees of exceptional quality, grown using the best and ethically sourced seeds. They retain their needles exceptionally well and are no more expensive than other Nordmann Fir trees.

Retail prices this year will be £25 for a tree up to 4ft (100-125cm), £29 for a tree up to 5ft (130-150cm) and £37 for a tree up to 6ft (150-175cm).

And this year Fairwind is also selling Baby Fair Trees – potted Nordmann Fir trees that are only 80 -90cm high (including the pot). These eco-friendly trees are perfect for the porch or a child’s bedroom and after Christmas they can be planted out in the garden and reused year after year. Not only are these trees fair trade, but they help reduce CO2 emissions and the waste that is created at Christmas time. Retailing at £29 each, these cute trees are perfect for homes and rooms with little space.

Ethical issue

About 5 million Nordmann Fir Christmas trees are sold in the UK each year. But until now very few people in the UK have been aware of the serious ethical issues behind buying these trees at Christmas.

The seeds for Nordmann Firs are sourced from natural forests, mainly in Georgia (the seeds can’t be farmed satisfactorily). Harvesting of the seeds in Georgia is carried out by hand under remarkably primitive conditions. The Georgian cone pickers climb up 30 metre high fir trees in order to reach the seeds. They work entirely without safety equipment and in 2004 two workers fell to their death during the harvest. Several accidents happen each year, but despite working in such dangerous conditions the cone pickers are usually paid such low wages that it is difficult for them to support their families. They also have no insurance so any injuries seriously affect their already limited ability to support their families.

Fair Trees® campaign in the UK

Fairwind is campaigning to persuade UK growers to tackle the ethical issues that arise throughout the supply chain (from the Georgian cone pickers, to the migrant labour on UK farms and the environmental impact of farming trees) by converting their trees to Fair Trees®. Any publication wishing to support this campaign should get in touch with Teresa Owen at Fairwind.

Fair Trees® aims to bring together all of the members of the Christmas tree industry to promote socially responsible trade and production. Fair Trees®, through the Bols Xmas Tree Fund (see below):

•invests in providing safety equipment for the cone gatherers in Georgia;
•provides health care for the workers’ children;
•supports decent schools in which to educate the children;
•looks towards a future when cloning makes seed harvesting unnecessary;
•helps finding alternative work.

If any grower can commit to the following 3 initiatives they can use the Fair Trees® branding, and sell their trees as fair trade trees, in return for donations to the Bols Xmas Tree Fund.

To become a Fair Trees® producer a grower needs to:
1. Commit to growing fair trade Christmas trees and start sourcing fair trade seeds and/or saplings.
2. Cooperate with local unions for fair working conditions and fair wage agreements for all employees in the Christmas tree industry.
3. Work towards Global GAP (responsible farming) approval.

Why Global GAP and unions? Fair Trees® is more that a marketing ploy, it is a genuine social venture that covers all areas of production, nationally and internationally

Fairwind in partnership with Bols Forstplanteskole

Fairwind is currently the only importer and retailer of Fair Trees® (fair trade Nordmann Fir Christmas trees grown in Denmark) in the UK. The trees are supplied by Bols Forstplanteskole, a successful Danish Christmas tree grower that achieved Danish fair trade accreditation in 2007 and will become a full member of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) next year. Bols Forstplanteskole is the brains behind the Fair Trees® scheme.

Any grower can become a Fair Trees® grower by simply complying with the terms of the Fair Trees® scheme (above).

Danish fair trade accreditation – The Bols Xmas Tree Fund

The Bols Xmas Tree Fund was founded in 2007, and shortly afterwards the Fair Trees® brand was certified by Fair Trade Danmark and will have full WFTO certification in 2011.

The Fund aims to create awareness about and improve the terrible conditions under which the Georgian cone pickers live and work. The Fund provides the cone pickers with Danish-made safety equipment and ensures that the workers are instructed on safety. In addition, the Fund works towards creating proper conditions for workers and their families through financial support for schools, books and health care. And of course the workers are paid a fair price for their work and are insured against death or injury.

Fair trade Christmas decorations

And no fair trade Christmas tree would be complete without fairly traded Christmas decorations. Fairwind’s range of stunning silk tree decorations are wonderful and unusual gifts or stocking fillers handmade by polio and landmine survivors in Cambodia. Made by hand with exceptional attention to quality and detail, the range includes stars, hearts, reindeer, rocking horses and even elephants. With prices starting at £2.50, these ethical tree decorations are always popular. Lifestyle AND cutout shots of all of the decorations can be downloaded from Fairwind’s website at http://www.fairwindonline.com/resources.asp No log-in required.

For more information please contact:

Teresa Owen
Fairwind
t.owen@fairwindonline.com
T: 0845 196 0256
M: 07824 319701

Fairwind is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Ethletic white high cut sneakers, made with oragnic and Fairtrade cotton and with built in arch supports are currently half price here

The Fair Deal Trading Partnership Llp is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more