Quality of the fairer set
WHEN Fairtrade Fortnight 2018 starts on Monday we can all help millions of workers in third world countries by choosing to buy products with the Fairtrade label, such as chocolate, bananas, coffee and tea.
But paying sustainable prices for products to help improve working conditions and wages is mostly limited to food, with cotton one of the few non-edible products available.
London start-up Nour Luxury offers Fairtrade cotton bedding sourced from Chetna Organic, a co-operative of 25,000 cotton farmers in southern India.
Products are made from Global Organic Textile Standard raw cotton in a Fairtrade-certified factory. “The ethical standards were so important to me,” says founder Nimra Pervez.
Richard Gouget of Azalee Interiors sells organic linen and cotton Fairtrade
Ethical
napkins handmade in Senegal, and insists: “Consumers are increasingly asking us where the items we sell come from and demanding transparency in the sourcing of products.”
Buying Fairtrade furniture is not yet possible but you can buy ethically sourced furniture. Somerset-based Myakka is accredited by the British Association For Fair Trade Shops & Suppliers and director Georgie Hopkins explains: “Our fair-trade philosophy stems from the basis that it is simply the right way to do business.”
And online company Shimu aims to work with ethical suppliers, stating: “Trading fairly provides these artisans with an opportunity to build a future.”
Not everything we buy is Fairtrade but we should always try to play fair. Red Jambo Jute Rug, from £39.95 (0800 088 6800; shimu.co.uk) COUNT ON IT: Nour Luxury imports Fairtrade bedding from southern India including fitted sheets from £55, pillowcase sets from £40 and duvet covers from £95 with luxe sets from £170 (nourluxury.com) Prices correct at time of publication Table napkins available in light grey, dark grey, ecru and blue cost £11 each, from Azalée Interiors (01483 890202; azaleeinteriors. co.uk)