Cotton on to Fairtrade

Feb 11 2010 by Kathryn Quayle, Chester Chronicle

Have you ever thought about where your favourite T-shirt started its life? Before your next ‘must-have’ buy finds its way from the High Street shops into your wardrobe, take a moment to think about the cotton farmer, and whether they were paid a fair price for their goods.

The latest range of Fairtrade cotton clothing to be introduced this spring for Fairtrade Fortnight, which takes place from February 22 to March 7, includes innovative use of fabric and trend-lead design. 2010 is an important milestone as it marks the five year-anniversary of the introduction of Fairtrade cotton into the UK market.

This year will see an exciting number of partnerships with celebrities, designers and photographers to celebrate five years of Fairtrade cotton, supported by a campaign to make fashion fairer.

The new collections made with Fairtrade cotton include casual essentials such as roll-up trousers, leggings and frill detail T-shirts, vamped up with flirtatious peek-a-boo blouses and pretty button camisoles which give a feeling of romantic innocence.

The Fairtrade Foundation now works with more than 100 cotton licensees – a mixture of brands, retailers and companies. This enables them to use the FAIRTRADE mark on cotton products, meaning that cotton farmers in the developing world are getting a better deal: receiving a fair and stable Fairtrade price for their cotton in addition to the Fairtrade premium.

Lisa Butcher is designing a Fairtrade cotton T-shirt for Long Tall Sally and the Beckham’s have designed a Fairtrade cotton T-shirt range for Sports Relief, which is available in TK Maxx.

ASOS are launching a fashionable new jerseywear collection and Dorothy Perkins have a collection of Fairtrade cotton T-shirts and blouses.

Marks & Spencer are joining in and are launching Fairtrade cotton nightwear styles in Per Una and Monsoon are introducing Fairtrade cotton products in their fashionable Fusion range.

Other retailers who can be found across Cheshire West and Chester and are taking part, include Sainsbury’s who are restyling their TU Fairtrade cotton T-shirts; Tesco are launching a full range of men’s and ladies’ Fairtrade cotton knitwear in a move to target younger more fashion conscious consumers; and Warehouse who are introducing a fashionable Fairtrade collection.