We have been using cotton bags in place of plastic ones in our shops for over 20 years.  We also supply many other companies, charities, community groups and environmental organisations with these strong and well made shopping bags.  

Our ethical production chain starts with the organic cotton, grown by Agrocel in North India and carrying the well known Fairtrade label.  It is spun by fairtrade company Assisi, a fellow IFAT member.  The spun cotton is then woven on small powerlooms, by a farming family, close to where our producer partners work in the South Indian village of K.V.Kuppam.  The bags are made up by Self Help Groups, supported by the Indian Government and owned and run by women.
They are printed, using the traditional screen printing method, by a team of 15 craftswomen who have been producing for Bishopston Trading for 16 years.

If you would like bags for an event or for your business or organisation please read the details below and then email Carolyn Whitwell on bishopstontrading@blueyonder.co.uk with your requirements.  We are happy to make alterations such as longer handles at no extra cost or quote you for different sizes, drawstring bags or shoe bags, etc.

Fairtrade certified organic cotton bags including 1 colour printing and screen set up charge.

Price List

Added to this is transport from us in Bristol to you at cost
approximate cost to give you an idea are:

100 bags (medium or large) £9.98
200 medium bags £10.73 - 200 large bags £13.19
500 medium bags £17.28 - 500 large bags £24.03
2000 medium bags £57.67 - 2000 large bags £81.78
VAT on bags and transport added to invoice.

Details for artwork
The bags are screen printed and the screen is made directly from your artwork - it will not be altered in any way.  What you send to us must be correct in size and clear.  It must be black and white only - greys cannot be printed by silk screen.  You may choose to have your bag printed in another colour but your artwork must still be in black and white.  You should post us a sample of your colour or tell us the Pantone colour.
Make sure your font is large enough bearing in mind that the ink will be forced through the screen onto the fabric and small print will be difficult to read.  You can email your artwork as a Quark document or as a pdf or JPG.  Alternatively you can print it out and post it to us at Bishopston Trading Company, 193 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BG.  Please do not exceed 11" x 13" and the simpler and clearer the design the better the result.  If you would like the words "100% organic cotton fairly traded from South India" as a strapline across the bottom of the bag please incorporate it in your artwork.

IF YOU ARE USING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, PLEASE ENSURE THEY SEE THIS INFORMATION.

Three colour printing
Please contact us if you would like a quote for three colour printing on unbleached or black bags.

Delivery time is 6 - 8 weeks