Bishopston Trading Company

We subscribe to the Fair Trade policy defined by IFAT (The International Fair Trade Association).

Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalised producers and workers - especially in the South.

Fair Trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.

Fair Trade organisations have a clear commitment to Fair Trade as the principal core of their mission.

Fair Trade products are those products which are labelled under the FLO certification system and/or produced by Fair Trade organisations.

This declaration was put together in March 2004, by fair trade producer groups and organisations supporting producer groups in Bangladesh making fairly traded garments and handicrafts.

We at Bishopston Trading Company endorse this declaration that clarifies that there is a huge difference between Fair Trade Fashion and Ethical Fashion, and reflects our own experience of working in rural India.

1. There is an urgent need for livelihoods in rural areas, with lack of government policy, infrastructure and human resources development. Fair Trade provides this efficiently where government policy and ODA have not.

2. Fair Trade sets out to provide livelihoods for the economically marginalised in rural areas. Fair Trade clothing has provided thousands of jobs for handweavers, hand embroiderers, block printers and tailors in the rural areas, helping to provide a good standard of living, sustained orders, with investments going back into the community in the form of schools, environmental protection etc.

3. Thus, Fair Trade provides an alternative to urban migration, enabling families to stay together, avoid the appalling living conditions of life in Dhaka slums, where living costs can be two to three times higher than in the village.

4. Fair Trade clothing production has promoted the empowerment of women as leaders within the community. There are examples of women who have gone on to stand for local authority after receiving confidence through their work, training and experience in leadership. Women are not only educating their daughters to have higher expectations; these children are becoming the link to push for greater rural development to support village development, and ensure that rural areas are not forgotten by the government.

5. Fairly traded clothing is promoting the use of appropriate technology and reviving traditional skills, which are important to the cultural heritage of this country, are unique to Bangladesh, and create a pride and dignity amongst the producers and within their communities, at the same time as giving real economic incentives to develop these skills by training others. The preservation of these skills have value in themselves that go beyond just economic value.

6. Promoting Fair Trade fashion with its roots based in social justice, community development and member participation encourages a sense of sharing and creates a model within the rural areas of ways to go forward in partnership.

Fair Trade therefore provides a "Gold Standard" for Ethical Trade, the latter guaranteeing the basic legal minimums of Freedom of Association, no enforced overtime, payment of a living wage, health and safety at work etc., whereas Fair Trade goes beyond this in the ways outlined above.