18 April 2024
COSH! Is Expanding to Düsseldorf with a Brand-New Shopping Map!
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What is fair trade fashion?
COSH! believes that fair wages and responsible working conditions are extremely important. Unfortunately, this is often not the case in the fashion industry. But luckily, there are also many brands that are doing well and choose for a fair production. In celebration of Week of the Fair Trade, we would like to inspire you with sustainable fashion brands that produce their garments according to fair trade principles.
Fair trade vs. Fairtrade
But first… Fairtrade is a commonly used term, but do you exactly know what it means? The term can have two different meanings:
* Fair trade means fairly traded, which means that no one is exploited physically, mentally nor economically throughout the whole production chain.
* Fairtrade is used to refer to a product that is certified with the Fairtrade label (formerly Max Havelaar). Read more about the Fairtrade label on the website of Fairtrade Belgium.
The clothing brand Dedicated offers a wide range of products for men and women of all ages. Next to that, they also take their impact on the planet throughout the entire production chain into account. The brand likes to be inspired by the beautiful nature. This is something that can be seen by the colourful designs. The collections are produced in a completely fair and ecological way. For their garments, they exclusively use Fairtrade-certified organic cotton or other ecological materials such as Tencel.
During the production process of the Fair Trade organic cotton, no pesticides or fertilisers are used. In addition, they work together with 4 established GOTS-certified fabric and clothing producers in China and India. This means that the farmers, textile workers and stitchers involved in the production of Dedicated’s collections work in responsible conditions and receive fair wages.
Curious where you can buy fair trade clothing from Dedicated? Then look at the bottom of our brand screening at which local stores you can go.
SKFK, the Basque brand, should not be missing from this list of Fairtrade brands. SKFK is a brand that stands for change in consumption and production. You might recognize the letters from their previous name, Skunfunk. A few years ago, they decided to change course and changed their name together with their whole way of working.
The organic cotton of SKFK is Fairtrade and GOTS certified. So, the cotton farmers work in good circumstances and get a fair wage.
Want to read more about how sustainable SKFK is? View our brand screening here. At the bottom of the screen you can find the local points of sale.
HEDONE is a street style label from Rotterdam where young talent gets a fair chance. The brand is committed to offering at-risk youth from the drug environment an alternative. The young people receive guidance and career opportunities, and they have the prospect of becoming a production manager, designer or entrepreneur.
In addition to their own social commitment, HEDONE also works with ethical producers. The producers are members of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF). This is an independent organisation that monitors the working and social conditions at producers. Thanks to the leader status that those HEDONE producers have, you can be sure that the clothing is made in safe and ethical conditions, and that the workers receive a fair wage.
Curious about how sustainable HEDONE is even more? Read more on our brand screening.
Looking for Fairtrade t‑shirts or hoodies for your company or non-profit organisation? Neutral is everything you need! Throughout the entire supply chain, Neutral takes into account the highest social, ethical and environmental criteria for clothing production.
Neutral chooses durable materials. The T‑shirts, jumpers and polo shirts are made of 100% Fairtrade and GOTS-certified organic cotton. Even the buttons on the polo shirts are made of the same organic cotton.
In their collection you will find clothing for men, women and children, but also accessories and sportswear. Read more in the Neutral brand screening.
Of course, the pioneering brand People Tree cannot be missing in our list. This English sustainable clothing brand was founded in 1991 and is still as strong on the market today as back then. People Tree produces hip, ethical and ecological clothing for women! Five years after its launch, the label became an active member of the World Fair Trade Organisation, and twenty years later it still is. The production of their clothing takes place in low-wage countries, but People Tree makes sure that the workers are paid the minimum wage. The brand also supports local production and thus contributes to the socio-economic development of these countries. Discover below the COSH! points of sale of People Tree.
Curious where you can buy People Tree near you? Discover the outlets at the bottom of the brand screening.
German clothing brand Melawear creates affordable and comfortable clothing and backpacks from 100% Fairtrade and GOTS certified cotton. With their brand, they strengthen local communities in India. Mela means‘acting together’ in Hindi, so even their name represents their ethical values!
Curious about how sustainable Melawear even is? Read more about it in our brand screening.
Very Cherry is a vintage-inspired brand from Rotterdam. Here you’ll find perfect basics, and not basic in the sense of boring, but basic items that you can combine endlessly!
For Very Cherry the circumstances in which the collection is made are very important, so the brand is 100% fair trade! They work together with manufacturers in Poland, so that production remains entirely within Europe. The advantage of this is that the manufacturer must comply with the labour rules and laws set by the European Union. In short, the clothing is designed and made in ethical working conditions.
Curious where you can buy Very Cherry near you? Discover the local stores at the bottom of the brand screening.
Are you next to fair trade fashion also looking for fair trade bed or bath linen? At Kalani you’ll find, among other things, towels and duvet covers made of 100% Fairtrade organic cotton.
The brand buys their cotton directly from the farmer and opts to pay them 13.5% more than the average selling price. This ensures that the farmers receive a fair price for their cotton.
Want to read more on how sustainable Kalani is? Read our brand screening here.
Would you like to give someone a gift and want be sure that it has been produced fairly? At fair trade gift shop Wereldwinkel Rotterdam Centrum you’ll find a wide range of unique jewellery, contemporary tableware, fair trade coffee and natural care products: this cosy shop is filled with worldly products from small-scale production and mostly handmade!
By buying a fair trade gift at the Wereldwinkel you can change the lives of producers in developing countries. This way you not only make the receiver of your gift happy, but also the maker!
Find out more about the Good Clothes Fair Pay Campaign – the latest Fashion Revolution Campaign – and why you should sign it.
Do you want to discover more brands and shops that sell fair and ethical fashion? Go to our shopping guide and find sustainable fashion near you, within your style and budget!