This video gives an interesting overview about the increasing consumer demand for fairtrade and organic clothing. Interviews with Safia Minney, owner of Peopletree, one of leading fashion houses for eco and organic fashion, and Katie Stafford, a spokesperson for Marks & Spencer, offer thought-provoking perspectives on eco clothing and fashion.

Peopletree started off with one fairtrade shop in Japan. That was 10 years ago. Nowadays, not only does Peopletree supply numerous fairtrade shops, but it now provides major retailers with eco-fashion. Every stage of production is verified by the Soil Association and Fairtrade Foundation to ensure clothing that is truly organic.

Safia Minney recognises that buyers are now anxious to source organic cotton for eco clothing lines, and advises retailers need to build long term partnerships with potential eco suppliers. It can take up to three years for a supplier to convert from conventional agriculture to organic methods. Safia says that fashion is one of the worst industries for short termism, and it rarely considers the environmental or social implications for the fashion that we consume. She suggests that we are looking at a model of fashion that is slower than in previous years if we are to maintain the welfare of our planet.

Certain items such as T-shirts are bought year on year, and thus help to develop long term trading relationships with suppliers. Marks & Spencer, the hugely popular clothing retailer (with 450 shops in over 30 countries), claims that over 10% of all its cotton is ethically sourced, and uses one third of all organic cotton produced worldwide. Katie Stafford reveals that Marks & Spencer has a clear cotton strategy, which not only looks to increase it’s use of fairtrade and organic cotton, but is also talking to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in order to improve standards such as water consumption, pesticide use and labour conditions for those farmers still using conventional methods to cultivate their cotton crops. And for the future? Katie tells us that, “Fairtrade and organic cotton is where our customers want us to grow our business.”

According to Indian farmers, other large retailers such as Next and C&A are approaching them for organic cotton. Monsoon, another popular fashion house, is also looking to expand its organic clothing line. In addition, Monsoon is one of the sponsors for the Ethical Fashion Show, which has been expanding each year as eco and fairtrade fashion grows in popularity both with fashion boutiques, and increasingly mainstream retailers and shopping centres.

The Ethical Fashion Show showcases only clothing and accessories manufactured from recycled clothes, textiles, and fur. A wedding dress made from ironed plastic bags, bags from old drink cartons, and purses from sweet wrappers are some of the accessories on show here.

Organic clothing and fairtrade clothing look set to stay.

Filed under: Organic Lifestyle

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