We are thrilled that after a rigorous and lengthy application process Women’s Peace Collection was recently accepted as a Fair Trade Federation member!  And that it happened during October, Fair Trade Month, is even more exciting! Our business is growing and we are expanding our market to support increasing numbers of artisans around the world, so we wanted to make sure our customers know that we are fully committed to the fair trade principles that the Federation represents.

I haven’t written anything as comprehensive as the FTF application since I was in graduate school (a long time ago), but the exercise was extremely useful - it enabled me to gain a stronger understanding of fair trade and to fully evaluate our business in order to ensure that Women’s Peace Collection is staying true to all of the FTF principles. 

So what exactly is fair trade? Here’s the definition from the FTF website: “Fair trade is an approach to business and to development based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks to create greater equity in the international trading system. Fair trade supports farmers and craftspeople in developing countries who are socially and economically marginalized." 

The Fair Trade Federation is a community of businesses committed to 360 degrees fair trade! The members are thoroughly screened based on the following 9 principles of fair trade: 

 We are so excited to be able to inform all of our customers and readers that we passed all of these principles with flying colors! We are fully committed to creating opportunities for marginalized artisans around the world, ensuring safe and ecologically sustainable working conditions and making sure the artisans are paid promptly. And we love being a part of the wonderful FTF member community of passionate, committed, loving folks all devoted to helping impoverished people around the world! 

Fair trade provides a unique opportunity for consumers, businesses and organizations to work together to create a better world for millions of people simply by choosing where and how one spends their dollar!  Thanks for being part of our community and supporting us in this endeavor.