Blog Action Day: buy Fairtrade fashion

Boom & Bust - Howies

It’s Blog Action Day on poverty. There’s a list of 88 suggestions to help fight poverty on the site but having seen the effect of the excess of throwaway Western clothes flooding markets in countries such as Malawi and killing off local tailors’ trades, I’m not sure that giving unwanted clothing away is the answer.

Felt berry brooch from PeopleTree

So fight poor wages with your own purse. Buy locally and support local business and goods. And if you’re stuck in your homeland, buy ethically – here’s what to look for in terms of labelling.

And here’s some links for buying Fair Trade fashion in the UK:

• People Tree – “At People Tree, we create gorgeous garments and accessories by forming sustainable partnerships with Fair Trade and organic producers in developing countries.”
• Adili - Fairtrade clothing and ethical fashion.
• Hug – Fairtrade and organic fashion.
• Spirit of Nature – from clothes to baby products. Look for the Fairtrade sections such as here.
• Howies – great tees and re-investment in grass-root social and environmental projects.
• Quail – homemade (in Devon) ethical, Faritrade and organic fashion for the ladies.

In fact, check out this aggregated list from A Lot of Organics. Will add more suggestions and recommendations as time goes by.

This post is part of Blog Action Day 08 – Poverty

Why am I here (and what do I wear there)?

Some people like to blend in when they go abroad, some prefer to stand out from the crowd. Some are sensitive to local dress codes, others want to fly in the face of them. And some just forget to check it’s rainy season when they click ‘complete purchase’ on their bargain flight.

So… I hope to turn this into a useful read for anyone who’s ever wanted to know what the locals are wearing before going on holiday… and for those who have ever landed in places like Sydney expecting endless sunshine and finding eternal rain, or rocked up in Bali wearing sunnies and sarong during the monsoon.

It’s a globally ambitious blog, yes, but if the Man in Seat 61 can collect train timetables from across the globe by country then why not a glorious packing guide equivalent?

Why me? Because recently my little query to the world about what to wear in Reykjavik in freezing cold December, in order to look cool but not feel cold, was returned with a deafening tumbleweed. And then there was the safari in Malawi… do you HAVE to shell out a load of cash on khaki and beigewear? Or are colourful tops like a red rag to a hippo?

Which got me thinking… it’s easy to cock up or at least overpack.

It’s not uncommon to pack a load of ‘holiday clothes’ and not wear them. Unless you’re a seasoned packer of suitcases and backpacks. Even then, there are unforeseen trend clashes – as when a London-based friend packed a suitcase full of vintage loveliness for a trip to New York and was pitied as a bag lady.

And let’s not forget the unique local shopping opportunities. The Beer Lao t-shirts, A/Wear from Ireland, chitenge fabrics from Malawi, Rossi boots from Australia, 66º North gear from Iceland, those lovely Bali pants…

It may work, it may be not. I’m no fashion expert and you’ll have to decide for yourself if you’re up for that tip on tight, bright leggings in Cuba.

I think I probably need a wiki blog mashup to cover all the places I haven’t been – and all the ages I’m not, and all the rainy/dry/cold seasons not yet accounted for, etc etc – which is why I’m including links to discussion forums and any other good stuff I find along the way. No one person can sum up a whole nation’s wardrobe and keep it up to date, but perhaps many people can.

So… feel free to post your comments, or email me and help balance out the universe.