When thinking about politics within the world of fashion certain factors spring to mind especially in the state of manufacturing. Once England itself was the heart of all product source. Leicester had a massive hosiery and sock production line, Northampton for footwear and Nottingham for lace and hosiery. “i could list more but i would be here all day”. England was at the top of its game and not a lot was in short supply but now most if not majority is imported and exported from foreign country's around the globe like Bangladesh, china and Indonesia where the culture is rich and the labour is cheap.
Fair-trade Fashion was introduced more than twenty years ago in corporation with “The Fair Trade Foundation” which was founded in 1988 and began by sourcing fair trade food. As time has moved on “The People Tree” was founded with it came sustainable and fair trade fashion. The objective of fair trade fashion is not to pay a fair price but to have a mutual respect for both manufacturer and trader. Fair trade not only has the potential to eliminate poverty at a house hold level it also enables people living in poverty to supply for their family and send there children to school. “ By changing the unfair structures of world trade, it creates a more democratic system” (www.peopletree.co.uk).
The People Tree
The People Tree are currently supporting fifty trade groups in eight developing countries mostly development organizations and social businesses working to WFTO standards (Ten principles a fair trade company MUST follow in their day.)( www.wfto.com). Many where originally founded to deal with a certain crisis or social issues or to just empower and inspire a particular community. Fair trade partners create everything from jewellery to hand knitted jumpers. People tree encourages hand skills and slow fashion to “strengthen livelihoods and empower over 4,000 artisans and farmers”.(www.thepeopletree.com) they also encourage designing collections with enough time for hand production and training for their workers to enhance there skills and strengthen their business this is highly rare in fashion companies today that out source material, fabrics, and manufacture.
Today's fashion world in now pushed to include sustainability and fair-trade fabrics into their collections big names leading the way are Stella McCartney who is a known animal activist and “
eco worrier” who strives in running an eco friendly business. Other names such as Agua Cota,Lauren Pierce and Costello Tagliapietra all jumping on the band wagon because I think in this day and age of fashion and being a fashion designer you have to consider more than just your idea and your vision because your idea effects so many other peoples lives underneath you. And if you are prepared to step over anything at any cost to achieve your vision without exploring the facts or taking a look I think you lack in social responsibility and as a fashion student i will now consider the processes and lives of other people when deciding on final finishes and fabrics and i believe this will escalate through years and years of next fashion students because if it doesn't happen we will become a world of consumerism fighting for ourselves when we need to make a stronger not a weaker world and working together equally will help eliminate the bad.
People Doing There Bit in Leicester.
In and around Leicester there are we are trying to make a self sufficient come back and bring local produced back on our shelves. If you go to Leicester town centre you have to visit the lanes including St Martins Square
These streets and squares have several independent shops like Watch This Space who supply merchandise by independent British designers and locally produced quirky clothing really a treasure trove and can purchase one off beautiful garments. Another company is The Sweater Shop you might remember this vintage company from the late 1980s well its back with a new look! and still Leicester based just down the road in Thurmaston. You will also find a Fair Trade shop on the corner which sells a range of children's clothes bags and toys.
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