Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 begins on Monday 23rd February. For those two weeks groups and individuals will be holding events up and down the UK to raise awareness and celebrate Fairtrade.

The Gedling Fairtrade Group is no exception. We have teamed up with The Cooperative, students from the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University, Redhill Comprehensive School and Fair2All to bring to Nottinghamshire the 2009 Fabulous Fairtrade Fashion Show.

The show takes place on Wednesday 4th March at Redhill Comprehensive School. Doors open at 7.30pm and the show begins at 8.00pm.

Come along and enjoy the live music whilst you browse the Fairtrade stalls from local businesses and organisation. After the show you will have a chance to buy the lovely Fairtrade clothes and accessories.

Tickets are priced at just £2 for adults and £1 for concessions.

Visit the Gedling Fairtrade Group website to find out where to buy tickets and more.
www.fairtradegedling.org.uk/fairtrade-fashion-show-2009

If you would like to help spread the word about the fashion show please feel free to download our poster to display in your building or pass on to friends.
Download the Fairtrade Fashion Show poster

We’ll look forward to seeing you there!

Poster designed by Victoria Bonell, Illustration by Mark Waters

For just over a year I’ve been a member of the Gedling Fairtrade Group involved in campaigning for Fairtrade and working towards Fairtrade Town status for Gedling Borough.

23rd February 2009 sees the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight, a time to celebrate and shout about Fairtrade even more than usual. The Gedling Fairtrade Group has lots of plans for the fortnight, including a glamorous fashion show and we’re fortunate enough to have the support of 3 fashion marketing students from the famous Nottingham Trent University’s School of Art & Design.

These 3 motivated students are all specialising in ethical fashion for their final dissertations. This is their choice but when I met them I wondered whether there are whole courses dedicated to ethical fashion. If so, just imagine what education could do to the industry, producing designers, makers and marketers with a sound understanding of the social and environmental impacts of their trade and a drive to make it better.

So of course my next port of call was Google, I thought that if I found at least a little information about ethical fashion courses then I could share it here and it may be useful for potential students. I honestly had no idea what I would find but I was genuinely (and pleasantly) surprised…

University for the Creative Arts (UK)
MA Ethical Fashion (in Epsom, Surrey)
This was the first MA in the UK in ethical fashion. It focuses on the business side of fashion, including consumerism, the supply chain, recycling and marketing of ethics in fashion.

London College of Fashion (UK)
Developing an Ethical Fashion Brand and
Developing an Ethical Footwear or Accessories Brand
These are one day courses providing introductions to understanding sustainability, developing a green supply chain, impacts of legislation and the future of ethical fashion.

MA Fashion and the Environment
Aimed at recent graduates and industry professionals this course is about looking forward and considering sustainable fashion development.

The Ethical Fashion Forum
Fashion Business Workshops
The EFF organises a number of workshops for those interested in entering the business of ethical fashion

Chelsea College of Art & Design (UK)
Textiles Environment Design (TED)
This research project looks at the role designers can play in creating textiles which have a reduced impact on the environment.

Fashioning an Ethical Industry
Staff and Student Workshops
This ‘Labour Behind the Label Project’ provides tutor and student courses which focus on themes related to working conditions and workers’ rights in garment manufacture.

The Higher Education Academy (UK)
Teaching Ethical Fashion
This was a conference which took place in April and although it has passed I though it was still worth a mention, just in case it takes place again next year. This event was for tutors and educators teaching ethical issues on fashion related courses.

I’m sure there are many more courses, workshops and seminars in the UK and overseas. If you know of more ethical fashion courses get in touch and we can share them here on GGG.

Today sees the start of Fair Trade fortnight.

There’s more to Fair Trade than just food. It’s not just bananas, cocoa and coffee; Fair Trade can apply to clothes and even toys.

It’s about partnership with the suppliers in developing countries, making sure they get a fair price for their products, whilst ensuring decent working conditions and fair terms of trade, even for the smaller producers.

There are those who claim that retailers are jumping on the proverbial bandwagon to sell us Fair Trade products, but does it matter if they are? Fair Trade sales reached nearly £500 million in the UK last year and that’s down to consumers voting with their wallets to make a difference.

Certified Fair Trade products are easy to spot – they’re allowed to carry the Fairtrade Foundation’s mark.

The Fairtrade Foundation’s message for Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 is that, whilst sales of Fairtrade products continue to soar, change is still not happening quickly enough for the millions of the world’s poorest farmers who remain trapped in ‘trade poverty’. With 2 billion working people earning less than US$2 a day and many of these producing the products we put in our shopping baskets, the Fairtrade Foundation believes that it is critical to increase the momentum for change through Fairtrade in 2008.

Some argue that Fair Trade could be fairer, as much of the profit is still in the processing of the raw materials, which is often done in developed countries. As shoppers, we need to keep putting pressure on the major (and smaller) brands to do as much as possible to support the growers. In the meantime, Fair Trade at least ensures the farmers are getting a fairer deal.

The Fairtrade Foundation expects there to be over 10,000 local events during the fortnight. Find out if there’s a Fairtrade event near you. There’s a Fair Trade bus touring the country and local events range from coffee mornings and wine tasting to concerts and talks with producers.

Three great, green events coming up!

The Big Green Home Show
Ideas and inspiration to build or renovate a greener home.
Date: 15 – 18 November
Venue: National Self Build and Renovation Centre, Swindon
Visit The Big Green Home Show website for event and venue details

Fashion Made Fair
Now you can afford to be stylish and conscious. Get 80% off Fair Trade, organic, hemp and recycled clothing and shoes
Date: Friday 16th November 5.30pm-8.30pm Sat 17th 10am-6pm and Sunday 18th 10am -4pm
Venue: Fabrica Art Gallery, 40 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AG
Download the Fashion Made Fair event flyer for more details

A Green Christmas Fair
Hosted by One Green Earth, A Green Christmas Fair makes going green this Christmas an easy option by bringing together a fabulous range of ethical companies so that shopping can be done with a clear conscience.
Date: Sunday 18th November
Venue: Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove, London
Visit the One Green Earth website for full details.

No need to complain about having nothing to do this weekend!

here’s a list of green stories that has made me happy. I have decided to focus on the positive ways of being green instead of the fear that things are looking really grim for mother earth.

-small increase in green spaces can offset temperature rise – a 10% increase of green space in cities would reduce average urban surface temperatures by as much as 4°C.

-Tree-Nation is planning to plant 8 million trees in Sahara – and (special treat for me) is building a community around it.

- I missed the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris about a week ago. Let’s get the green girls to meet up and go together to Paris next time =)