Our Ethical Trading Policy

 

FaithFantastic.com is a result of Christian inspiration combined with Christian responsibility towards labour in areas where this is widely exploited. To this end, we check all stages of the manufacture of our clothing and pay above market prices to benefit the workers involved.

 

Sourcing the cotton according to fair trade principles is a newer issue that we now intend to address. This would involve extending our Christian principles to take in the responsible sourcing of the cotton itself. So that we form a trading relationship with a co-operative of cotton producers. This would involve us paying above market prices in the form of a Fairtrade Premium at the end of the trading year. The co-operative would have to decide how best to use this to benefit the whole community e.g. to provide a clinic, school, safe water supply. You can read more about Fair Trade on the Fairtrade Foundation's website www.fairtrade.org.uk the international criteria for Fairtrade is applied and monitored by the FLO - Fairtrade Labelling Organisations.

 

Fair trade is a model of trading that is working amongst the most marginalised and poor producers despite adverse global trading conditions. Fairtrade currently supports over 5 million people through trade with 1 million producers in sustained trading relationships.

 

Another element of Fair Trade is the benefit it has to the global environment. For example, cotton uses 25% of the world's pesticides. Much of the application is unnecessary, many water supplies get contaminated, and children get poisoned while picking the cotton. Fairtrade ensures safe working conditions, no slavery, gender equality, insists that children are allowed to go to school, gives full access to market information and advice on growing crops and many other benefits. The word 'sustainable' can be applied in every way to fairtrade.

 

NB Fairtrade is only used when co-operatives are certified by one of the international FLOs. There are many uncertified fair trade trading relationships, but you have to rely on the integrity of the sellers involved. Many fair trade products are entirely 'kosher'. Currently the demand for Fairtrade certified cotton exceeds the supply. Cotton in our future garments may therefore be fair trade rather than Fairtrade! Please be patient while we 'get on board'!

 

Design suggestions would be welcome. Our initial designs were in house inspirations. Any Christians out there who would like to wear a particular design, should try submitting it. Credit will be given through our website and catalogue.