From organic produce to ethical banking, chemical free cosmetics to ethical wears, the consumption and production of all things ethical is nothing new.
Over the last few years, consumer awareness of conscious consumption and fair trade has grown widely.
“The stories in the national press about child labour in the sports ball industry and fires in clothing factories in Bangladesh have brought fair trade to the forefront, and more consumers in Australia are asking about the origins of products,” says Kim Good, Import Ants wholesaler and Fair Trade advocate.
“There seems to be a change happening as people increasingly search for higher meaning in their lives; that is transforming the workplace, the marketplace and the retail landscape.
“With growth in alternative areas like the Slow Food movement, online handmade sites like Etsy, organic sustainable products and the increased concern of environmental factors, clever retailers are staying competitive by seeking out new unique products and Fair Trade products tick all these boxes.”
Fair Trade products by their nature encompass this ethos.
“Each item is handmade and often reflects the culture in which they were made and being handmade and not massed produced, each item is unique so offers a true point of difference in your store,” says Gina Bradley form Ethica Accessories.
This week the Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA) will launch a Fair Trade Zone at its Melbourne Home & Giving Fair. The Fair Trade Zone is an Australian first, launched in response to market demand.
The zone will showcase handcrafted works of Fair Trade artisans from Bangladesh, Kenya, India, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Uganda among others.
“Each item is handmade and often reflects the culture in which they were made. Being handmade and not massed produced each item is unique so offers a true point of difference in your store,” Bradley said.
To be held at the Exhibition Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds, 23 Fair Trade exhibitors will act as a collective for retail buyers looking for unique products with a conscious edge.
“By visiting and supporting the retailers in the Fair Trade Zone you not only purchasing wonderful homewares but you are also directly assisting the lives of disadvantaged producers,” Chris Hartley, executive director of the Fair Trade Association said.
Melbourne Home & Giving Fair runs from August 2 to 6, at both Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and Melbourne Showgrounds.
The Fair Trade Zone can be found within the Exhibition Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.
Home & Giving Fair is trade only event and registration requires business identification. Click here for more information or to register.
