I woke last Monday morning to a little face at my hotel window (I was three storeys up!). I reached for my glasses quickly – to see a fawn coloured monkey. That’s how my first day at the World Fair Trade Organisaion annual global meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, started . . .

Photos – (c) Chika Okazumi (A.K.A.) / People Tree

It is seven years since I initiated World Fair Trade Day – we needed a day to celebrate Fair Trade, the diversity of the movement and advocate for Fair Trade in different countries.
This years theme ‘Beat Poverty’ was celebrated on Saturday 9th May with Gocoo, the Japanese drumming performers, one of our team is a drummer in her spare time!
800 People came to celebrate World fair Trade Day, watched our fashion show, listened to producer partners from India about the Social Impact of Fair Trade and how it protects the environment. I also launched my book ‘By Hand’ in Japanese and had a chat with ex Marie Claire Editor, Yoshiko Ikomo on the future of luxury fashion and it’s relationship with Fair Trade fashion.
Whether you attended a World Fair Trade Day event or not the biggest support you can give is buying Fair Trade and telling your friends about it.

Safia talks to Mr Amin, Director of National Garment Workers Federation, who represents garment workers and campaigns for their rights about the grim realities of the real costs of fast fashion.