‘By Hand’ – the Fair Trade Fashion Agenda – you can buy it for for £5!

‘By Hand’ is the story of People Tree in my own words. I spent my summer holiday writing it, so did my partner, poor thing. It’s about what Fair Trade fashion is all about; from fibre to manufacture, and why caring for the environment is such an important part of what we do. I’m fed up with the misunderstanding that Fairtrade cotton fibre is the same as Fair Trade fashion and I hope that this book explains how organic, hand production and traditional artisans’ skills can put food on the table.

We all talk about social and environmental justice and Fair Trade fashion does just that. After all in a world where 6.6 billion people are soon to become 9 billion – the only natural resource we have in plentiful supply are people’s hands. Fair Trade fashion is ‘finished’ in the developing world, so unlike much Fair Trade agricultural product, it generates work for people at every stage of production – farmers, weavers, embroidery artisans, and tailors. That’s why Fair Trade fashion offers huge opportunities to disadvantaged people to earn a decent living, whilst living and working in a decent place.
Fair Trade fashion can challenge the conventional business model of cheap, fast and exploitative fashion. It should also be acknowledged for its low carbon footprint. Farming organic cotton sequesters 1.5 tons of CO2 per acre, per year, and weaving fabric by hand reduces 1 ton per year, per handweaver – proving Fair Trade and ‘value addition’ actually reduces global warming too. ‘By Hand’ is therefore a call for social and environmental justice.
‘By Hand’ is full of pictures of People Tree’s producers partners that I’ve taken over the last couple of years and with my friend Miki Alcalde. There are also some beautiful fashion shoots that proves Fair Trade fashion can win on design too. As well as interviews with producers and creatives and fashion designers who support what we do.
‘By Hand’ gives you an insight into what goes into making a Fair Trade fashion business and why we need your help to grow.
If you’d like to read it, you can buy ‘By Hand’ on the People Tree website at £5 (plus £2.50 p&p). If you want to see more pages from the book check out this video!