Ethical sourcing is now a little easier with the Australian Gift and Homewares Association (AGHA) to launch a Fair Trade Zone at the Melbourne August Home & Giving Fair.
Claimed to be an Australian first, the Fair Trade Zone will be located in the Exhibition Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds and feature 23 exhibitors.
“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,” says Kim Good, Import Ants owner. “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 the boxes.”
The ethical initiative is a partnership with the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand. Buying Fair Trade certified products is an assurance the goods have been made by workers who have been paid and treated fairly.
Retailers will find clothing, baskets, toys, shoes, stationery, jewellery and homewares at the Fair Trade Zone. Many products are handcrafted from countries such as Bangladesh, Kenya, India, Nepal and Peru.
“Each item is handmade and often reflects the culture in which they were made,” says Gina Bradley, Ethica Accessories sales and operations manager. “Being handmade and not massed produced each item is unique so offers a true point of difference in your store.”
For more on ethical trading see the April-June 2014 issue of Australian Giftguide.
