FAIR
MADE
~
A nonprofit
Alternative Trading Project~
"Made with dignity and
environmental
integrity"
The
mission of Fair Made is to educate consumers, advocate for and
create opportunities for Fair Trade and dignity.
We Value:
Supporting
Cooperatives and Small Businesses
Promoting
Fair Trade
& Products Made in Dignity
Developing
Markets Through US
Sales Representation
Creating
Sustainable Projects
Based
on Economic
Self-Sufficiency and Environmental Integrity
Opposing
Unfair Trade Deals
Through
Educating
and Organizing
Alternative
Trade:
A Brief Overview
Alternative trade aims
to
contribute to the alleviation of poverty in developing regions of the
world by establishing a system of trade that allows marginalized
producers in developing regions to gain access to developed
markets. This alternative trade builds on producers' skills and
enables communities to play an active part in their own development,
while at the same time satisfying consumer demand in the developed
markets.
The fundamental
characteristic of alternative trade is that of equal partnership and
respect - partnership between the developing region producers and
importers, shops, labeling organizations, and consumers.
Alternative trade "humanizes" the trade process - making the
producer-consumer chain as short as possible so that consumers become
aware of the culture, identity, and conditions in which producers
live. All actors are committed to the principle of alternative
trade, the need for advocacy in their working relations and the
importance of awareness-raising and advocacy work. The idea
of the "invisible hand" has given way to the idea of working "hand in
hand" with the market regulated by democratic authorities.
Thus, in a spirit of
partnership, certain guiding principles, or criteria, are agreed upon
by both sides. As a minimum, developing region producers commit
themselves to democratic functioning and decision-making procedures
within their organizations.
In return,
alternative trade organizations agree to:
- provide
direct access to
developed world markets for producer' products, avoiding to the
greatest possible extent middlemen and speculators;
- price
covers costs of
production, and leaves a margin for investment;
- pay part
of the price (40 -
50%) in advance so that producers avoid falling into debt;
- establish
long-term working
relationships and contracts with producers.
[The
above material is paraphrased from the Fair Trade Yearbook: Towards
2000 which is a publication of the European Fair Trade
Association. EFTA, January 1998, p.23 &25]
Guiding Principles
Fair Made is a full-service
alternative trade organization offering; sales brokerage, marketing,
consulting, labeling and more based on the following principles:
- Commitment
to Fair Trade
- Transparency
in business
relationships
- Commitment
to ethical
business practice
- Ensuring
safe working
conditions
- Providing
equal employment
opportunities
- Promoting
social progress
- Working to
protect the
environment
- Respect
for the cultural
identity of all people
- Educating
and advocating
about Fair Trade
- Encouraging
women's
cooperative businesses
