It’s a fair-trade for fashion

In recognition of Fairtrade Fortnight (26th February – 11th March 2007), Women features two women who have been determined to promote fair-trade through fashion…

People tree

Safia Minney, Founder People Tree

For many people, starting up your own business is an intimidating prospect. For Safia Minney it was just common sense.

A long time buyer of organic food and a lover of fair trade products, Minney started thinking about how else she was spending her money. After searching for an ethical fashion brand that created clothes she would consider wearing, she had to conclude that there just wasn’t one out there. People Tree now works with 70 Fair Trade groups in 20 developing countries, helping people from some of the world’s most marginalised communities use Fair Trade to escape from poverty.

Eight years on and 41 year old Minney’s People Tree clothing company is the darling of the Sunday style supplements, has a line in Selfridges and attracts hundreds of new customers a year with its combination of ethical trading and accessible fashion.

“People Tree exists because I saw a real gap in the market. I decided that it was up to me to create the opportunity and build the market,” said Minney.
Until a few years ago talking fair trade in fashion meant swapping your Jimmy Choo’s for a pair of Manalos. Ethical fashion, when it existed, appealed to a very niche market and was still considered too craftsy to appeal to mainstream consumers.

“It’s all about creating products that people actually want,” Minney explained. “Women won’t buy fashion because it’s ethical. It’s an added bonus not an incentive.”

Minney is a natural entrepreneur. She credits her flair for business to the women in her family. Her mother is “fiercely independent and energetic” and her grandmother built up a successful book business from scratch.

“Fair trade is very unpredictable. When some of our suppliers in Bangladesh lost their homes and their livelihoods in flooding two years ago, we weren’t just working to provide them with relief supplies. We also had to account for the disruption and effects of late delivery on the business as well.”

But Minney will not be deterred. Four years ago she brought People Tree to the UK. She has plans to develop new product ranges and even open People Tree shops, selling next door to established household chain stores.
By Annie Kelly

The Spring collection will be available from March 2007 from: www.peopletree.co.uk, 0845 450 4595, Topshop, Timberland and more than 70 independent stores across the UK.

save a sari

Sital Punja, Managing Director of Sari (UK) Limited

Sital Punja founded her company in 2002 as a textile recycling design label and social enterprise transforming reclaimed saris into stunning unique garments and accessories for women to support charitable projects both in India and the UK.

Marrying textile recycling with international aid, Sari launched in 2002 with its signature evening bag “Lulu” made entirely from donated saris collected from British Indians through the “Save a Sari” campaign.

Since launching Sari with a grant from London Remade, Punja has been at the forefront of ethical fashion in the UK and is stocked in London boutiques including Koh Samui, Equa and Hands.

In 2004, with help from a grant from London Remade, Sari produced its first women’s wear collection labelled “Dream On”. The capsule collection ranged from eclectic and outrageous ball skirts and quilted jackets to delicate and demure halter neck tops and dresses and continues to create exclusive evening wear. The use of exquisite saris made each garment unique and distinctive, whilst oozing flair, finesse and elegance.

Sari will be launching the new collection of evening wear at Asian Dreams on 1st March 2007 at the Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey Street, London.

For more information email: sital@saricouture.com

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