How Does Buying Fair Trade Actually Make A Difference?

We all want to be conscious consumers. The ideals of paying fair living wages and giving people decent working conditions are things we’d all 100% subscribe to. But when you’re shopping and the Fairtrade coffee/chocolate/etc are that much more expensive, you may start to ask yourself what difference does buying Fair Trade actually make?

The Basket Room

So, because it’s Fairtrade fortnight, I caught up with The Basket Room to find out more. The Basket Room sell the most beautiful, colourful handwoven baskets to brighten up our homes. They work with over 3000 weavers in women’s cooperatives predominantly in East Africa. And each co-operative has it’s own weaving style and techniques, which you can see reflected in the different types of baskets they create.

What’s Special About a Women’s Cooperative?

Good question, women’s cooperatives are run democratically, they vote in a chairlady, secretary and treasurer. When The Basket Room suggest a new design, the cooperative will get together and discuss everything from the materials required to the level of skill and time it will take to make each basket. Then a price is discussed and agreed. All the cooperative leaders have been trained by their government in buisness.

What About Fair Trade Certification?

Now, we normally think of Fairtrade as being consumables such as cocoa, sugar, bananas etc, which is because these are the items that you can currently get certification for. But, a new craft-based labelling and monitoring system has been developed at the World Fair Trade Organisation. The Basket Room are waiting for that moment when they can get the official seal of approval. However, they still apply Fair Trade principals to their business.

When an order is placed, the weavers are given a 50% deposit in order to purchase materials. Compare this to standard buying practices on the high street where often suppliers are paid 90 days after products are delivered. Yes, that means that so often the money goes into the pockets of the retailer before the suppliers are paid. Not good. This is why brands that adhere to Fair Trade principles are to my mind to be shouted about and celebrated.

Anyway I digress, so how does buying Fairtrade actually make a difference?

Job Security & Flexibility

Job security and flexibility are two things that are so important, particularly when you have young children to look after. I should know, I’ve spent 6 years trying to build that kind of job through this blog (!) And weaving does just that. It’s a very social activity and can be done walking down the street, going to church, chatting or feeding the animals. It’s the kind of job that fits round life, children, farming and living. And working with The Basket Room means these ladies are paid a fair wage. It’s the archetypal flexible job.

Buying Fair Trade Gives Protection Against The Affects of Climate Change

The Fairtrade Foundation has really focused this year on the effects of climate change on producers. And I’m sure it won’t surprise you to learn, that farmers and workers in countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia who have done the least to contribute to climate change, are most affected by it.  Now, many of The Basket Room’s weavers (often) husband’s primary job is as subsistence farmers. But, this is very seasonal and the erratic weather due to climate change can mean their entire crops fail. So, weaving provides a steady income for these ladies. Dorcas Ndinda, Chairlady of Kenyan Weaving Cooperative tells us:

“Weaving, as well, makes me happy, especially when I look back and see how much my family and I relied on the income from the sales of baskets that I wove, when the rains failed and I had no produce to sell at my green grocery.”

Dorcas Ndinda, Chairlady of Kenyan Weaving Cooperative

Independence

Of the 3,000 weavers working to produce baskets for The Basket Room, the majority of them are women. And the income they get from weaving makes them more independent and enables them to support their families, with food, medicine and education. All things every parent wants to be able to do.

“It makes me happy when I interact with fellow members of our cooperative and see visible results of basket weaving in their lives – one  member is able to purchase medicine for her child, another can afford a new dress, more are able to educate their children and feed and clothe their families.”

Dorcas Ndinda, Chairlady of Kenyan Weaving Cooperative

A Fair Trade Bike Basket

My bike basket from The Basket Room (gifted) was made by skilled artisans in Northern Ghana. It’s made from an indigenous crop, wild veta vera, also known as Elephant Grass. It is ethically made and sustainable. These bike baskets take up to three days to weave. I love the fact that that the creation of this basket has made a real difference to someone’s life. Yes you could probably buy one elsewhere, but buying Fair Trade products gives people dignity and allows them to provide adequately for their families.

Oh and as a side, I’d love it to be filled with flowers everyday. But most of the time it has nappies, drinks snacks and the odd cuddly toy in it.

If you’d like to know more about the positive impact of buying Fairtrade, then watch this video about Madam Dorcas, Chairlady of Kenyan Weaving Cooperative.

A Video Showing How Buying Fair Trade Products Really Makes a Difference

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