What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is a social way of doing business that ultimately aims to keep artisans an active part of the world marketplace, and aims to empower consumers to make purchases that support their values. Fair Trade focuses more on paying artisans a fair price transforming the lives of poor artisans, and helping them to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to develop their businesses and work their way out of poverty.

Being a fair trader, we strongly believe that sustainable employment creation is the only long term way to break cycles of poverty. That’s why at One World Projects, we partner with small scale artisan groups and delivering more of your investment to their communities. Through this model, we believe Fair Trade handmade articles can become a powerful tool for creating big change for small artisans, their families and communities.

Fair Trade is a holistic approach to trade and development that aims to alter the ways in which business is conducted, so that trade can empower the poorest of the poor. The following is an explanation of Fair Trade from the Fair Trade Federation website. Fair Trade is a system of exchange that seeks to create greater equity and partnership in international trading system by

• Creating Opportunities for Economically and Socially Marginalized Producers
• Developing Transparent and Accountable Relationships
• Building Capacity
• Promoting Fair Trade
• Paying Promptly and Fairly
• Supporting Safe and Empowering Working Conditions
• Ensuring the Rights of Children
• Cultivating Environmental Stewardship
• Respecting Cultural Identity

By approaching development as a whole process (rather than just a fair price), Fair Trade organizations cultivate partnerships with their suppliers and contribute to the development of communities. Fair Trade is not about charity; it follows a equal compensation business model that empowers artisans and to create sustainable positive change.

Fair Trade is truly the embodiment of global exchange! Its purpose and future in the international market is on the rise, and One World Projects is delighted to offer innovative and unique Fair Trade handmade articles to you. Empower your purchase with us at our Fair Trade online store and have the comfort of knowing that your purchase helps us to support individuals and communities around the world even beyond Fair Trade. To learn more read our About Us page.