Not an ethical shopping guide
I’ve just got off a zoom with the amazing bunch of researchers from Baptist World Aid who by great efforts and hard work have contacted almost 300 clothing and footwear companies in Australia to ask them 46 questions about their labour practices, sourcing of raw materials and environmental impact. After the companies have answered these questions the team at Baptist world Aid have given each company a score out of 100. The best was a Fairtrade brand called Mighty good basics at 86% and the next is Patagonia at 68% but the average score is only 29.25%!!
I was amazed that these companies are still so far behind understanding and taking action to have a supply chain that is fair to people and planet.
We at Uplift Fair Trade have not always been happy with the fact that Baptist World Aid’s fashion report has been interpreted as a “shopping guide’ and we really feel that the name “Ethical Fashion Guide” is misleading. I have known many amazing hard-working people in Fair Trade and ethical brand circles who partner with sewing groups who make shoes and clothing, who’s supply chain is completely ethical from raw materials to dyes to sewing and so many truly ethical brands, frankly, find the “guide” insulting because they are not included or considered in the “guide” because they are a small business.
Friends of mine in Fair Trade and Ethical Fashion business’s have shared with me that they believe the Baptist World Aid guide is misleading to consumers. That it looks to be encouraging consumers to buy from the higher scoring brands. This has also been my concern. On the surface it looking like Greenwashing, so I have asked Baptist World Aid directly and sought to understand their aims.
Baptist World Aid has informed me that the guide should NOT be used as a “shopping guide”. It is to be used as information to highlight company’s practices, so you as a citizen can take advocacy action to “Speak Out”. They even have created a tool on their website for you to take easy action via a click through button on brands where you can send that brand a message that you want to see them improving.
SO… if you want a guide to know how to shop ethically in fashion do not use the “Ethical Fashion Guide” from Baptist World Aid.
My biggest advice if you want to shop ethically is to know the business’s values first. Are they built on principles of fairness and empowerment? Are they small enough to understand their complete supply chain? Are they using raw materials that don’t damage the environment? Does the business owner have integrity? Is their business model based on fast fashion or slow? Align your values and what’s important to you to the business’s you support.
Secondly look for 3rd party endorsements and certifications they are not perfect systems (but that's another Blog) and always remember Fair Trade is not just about fair wages and labour fairness but giving opportunity to the most disadvantage people groups in the world.
Please check out the principles of Fair Trade here. https://upliftfairtrade.com.au/blogs/fair-trade-stories-case-studies/ten-principles-of-fair-trade
Here are some places you can go to shop fashion ethically.
- Shop Uplift Fair Trade. https://upliftfairtrade.com.au
- Check out Fair Traders of Australia. https://www.fta.org.au/fair-traders
- Check out the Fairtrade certified brands. https://fairtradeanz.org/products
My personal 5 favourite places to shop ethically.
Uplift Fair Trade https://upliftfairtrade.com.au
Aware the social design project https://awarethesocialdesignproject.com.au
Etiko Fairtrade https://etiko.com.au
Bumi Organics https://bhumi.com.au
Global Mammas https://www.koguis.com.au/en/94-globa-
Anna Spoore
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