Fair Trade USA and
Textile Exchange could revolutionize the global
textile industry’s approach towards
supply chain management and responsible sourcing. Yesterday the two organizations launched a strategic partnership that will offer both emerging and leading
fashion brands the opportunity to support cotton farming communities and source more sustainable and ethical fibers.
Fair Trade USA has raised awareness on how a small premium paid for fair trade ingredients like
cocoa and
coffee can improve lives abroad by expanding health care coverage and building better roads. Textile Exchange works with leading brands like Nike and Nordstrom and works them on issues including procuring organic cotton and using recycled textile fibers.
Read my thoughts on
Triple Pundit. My hope is that the focus of this alliance will be on the folks who work abroad on farms and at the factories--and that more is done than westerners going to trade shows and conferences, a concern of some folks at small companies who have worked hard to do well and attain that coveted certification.
