Fair Trade Federation Awards

The Mayan Hands handwoven cushion cover, part of the Birds of Guatemala collection, is inspired by the colors of the Grey-Throated Chat, a bird native to Guatemala.  Color blocks in navy, dusty periwinkle blue, and muted red are accented by geometric black and white randa hand embroidery and a geometric cinta accent tag. This cushion is woven from 100% cotton and designed to showcase the skill and artistry of three distinct groups of craftswomen. 

This pillow and the others in the Birds of Guatemala collection blend bold, modern color combinations with traditional skills and techniques in an artful and innovative way. The cushion covers appear striking and modern, and on closer examination reveal centuries-old techniques re-interpreted and combined in a new way.

This line of butterfly ornaments is handcrafted from chambira palm fiber by native and campesino artisans of the northern Peruvian Amazon in partnership with FTF Member Amazon Ecology. The collection features monarch, yellow swallowtail, morpho, urania, and scarlet peacock butterflies, each about four inches wide, with legs and loops for display or hanging. Accessory versions include full-size butterflies on ponytail and flat barrettes, medium butterflies on alligator clips for hair or clothing, and pinned versions for hats or garments. These designs reflect 17 years of collaboration between Amazon Ecology and artisans, evolving from simple prototypes into high-quality crafts sold in retail and wholesale markets

The branding campaign for Lofty Peaks Yarn was designed to visually and emotionally connect the product to its geographic roots, while extending the story of its parent organization, Himalayan Naari. Each yarn skein is wrapped in a custom sleeve featuring the Lofty Peaks logo, product details, care instructions, and the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) logo, underscoring a commitment to ethical production. The branding evokes a sense of origin, quality, and purpose, reflecting the land and hands behind each skein. Inspired by the towering Himalayan mountains visible from the workshop, the name “Lofty Peaks” and the visual identity draw directly from the surrounding landscape and cultural heritage. This intentional design approach transforms the yarn into more than just a product—it becomes a tangible expression of Himalayan Naari’s mission, connecting makers and conscious consumers to a story of tradition, empowerment, and place.

For over 75 years, SERRV has built a widely recognized brand rooted in its fair trade mission. This identity is reflected across its branding and digital assets, which have been thoughtfully developed to support retailers and resellers in sharing SERRV’s story. By investing in high-quality photography, compelling product descriptions, and meaningful producer stories, SERRV equips partners with powerful tools for both in-store and online engagement. In the unique fair trade retail space, where impact on people and planet matters deeply, these resources help resellers connect with customers more effectively and drive sales. SERRV’s commitment to excellence in branding and digital design ensures that every touchpoint not only promotes its values but also empowers others to do the same.

Tropical Fruit Paradise: Women of the Cloud Forest works near a remote series of islands with only footpaths and trails. We have been partnering with 25 families for over 10 years, who create our beautiful line of balsa ornaments and earrings. These talented folks are farmers every day, but especially during planting and harvest season. They squeeze in artwork in their free time and in between crops. They are deeply connected with the land and the water that surrounds them. During our yearly design workshops, we spend a week on the main island. These are full days mixed with lots of conversations while new ornaments are being created. It was during one of these trips and farm visits that we realized the artisans didn’t have access to grafted fruit trees. The closest nursery is a 2-3 hour boat ride and then a seven-hour bus ride. 

There are several advantages to using grafted trees versus planting by seed: They produce fruit quicker, and they also produce the true fruit of the parent clone. We talked to the artisans about any interest in procuring grafted fruit trees and were met with incredible enthusiasm. This started our “Tropical Fruit Paradise” fruit tree donation program. For the past five years, we have purchased over 3500 fruit trees and plantain plants to help grow the diversity of fruit on the islands and also as another source of economic development through the sale of the fruit. Each year, when we visit the artisans share photos of their trees and also very thoughtfully bring us organic guavas and mangos.

The Saving Cooperative provides access to small loans for members through a fund that all participants contribute to—creating a sustainable, community-driven resource for financial resilience and empowerment. The newly launched Savings Cooperative is governed by a board of four members elected from within the group, which currently consists of 13 participants. The board meets regularly to review financials, evaluate loan applications, and plan cooperative activities. This structure encourages shared leadership, accountability, and active engagement from all members.By involving members in both management and strategic planning, the cooperative not only supports financial growth but also builds valuable skills in governance, communication, and collaboration—further empowering every individual involved.

Members contribute to the cooperative after each payment they receive from Nica Life USA. The cooperative operates on a non-profit model. At the end of each year, 60% of each member’s total contributions are returned to them—offering a tangible benefit for their participation and helping to meet personal or household needs. The remaining 40% is retained as a shared fund, ensuring the cooperative starts the next savings cycle with a solid base and can provide the first round of loans without delay. 

Additionally, the 2024 program introduced two annual bazaars, where team members donate gently used items to be sold, with proceeds going directly into the cooperative fund. These combined contributions create a communal pool from which members can apply for loans on a quarterly basis.

Julio has played an integral role in planning this year’s conference and serving as one of our “hosts” in St. Louis. He is an active presence on the FTF Member Hub, and through Zee Bee Market, regularly promotes fair trade values on social media. Julio frequently collaborates with other fair trade businesses to amplify members’ work and shares his passion for the FTF community with others—helping our network grow and thrive.

As one of our newest members, Shanna has quickly become an active and engaged presence on the FTF Member Hub by supporting and celebrating fellow members through meaningful connections and consistent engagement. She advocates for FTF by inviting new members to join and taking the time to write recommendation letters for applicants behind the scenes. In just a short time, Shanna has embraced many opportunities our membership offers, collaborating with many members and shining as a passionate leader in fair trade.

As brands that both work in Haiti, we’re always looking for ways to reach more customers and grow sales for both of our teams. Kayla’s artwork translated well from cards and home decor to apparel when she tested it last year in her store. In 2025, we created a co-branded collection that either of us can sell with shared profits.

This created a shared opportunity to grow revenue for both of our companies. It also provides a different look within the GOEX product offerings and larger canvas for Kayla to design for.

Justea was experiencing a shortage of one of their products of small teaspoons and reached out to Gitzell Fairtrade for help sourcing from artisans in Kenya. Leveraging Gitzell’s unique strength in this area, we partnered with a local producer group to fulfill the orders. 

This collaboration created a strong three-way partnership, with orders completed on time and additional artisan workers hired to meet demand, thus improving livelihoods in the process. It’s a true example of how fair traders can work together to create impact, strengthen partnerships, and expand employment opportunities.

Our organization chose the name Crafted Fair Trade to celebrate handicrafts, the people who make them and the cultures that inspire them. We envisioned customer-friends learning about the crafting of the fair trade items available to them in the store. Kendra brought those visions to life by repurposing our former brand wall assets into craft story boxes. Materials, tools, examples, deconstructions and short descriptions of craft techniques are featured on each box. Kendra has made boxes that illustrate: Paper Quilling, Felting, Block Printing, Screen Printing, Knitting and Basketry.

Kendra meticulously selected, assembled and sewed together kantha stitched sari tea towels from SERRV to transform our existing cashwrap.

We were challenged to figure out a way to display our baskets and our upcycled horn products in a vertical display on black pipe and drape for the MSA Forward Expo. We had never participated in a trade show with pipe and drape so struggled to figure out a way to display these two very different product lines. We decided to use black metal grid wall panels that would vanish against the black drape and then used them to mount clusters of baskets, woven trivets and wooden discs that had our various Ankole Horn products mounted to them. 

And to both simplify how much we needed to ship and bring, we created large fabric banners that illustrated various ways to display baskets, the wider range of products that we have available and the materials that products are made with. We were proud of how our booth came together but were completely surprised and overjoyed with winning the Best Booth award at MSA Forward.

Amanda Archila is the Executive Director of Fairtrade America, the US branch of Fairtrade International. Amanda has more than 15 years of experience working in a range of industries, from natural foods to e-commerce retail and consumer electronics, as well as an extensive fair trade advocacy background.

After dedicating much of her undergraduate time as a student activist for the fair trade movement, Amanda supported the development and launch of a domestic fair trade certification in India with cotton farming cooperatives. She then returned to the U.S. and spent five years in marketing and sales roles within Divine Chocolate, a pioneering Fairtrade company co-owned by cocoa farmers. After earning her MBA from Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, she pivoted to retail vendor management at Amazon, where she held a variety of senior leadership roles across multiple business units.

At Fairtrade America, Amanda serves the organization’s vision to create a world where all farmers and workers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods.

Laura Cave is the founder and director of Just Trade, a WFTO-guaranteed fair trade jewelry brand recognized as one of the UK’s leading ethical design businesses. A first class honours graduate of The School of Jewellery in Birmingham and the Royal College of Art in London, Laura has over 25 years of experience working co-creatively with artisan craft makers in emerging economies, building long-term partnerships rooted in respect, transparency, and design-led innovation.

Under her leadership, Just Trade supplies more than 300 independent retailers in the UK and internationally, and has developed custom-designed, best-selling product ranges for world-renowned institutions including the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, English Heritage, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

In addition to her work with Just Trade, Laura has over 20 years of experience teaching design and making techniques in some of the UK’s top art universities, nurturing the next generation of makers and socially conscious designers.

Laura chaired the board of BAFTS Fair Trade Network UK—the British equivalent of the Fair Trade Federation—for several years. Her work continues to champion sustainable, collaborative practices that bridge the gap between contemporary design and traditional craft.

Allison Garafalo began her career in Trade Shows at GLM/Emerald Expositions over twenty years ago. In the earlier part of her professional career, Allison oversaw the Handmade collection at NY NOW, including Artisan Resource. It was here that her love for collaborating with handmade artisans began. Taking a short break from the trade show world, she ventured into the technology sector as Director of Sales at Powered by People, a startup B2B platform where conscious retailers could discover responsibly made products from makers around the world. While she truly enjoyed working with inspiring retailers, she realized that collaborating directly with artisans and brands was where her passion lay. This led her to her current role.

Today, Allison is the Senior Director of International Sales at Shoppe Object. With a curated roster of visionary brands and makers presented in an elevated setting, Shoppe Object is New York’s semi-annual, independent home and gift show and year-round online marketplace providing the ultimate resource for premier merchants and influential editors. She is grateful to have found a role that has allowed her to jump back into trade shows and continue to provide access to markets for sustainable, design-driven artisans + brands throughout the world.

Allison earned a Master of Tourism Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hofstra University in NY.

Caterina Occhio is a sustainability and ESG advisor with a strong focus on fair trade and ethical fashion, supporting luxury brands such as Chloé, Maison Alaïa, and Aspesi. She played a key role in guiding Chloé toward becoming the first B-Corp certified luxury brand and currently advises UNIDO and UNHCR’s Made51 on sustainable sourcing and social enterprise development.

A long-time fair trade advocate, she serves on the Global Board of the World Fair Trade Organization and founded SeeMe, a jewellery brand employing women survivors of violence, as well as EthicaRei, the first certified ethical supplier network for fashion Made in Italy. Her work builds on over 15 years of experience with EU and UN development programmes, including leading roles in the UN Ethical Fashion Initiative.

She regularly contributes to Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar NL, and BoF, and speaks at global events such as the Condé Nast Luxury Conference, the Social Enterprise World Forum, and UN Fashion for Development. She also lectures on sustainable fashion at SDA Bocconi and Milano Fashion Institute. She holds an M.A. with honours in Geopolitics and International Relations.

• Submissions open for nominations until July 15, 2025. 
• The external judging panel met in late July 2025.
• Member voting took place in late July/early August 2025.
• Finalists notified in mid August 2025.
• The celebration took place at the FTF Conference in St Louis in September 2025!

All FTF members were encouraged to nominate another FTF member who exemplifies strengths across one or more award categories to be recognized for their efforts. Self nominations were also highly encouraged to share about a project, campaign, design, or collaboration that showcases creativity and forward thinking in building the future of responsible trade. 

Members filled out one form per entry and up to one entry per award category. Members were able to self-nominate up to two categories, as long as new information is included for each unique award application.

>> Nominations were open to anyone in the fair trade community to submit.

>> Only FTF members can be nominated. See our member list here. 

>> FTF Members must have an updated renewal with a certificate in order to win.

>> FTF Members can self nominate; it was welcomed and highly encouraged.

>> All nominations must have been worked on, launched, or designed within the 2024-2025 calendar years. Some work or planning may have been set earlier but the bulk of the content or launch must have been done in 2024-2025.  

>> FTF Members do not need to be present at the conference to win; however, we hope they’ll be there to celebrate. 

>> Be honored and recognized as a leader in building the future of responsible trade. 

>> Showcased at the conference during the Welcome Dinner, with finalists announced from stage. 

>> Recognized across FTF social platforms and website post conferences.