As members of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), the below enterprises are a part of a community that is evolving our trade landscape and supports each other in creating and maintaining a sustainable journey in commerce.
For World Fair Trade Day this year, learn how FTF members are working towards a world where responsible business is the norm and not the exception.
Tanana Madagascar is a nature based social enterprise that works hand-in-hand with leaders in Madagascar to strengthen local resilience and produce textiles from wild silk. Creating incentives for farmers to raise endemic silk not only helps the community but also curbs nature loss through the cultivation of their host plants in agricultural landscapes. Tanana is aiming to bridge the gap between the needs of people and planet by supporting investments in future generations as well as bright ideas like invasive plant-fueled stoves.
Passion Lilie is a sustainable fashion brand connecting artisan communities in India with conscious consumers worldwide. They use traditional and environmental responsible printing and dyeing techniques alongside fair trade practices. Due to their efforts, their emissions are significantly lower than the industry average, and they partner with Grow Ahead to invest in community-led reforestation projects as an offset. Passion Lilie demonstrates that fashion can be responsible and economically viable without compromising on quality or aesthetics.
Fair trade worker-owned cooperative Equal Exchange is demonstrating their strong commitment to their cacao producing farmer partners despite the unprecedented situation happening currently in the cocoa market. Many factors such as supply decreases and climate change are destabilizing the market, but Equal Exchange remains committed to their long-term partnerships and payments of above fair trade premium prices to support small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and their communities.
GOEX Apparel is a people first organization. They are proving that commerce, when tweaked just a bit, has the power to change lives for the better. From paying fair wages, to selecting eco-friendly fabrics & components, to limiting their carbon footprint, GOEX believes in choosing better at every decision point. They create partnerships with clients and other brands who share their values and work towards a future where trade makes our world better, one transaction at a time.
Fair trade retail store The Green Shepherdess has been in operation for over five-years in a small village located on the shore of Lake Erie in Northeast Ohio. It is there that the “seeds” of their fair trade efforts were planted and have grown. This spring, they are moving to a new location in Willoughby, OH where they will have a larger and more fertile context to share the message of fair and responsible trade! Their re-grand opening is schedule for Saturday, May 10th to coincide with World Fair Trade Day.
Global Goods Partners utilizes ethical sourcing, supports women’s empowerment, and fosters sustainable development in communities worldwide. Unlike fast fashion and mass production, they champion a transparent supply chain where every product tells a story. By bridging the gap between artisans and conscious consumers, they promote an economy rooted in fairness and accountability. Blending social impact with high-quality, handcrafted goods, Global Goods Partners is setting the standard for responsible trade—proving that business can be a force for good.
Himalayan Naari is connecting the world to the traditional textile skills of the women in remote villages of the Indian Himalayas. They recently expanded their product line beyond hand-knit woolen items to include organic hand-dyed yarns, and in the fall, will be introducing a line of cotton tote bags. Working with Himalayan Naari, over 70 women will be supporting their families with these initiatives, creating great local impact in their communities, while sharing their craft globally.
SERRV partners with fair trade organizations around the world to lay the groundwork for a greener and more sustainable tomorrow. They’re providing financial support to community-led climate resilience projects and working with artisans and farmers to develop handcrafted items using natural and recycled materials. SERRV is also expanding their reach beyond their current audience to finding new, socially aware shoppers ensuring that responsible trade practices are not a nice-to-have, but an expectation for future generations.
Amazon Ecology partners with several hundred artisans from indigenous and remote communities in the Peruvian Amazon to make and market innovative fair trade handicrafts. The nonprofit is working to generate more income for the artisans and their families, help build strong communities, and support forest conservation. They reinvest 20% of their net sales to support health, education, and conservation needs in partner communities. They also host a number of host of workshops to help with training, marketing, leadership, finances, and more.
