World Fair Trade Day 2017

World Fair Trade Day is on again this Saturday, the 13^th of May. 

The theme this year is Agents of Change – showing how anyone, producers, those in the supply chain, policy makers, advocates and consumers can support fair trade and sustainable development. 

And while fair trade has seen its global influence and local successes grow over the last decade, there is still a long way to go in ending the social disadvantages faced by producers and communities in developing countries due to their marginalization and exploitation in the world marketplace.

Our Fair Trade WA Oxfam shop in Bayswater will be open this Saturday and is celebrating World Fair Trade Day, with a forecourt market and sausage sizzle.

Come and see the range of fair trade chocolates, coffee and tea, condiments, handicrafts, jewellery, children’s toys and a lot more, learning about the stories behind the products and supporting the people and communities that produced them.  

Lahu handicraft

We have just received some beautiful hand woven bags and cosmetics pouches made by Lahu women in Thailand.

Who are the Lahu people?

Lahu people migrated from China in the area around the Tibetan plateau, to bordering Southeast Asian countries over the last 200 years.  Approximately 58,000 Lahu people live in Thailand.

Lahu handicrafts

Lahu women are skilled in weaving cloth both on back strap and foot treadle looms. Lahu weaving is unique and Lahu women are known for delicate and colourful patchwork trims.

Traditionally the tribal people have supported their families by engaging in slash and burn agriculture, which required them to move their village every few years in search of new fields when old ones lost their fertility. It is no longer possible for them to continue this semi-nomadic lifestyle, as there are no new places to move on to.  Also, mainly for ecological reasons the Thai Government prohibits the felling of trees and clearing of hillside land. So the tribal people are finding that they have less and land on which to support their families.

Women in Lahu communities produce handicrafts, such as the bags we now have in store.  Handicraft supports traditions of tribal community life.  

Come by the store to see (and feel) these beautiful products.

To read more about Lahu people click here http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Lahu

Labour Day - Celebrate your working rights

Today many of us are enjoying a long weekend here in WA, but what does Labour Day actually mean?

Labour Day recognises the achievements of those that advocated for workers’ rights and the eight hour work day, but can also encompass the guaranteeing safer working conditions, payed overtime, safeguarding sick and annual leave, and more recently the introduction of superannuation and maternity leave.

Unfortunately these sort of working conditions and benefits are far and few between in developing nations throughout the world.

Fair trade aims to address problems such as a lack of formal employment contracts, freedom of association, assuring health and safety, and adequate wages. It can do this by creating a system and standards that provide a dialogue between the employer and worker that is often missing. An environment where a worker can claim their rights is one where they can also participate in solving the productivity challenges of the business.

You can help to empower these workers by supporting fair trade producers and enterprises. Come into the shop to see our range of Maroma soaps, or the handcrafted jewellery by Khmer Creations. Both of these enterprises are focussed on securing gender equality, advocating for sustainable wages and other labour rights; but most importantly they empower workers through fair trade.

New stock!

New stock has arrived from Penh Lane. Beautifully soft silk scarves and playful jewellery. If you are in Bayswater for brunch, lunch or coffee pop in