A Rational Movement to End Poverty and Hunger Through Business

Fair trade is a movement that provides work at fair wages to producers in impoverished countries, and then sells the goods produced through this system.

In a globalized society, large corporations often drive down wages for producers, forcing even children who should be in school to work in harsh conditions.
In recent years, alongside the term "social entrepreneur," a rational movement to end poverty and hunger through business, rather than donations, has been gaining momentum.

Many people may have seen this with coffee beans, but one of the concerns for today's ecological consumers is "traceability" – the transparency of the product's journey, from who made it and when, to how it was distributed.
Conversely, there are those who are forced into arduous labor without knowing where their crops are going or what they will become; some cacao farmers have never tasted or even seen chocolate.

Preserving Their Wonderful Handiwork

Specifically, I've designed several items in collaboration, and the sentiment behind it is the hope that my work can contribute to providing sustenance and pride – which I believe is more significant than charity – to those less fortunate.

The sustainability of such producers' work also lies in preserving their remarkable handiwork. This isn't limited to developing nations; even here, with tailoring alone, we might soon see a generation unable to sew a jacket. To prevent this, we designers must strive to continue creating "Made in Japan" products and foster an appealing manufacturing environment that inspires young people to want to work in factories.

What's truly commendable about People Tree is the dedication of its founder, Safia Minney. To support producers' livelihoods, they pay half of the labor costs eight months before delivery.
As a business owner myself, even as a designer, I am deeply impressed. They deliver products after they've been made, and then sell them, essentially gambling their own capital for the benefit of the less fortunate.
Still, the rewards of such work include gaining immense energy from encounters with people like her.
If you're interested, I encourage you to read Safia's book.

Stylish Eco-Fashion Saves the World: A Female CEO's Fair Trade Journey
By Safia Minney
Nikkei BP
1575 yen

Nikkei BP Bookstore
http://ec.nikkeibp.co.jp/item/books/P46700.html