25 Fair Trade Brands to Support with Ethical Shopping
This Fair Trade Month let’s explore what fair trade means, the certifications, and meet some brands that are great for furthering your fair trade knowledge.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
What is fair trade?
When we think about fair trade, some may think about chocolate or chocolate. Fair trade goes way beyond food and expands into fashion and other industries too!
Fair trade is an organized social movement that seeks to set strict standards for trading practices, particularly to protect countries in the Global South, where workers are often exploited by countries in the Global North.
These standards aim to ensure workers are paid fair wages, working conditions are safe, the environment is protected, and manufacturing processes are sustainable.
A business or brand may implement these standards through its policies and principles or by seeking fair trade certification.
Common certifications and organizations include the Fair Trade Federation, World Fair Trade Organization, Fair Trade USA and Fair Trade Certified.
However, it’s also important to recognize that fair trade third party approvals require a fee and rigorous application process.
For this reason a lot of small brands don’t have the time and resources to dedicate to official fair trade certifications, but do use fair trade practices such as paying workers a livable wage, creating a safe work environment, and more.
If you have any questions about a brands ethical practices, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask. Truly ethical brands using fair trade practices will be grateful you asked & happy to answer your questions about their supply chain.
List of 22 Fair Trade Brands
If you’re looking to learn more about fair trade consider checking out these brands. While all of the brands on this list use fair trade practices, if these brands do hold third party certifications they are listed.
Passion Lilie’s Fair Trade Clothing
Passion Lilie partners with artisans in India to create eco-friendly clothing and accessories. Passion Lilie is part of the Fair Trade Federation, a third party which verifies fair trade practices.
Passion Lilie offers fair trade clothes for men, women, and babies. Their clothing prioritizes sustainable materials such as organic and recycled cotton.
Malia Designs Ethically Made Bags
Malia Designs was formed to increase economic opportunity for women in Cambodia and to support organizations that fight human trafficking in Southeast Asia.
Through their fair trade bags and accessories this social enterprise creates sustainable income and safe and dignified working conditions for women in Cambodia. Malia Designs is part of the Fair Trade Federation and Fair Trade Chicago.
Fair Anita’s Fair Trade Accessories
Fair Anita partners with 8,000+ talented artisans worldwide to design ridiculously cute gifts + accessories that invest in women and are budget friendly.
Their mission is to create a world where women feel safe, valued, and respected by investing in women and creating accessories you can be proud to wear. Fair Anita is part of the Fair Trade Federation and Fair Trade Chicago.
Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate
Alter Eco is a brand prides themselves on high quality ingredients and ethical relationships through out their supply chain. This brands organic cacao is turned into unbelievably smooth chocolate through transparent processes.
Alter Eco is certified by Fair for Life, B Corporation, USDA Organic, and Climate Neutral. I personally love the mint creme chocolate truffles.
Fair Indigo Organic Cotton Clothing
Fair Indigo specializes in fair trade clothing and uses organic materials to craft high quality garments crafted to last.
Fair Indigo also gives back to The Fair Indigo Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission to improve educational opportunities for children in the Peruvian communities where their cotton is grown, alpacas are herded, and products are made.
Darzah’s Artisan Made Shoes
Darzah partners with refugee and low-income women in West Bank, Palestine through the creation of high quality leather goods.
This non-profit social enterprise is creating job opportunities for women to rise out of poverty, support their families, and keep the traditional artform of Tatreez embroidery alive. Darzah’s beautiful leather shoes, bags, and accessories celebrate fair fashion and modern style.
PACT Organic fair trade clothing
PACT specializes in affordable fair trade basics. PACT Apparel is made with organic cotton and created in Fair Trade Certified factories.
PACT carries fair trade organic clothing for kids, babies, men, & women. PACT also offers organic cotton bath towels and sheets that are made in Fair Trade Certified factories.
Ten Thousand Villages Artisan Boutique
Ten Thousand Villages works with artisan communities in the Global South through employment and collaboration.
Eileen Fisher High End fashion
Eileen Fisher crafts incredibly high quality garments. This is a brand that values transparency through out their supply chain.
Eileen Fisher crafts a lot of garments using sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled cashmere, & more. Select garments are made in Fair Trade Certified factories.
Explorer Cold Brew Coffee
Explorer is a coffee and tea company that only uses organic and fair-trade coffee as they believe that’s what’s best. Discover their various iced coffee offerings.
GOEX Apparel Made with Recycled Materials
GOEX basics & graphic tees are printed on USA made eco-friendly fabric that includes five recycled water bottles, their triblend tees stay stylish wash after wash.
They have t-shirts for men, women, and children. GOEX is part of the Fair Trade Federation.
Fair Trade Winds Boutique
Fair Trade Winds is a family run shop focusing on unique gifts with purpose. Their ethical & sustainable goods share stories of artisan empowerment & allow customers to feel confident about their purchases.
With multiple retail locations & an online shop, Fair Trade Winds makes fair trade accessible to more shoppers. Fair Trade Winds is part of the Fair Trade Federation.
Matr Boomie Jewelry That’s Ethically Made
Matr Boomie works with artisans in India to create unique fair trade jewelry. Matr Boomie aims to break the gender and inequality gap by paving a path to create confidence for their 1500 women artisan partners.
This is done by investing in vocational training, literacy programs and providing fair wage opportunities
The Good Tee Fair Trade Organic Cotton Clothing
The Good Tee is a sustainable clothing brand focusing on high quality Fairtrade Certified organic cotton t-shirts.
This socially responsible brand allows ethical shoppers to easily learn about the transparent supply chain and trace the manufacturing process through videos and resources highlighting The Good Tee’s partner suppliers and the materials used.
Boll & Branch Bedding
Boll & Branch is a line of home goods that focuses on transparency and social impact.
Boll & Branch products use responsibly sourced materials such as organic cotton and made in Fair Trade certified factories which ensure fair treatment of employees.
KNOWN SUPPLY fair trade Certified Clothing
KNOWN SUPPLY is humanizing the apparel industry through collaborative partnerships which encourage, educate, and empower businesses to take part in social impact.
This certified B Corporation is crafting ethical clothing while creating employment opportunities in Peru & Uganda through their partnership with Fair Trade Certified.
prAna’s Sustainable Clothing
PrAna focuses on fair trade, sustainability, and giving back with their clothing. Prana uses materials such as recycled wool, organic cotton, and recycled polyester.
PrAna partners with local and international charities to give back. PrAna uses Fair Trade Certified factories.
Mata traders Vintage Inspired Clothing
Mata Traders is working to make fair trade fashion readily available to consumers through vintage inspired designs and affordable prices.
Mata Traders works with artisan groups in India and Nepal providing fair wages, a safe space, and the tools needed for individuals to rise above poverty. Mata Traders is part of the Fair Trade Federation, a third party which verifies fair trade practices.
Why I Shop Fair Trade
I’ve been prioritizing purchasing fair trade items for about seven years now.
I personally choose to shop fair trade brands as often as I can because I want to spend my hard earned money at companies I believe in.
When we spend money we are supporting the ethics of the brands we buy from. Shopping fair trade helps me feel confident that I’m supporting good values.
When is fair trade month?
October is fair trade month which is a dedicated month to raise awareness of fair trade. During fair trade month ethical brands highlight the transparency in their supply chain, explain what fair trade practices they use in their business, and more.
This is a great time for conscious consumers to further their learning due to the extra resources that are shared during October.
Also, remember to support fair trade companies beyond this month of awareness!
Tips for Shopping Fair Trade Items
Here are some tips from my experience shopping fair trade!
What kind of items can you purchase from fair trade brands?
There are a variety of fair trade products conscious consumers can find including fair trade chocolate bars, fair trade coffee, fair trade clothes, and more.
By using your consumer power to purchase fair trade goods you're making a difference with your purchase power and voting with your money.
Are fair trade brands sustainable?
While being fair trade doesn't guarantee sustainability, most brands that have value fair trade standards also value eco-friendly practices. Look at the materials they’re using! and see if they’re recycled, organic, or other sustainable ingredients or materials.
Typically fair trade brands are also producing in small batches creating less waste and using less resources.
How do I know if a product is fair trade?
Ask about their sourcing and production. Brands who value the fair trade principles will be happy to share more information about the production.
Look for the fairtrade mark.
Look for fair trade ingredients on the label.
Hopefully this guide helped you understand why fair trade month is important and introduce you to a great list of fair trade brands making a positive impact. You can support these amazing brands by shopping or just following along on social media.
For more tips & tricks on sustainable living be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.