2 June 2009

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Want to add a little zing to your summer holiday wardrobe? Take inspiration from our list of top Fairtrade must-haves, all made from high quality Fairtrade certified cotton.

Holiday wardrobe

Dress to impress during the day in the tiniest hotpants and sundresses from Topshop and stylish Fairtrade cotton Tee-shirts from Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Laura Ashley and Liv and make the most of the balmy evenings in dresses and tunics from Top Shop. Alternatively, choose People Tree’s one shouldered, jersey party dress with wide, gathered shoulder strap and ruched neckline and a long jersey belt at the waist, or check out Annie Greenableele’s great range of Fairtrade cotton party dresses, which are perfect for a summer beach barbeque. And when the sun’s not shining quite as brightly, must-haves are Gossypium’s classic white shirt orMonsoon’s ciara Fairtrade cotton cardigan or one of Wombat’s hoodies. Demonstrate that you care with a lacy vest from Life’s not Fair but my Knickers Are or a cheeky pair of shorts from their Strawberry Fair range. And if you’re off to a festival this summer, look out for Pants to Poverty’s colourful range of Festival Pants.

Bags for the beach or a summer picnic

Pack a picnic blanket from Sarah Smith and an Accessorize bag made from Fairtrade certified cotton for lazy days on the beach. The cotton is grown by farmers in India and the premium generated by sales will help them invest in community projects such as schools, healthcare and clean drinking water. Choose from stunning bag designs such as Accessorize’s Summer Lovin’ Fairtrade cotton shopper or the Angels drawstring bag. Other great bag designs include M&S 125 anniversary and Bishopston’s large zip safe bag. Also look for cotton Fairtrade cotton bags from The Co-operative, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda to carry those Fairtrade picnic goodies!

Beach wear

Stretch out on on the beach on a colourful Fairtrade cotton beach towel from Sarah Smith. Cover up from the sun’s rays with a scarf from Bishopston. Dry yourself off with a luxurious towel from the growing range of styles available from a selection of outlets. New this summer, check out towels from Handmade Hammocks’ Starfish range, or from ranges at Sainsbury’s, M&S, Christy UK, Gossypium and many more. Full details fromwww.fairtrade.org.uk

Relaxation

Enjoy those lazy summer days to the max by relaxing in a hammock or hammock chair made from organic Fairtrade certified cotton by Handmade Hammocks. Snuggle up or stretch out, this is the best way to relax - suspended from a single point you feel weightless. They are so soft and smooth and comfortable that you’ll be torn between spending the night in your hammock or in your lovely crisp Fairtrade bed linen from Liv or Muji. And don’t forget to treat yourself to some new Fairtrade certified cotton pyjamas from Liv or Top Shop.

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Notes to Editors

1.     The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label is now recognised by 70% of UK consumers and appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and their families – across 58 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.

2.     Over 4,500 products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark including coffee, tea, herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, apples, pears, plums, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, satsumas, clementines, mandarins, lychees, coconuts, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, cakes & snacks, honey, jams & preserves, chutney & sauces, rice, quinoa, herbs &  spices, seeds, nuts & nut oil, wines, beers, rum, confectionary, muesli, cereal bars, yoghurt, ice-cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub and cotton products including clothing, homeware, cloth toys, cotton wool and olive oil.

3.     7 in 10 households purchase Fairtrade goods, including an extra 1.3 million more households in 2008, helping Fairtrade sales reach an estimated £700m in 2008, a 43% increase on the previous year. There are over 460 producer organisations selling to the UK and by the end of October 2008 872 certified producer groups were in the global Fairtrade system, representing more than 1.5 million farmers and workers.