People Tree founder Safia Minney swaps tips

October 21, 2008 by Sarah Woodhead

The first lady of Fair Trade fashion, Safia Minney, founder of People Tree, spares half an hour during the launch of her new book, ‘By Hand’, to talk ethics, stylish women, hot picks and Christmas socks with greenmystyle.com editor Sarah Woodhead.

In 1995 Fair Trade fashion brand People Tree set out to bring us beautiful clothes that had been made with care, consideration and beauty too. Founder Safia Minney said no to cheap, fast and exploitative fashion, dependent on migrant workers in sweatshops producing vast quantities of throw-away garments and intead focused on organically grown, hand-made, community-produced fashion.

In her first book, ‘By Hand’, published today, Safia sets out the case for organically grown, handwoven cotton and Fair Trade fashion, through conversation with farming cooperatives, slum based-activists, garment workers and jewellery makers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Through words and stunning pictures she chronicles how she has inspired top designers like Richard Nicoll, Thakoon and Bora Aksu to models such as Helena Christensen, and worked with industry giants Topshop and asos.com, to rethink what is possible in fashion today.

Safia spared half an hour in her hectic schedule to talk to me about ethics, stylish women and Christmas shopping.

Sarah: Lots of us know about Fair Trade food, but not so many know about Fair Trade fashion. Why is it so important?
Safia: Because while Fair Trade foods are largely processed in developing countries, Fair Trade Fashion is finished in developing countries, with Fair Trade and Organic fiber and hand production methods like hand weaving etc. Huge numbers of people can earn income and escape from poverty through Fair Trade fashion.