Chattanooga Pulse

The fair-trade system, as we know it today, can trace its roots to 1946 and the compassion of Mennonite Central Committee volunteer Edna Ruth Byler. Byler discovered a talented group of Puerto Rican women living in extreme poverty, despite their skill in creating intricate lace pieces. She began to transport these unique pieces to the United States, selling them and returning the money directly to the groups in Puerto Rico. Her work eventually grew into Ten Thousand Villages, which is now the largest fair-trade retailer in North America. From this humble beginning, the fair-trade system has evolved into a multi-billion dollar group of organizations.

The Fair Trade Federation requires members to “create opportunities for economically and socially disadvantaged producers, develop transparent and accountable relationships, build capacity, promote fair trade, pay promptly and fairly, support safe and empowering work conditions, ensure the rights of children, cultivate environmental stewardship and respect the producer’s cultural identity”. Here in Chattanooga, the selection of fair-trade products is growing. More retailers are offering fair-trade certified goods and the number of products carrying the “fair trade” label is increasing.

“At Blue Skies, it is important to us that products be created in a ‘fair trade’ environment because we want people worldwide to be able to support themselves and their families through the work they do,” says owner Tina Harrison. “We feel that by supporting fair trade we can, in a small way, influence the market in that direction.” Blue Skies features many fair-trade products including a sterling silver jewelry line by Far Fetched, “Good Luck” pigs crafted in Peru and Starlightz home decor.
Although most of their products are made in the USA, particularly by local artists, New Moon Gallery does stock beautiful fair-trade certified bags, scarves, journals and some jewelry.

New Moon’s neighbor, Greenlife Grocery, carries a variety of fair trade food goods for holiday entertaining. Greenlife’s fair-trade gift items include, among others, woolen goodies from Andes Gifts, home products from World of Good and the Under the Nile line of baby items.
For LaDonna Cingilli, it is her firm belief system that drives her to support fair trade practices. “My commitment to selling only fair-trade coffee is driven by my faith and my desire to ensure that I am not profiting at all from someone else’s slavery; even if I don’t know it,” says Cingilli, who owns Pasha Coffee & Tea in St. Elmo with her husband. “It may not be as profitable but I absolutely believe in equality over profitability.”

Go Fish franchise owners Steve and Sherra Lewis wanted the chance to be part of something global—but it was the mission behind the business that drew this couple to the Brunswick, Georgia, based company.  According to Sherra, Go Fish products are not fair-trade certified but the company follows all of the same principles. She explains that founder Curt Coleman meets with the families and buys directly from them. “Go Fish is not just a regular retailer,” says Sherra, “There is a story behind everything we sell.”

According to All Things Groovy owner’s assistant Bonnie Hedgcroff, many of their vendors also follow fair-trade practices but deal directly with the artisans making their products. All Things Groovy does carry many fair-trade certified brands but, Hedgcroff explains, some vendors prefer to avoid the additional cost associated with the fair-trade label and keep the extra money in the impoverished villages where the goods are made. “Our African vendor will go into a village, with kids hanging off of each arm, buying products from individual families,” says Hedgcroff. “Those families can then take that money directly and buy food or whatever else they need.”

For business leaders Kim and Will Honeycutt, owning and running the exclusively fair-trade store World Next Door gives them a chance to educate the community on global issues such as poverty, education, healthcare, clean water and HIV/AIDS. They feel that fair trade helps to empower those born into less fortunate circumstances to lift themselves out of poverty and take ownership of the businesses they create. They have recently taken this mission all the way to the White House through the Fair Trade the White House campaign.

In the spirit of giving this holiday season and with the state of the global economy, it seems only natural to give a gift with added purpose. This is all the more reason to have a fairly traded holiday.

Editor’s Note: Perfect fair-trade stocking stuffers for the travelers on your list are the handmade luggage tags from Jenny Krauss Designs. Each one is unique, made by a Peruvian or Bolivian craftsman, and at $12 each, are affordable art. Available at www.harrietandleo.com/tags.html