It’s Fair Trade Month! During October you’ll see a lot of content from Fair Trade brands talking about the good they do in the world and all the benefits of ethical making. We completely agree with all of the good that Fair Trade Enterprises are doing. This work is incredibly important in showing a better way. But, there’s also a lot of confusion in the market around ethical products so we decided to take a different approach as we begin this month and share what Fair Trade is NOT.  

1. Give Backs
   A lot of companies highlight their charitable giving. You make a purchase and a percentage of the sale is given to a cause. Charitable giving is a great thing and we are all for a culture of generosity. But if that generosity is built on the backs of makers who are not paid fair wages for making the product in the first place, it’s not ethical and definitely not fair trade. And, these give backs are almost always a percentage of profits - given after all other costs and allocations are accounted for.
2. Charitable Promotions
   A lot of charitable organizations have stores where you can shop to support the mission. Similarly to Give Backs, just because the end purchase supports charitable work, if the maker wasn’t paid fairly, it’s not fair trade.  
3. Buy One, Give One
   If you watch the documentary Poverty, Inc, you saw the story of Toms Shoes unpacked in detail. This is probably the most famous example in modern history. But selling a low end product at a premium in order to give goods away instead of purchasing from local makers is a prime example of the opposite of fair trade. Fair Trade works to uplift communities and build economies through the dignity of work.
4. A Guilt-Driven Purchase
   No fair trade business wants you to buy out of guilt or pity. Our customers are partners in this work of sustaining dignified employment that empowers the maker.  We want to provide you with a product you will love facilitating a purchase you will feel great about. When you wear a GOEX tee, we want you to feel great (& comfy!) in it as well as feeling great about it.
5. Only Handicrafts
   The origins of fair trade are rooted in the handicrafts industry but in the modern day, there are products available in almost every category. You can find extremely high quality and high design goods in decor, giftables, apparel and more.
6. Dependent on a Consumer Purchase
   This is probably the simplest way to determine if a product is ethical - does the good require a purchase by the consumer? If so, it’s not fair trade! Fair Trade goods care for people and planet throughout the supply chain. By the time the item gets to a store shelf, the good has already occurred. Fair Trade businesses still need consumers to purchase the goods in order to keep the cycle going - a purchase today sets up orders for the makers tomorrow. It’s a powerful, pay-it-forward model. This type of good is always preferable to one that is dependent on low costs up supply chain in order to give charitably at the end if/when a consumer chooses to purchase.

To ensure a purchase is ethical, take time to ask questions. Look for marks verifying supply chain standards and educate yourself as to what those marks mean.

As always, have a question? Reach out, we’d love to answer it! [email protected]