We're really proud to be supporting the Fairtrade Foundation's annual Fairtrade Fortnight, now in its sixth year and bigger and better than before!

"Two billion people – a third of humanity – still survive on less than $2 a day" according to the Fairtrade Foundation. "Unfair trade rules keep them in poverty, but they face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change too. Fairtrade is a people's movement for change that aims to tip the balance of trade in favour of poor producers. We all need Fairtrade more than ever and we all have the power to create positive change for people and planet."

The main aim of the Fortnight is to highlight the difference you can make to producers' lives by buying Fairtrade certified products. At the moment there's only a Fairtrade Standard for cotton farmers, but as 76% of you (according to our recent customer survey!) said ‘fair trade’ is ‘very important to you', we thought that you might also like to know about other products that are made and traded according to fair trade principles. So this fortnight we’re promoting all fairly traded products including clothes and jewellery and bags and shoes.

WHAT IS ASCENSION DOING TO PROMOTE FAIR TRADE?

Well....we're a business so we sell it. We know from the producers on the ground that that's what they want. "Give us more business" was what the wonderful Indian embroiderers said to our designer Sury as we developed our own fair trade pieces, "that will really make a difference to our lives"

We think very carefully about the brands that we sell. We work with brands that fall under fair trade certifications and accreditations as well as brands that work to fair trade principles but don't have accreditation – as it takes time and resource. Our favourite Fairtrade cotton brands are: People Tree, Article 23, Annie Greenabelle and Pants to Poverty. We also love Ethletic and Made, who have fair trade at the very heart of their business.

We're also particularly proud of our work with Ascension. Not only do we work with a wind powered factory, use certified organic dyes, use Fair Wear Foundation approved factories and have fully carbon neutral T-shirts but we have also worked to get Fairtrade certified cotton into our jeans. Hurrah!

5 WAYS YOU CAN HELP MAKE TRADE FAIRER

1. Knowledge is power - Read up about the issues involved with cotton, textiles and fashion. If you buy Fairtrade bananas, chocolate and coffee then you won’t be surprised to find out the same problems occur with other raw materials like cotton for clothing, bedlinen...

2. Get active – Send one of the Fairtrade Foundation’s campaign cards to Gordon Brown demanding that the UK Government fights for trade rules that directly address the needs of the poorest people in the world.

3. Fairtrade at work - Does your workplace (or college or school) have Fairtrade products? What's in the coffee pot or the vending machine? Help to get it changed to Fairtrade

4. Think before you buy – Making a difference on a large scale starts with the individual

5. Go and meet some Fairtrade producers – There's a bunch of them touring the country during Fairtrade Fortnight. More details from the Fairtrade Foundation.

QUOTES FROM OUR TEAM

"The cheap products we think are total bargains just aren’t. Someone at the bottom of the chain is paying the price and deserves better".
Isabel, Buying Administrator

"I believe fair trade should be a given". Rebekka, Marketing Assistant

"I used to always think that fair trade products were ethnic and hippy. But this is all Changing now and Ascension is proof that 'fair' can be affordable and attractive"
Lucy, Customer Services