The retail industry has seen many prominent brands promote “fair trade” goods. In recent years, popular clothing and accessory companies have begun marketing their own brands under a variation of the “fair trade” banner. These companies will claim that the items were manufactured in safe working conditions, and are subject to equitable profit sharing between the sellers and distributors.
Artisans of Far and Wide Collective
Though many of these initiatives are well-intended, it is difficult to really know the full extent to which these claims are being honoured. But there are some independent retailers who are working to achieve an authentic fair trade business model. Toronto-based Hedvig Alexander, for example, founded Far and Wide Collective, an e-commerce website that sells and promotes fair trade clothing, décor and jewelry. These items are created by a wide range of artisans based in post-conflict and emerging countries, including Afghanistan, Ghana, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Tanzania, Colombia, Swaziland, and Morocco.
Lampshade from Far and Wide website
Alexander comes by her business honestly. Prior to founding Far and Wide in 2013, she had worked for several years in international development in Afghanistan. From her experiences she learned the importance of local economies building sustainable business models. Thus, Far and Wide website doesn’t just act as an online distributor for its artisans; with its “Artisan Toolkit” it seeks to foster sustainable businesses by assisting with quality control; design, marketing and production. There is a lot of information on the site about the individual products and their creators and detailed information for affiliate applicants.
On a purely superficial level, Far and Wide Collective sells some beautiful crafts. The unique mid-priced to higher-end wares (pieces range from $15 to $500) are certainly great conversation starters. Personally, my favourites from the website are the Charcoal and Gold Pendant Light at $115 (made from recycled newspaper and jacaranda wood) and its matching white stitched charcoal bowl, designed by Swaziland’s Quasi Designs, as well as the delicate Turquoise Beaded Necklace from jewelry designer Aayenda from Afghanistan. There are also eye-catching clothing items like the silk scarves and caftans from India. The site is also consumer-friendly. There is detailed information about additional costs for shipping and handling. In addition, the website lists a few bricks and mortar retailers and gift shops where the goods are for sale. Locally, these include Holt Renfrew (its “Uncrate Africa” project) and the gift stores at the Gardiner and Aga Khan Museums; there are also retailers in the U.S., Australia and Bahamas.
Far and Wide is a great initiative, and a welcome change of pace from the current trend of fast-fashion. The possibilities for this business model seem virtually endless as there are so much undiscovered talent around the world.
Photos are courtesy Far and Wide Collective
