Organic baseball tee
£22 to you, guv. One hundred per cent organic cotton, brand new, exclusively available in red or blue. Now that's what I'd say if I was flogging this to you at a street market down London town. As it happens, I'm not. However. Organic clothing etailer, Terramar, is selling the #7000 Baseball Shirt along with a dozen other t-shirts and hoodies for men, women and kids. All its clothes are made from organic cotton - which, as Terramar points out, is usually softer than the chemically-grown variety - plus the range is apparently made by workers paid a proper wage. There's no official FairTrade stamp or equivalent ethical badge, so you'll have to take Terramar's word for it. As well as the UK online shop, there are European and US versions on Terramar's website.
"no FairTrade stamp or equivalent ethical badge"
There is no such thing as a FairTrade stamp. It is important that consumers choosing ethical retailers who are trying to make a real difference rather than just paying lip service to change understand this and are not misled by poorly researched comment.
The Fairtrade foundation has only just started certifying cotton with a Fairtrade certificate, which is for the growing of the cotton only. There are currently no certification schemes other than ISO standards. Terramar Organics specialises in the sale of sustainable cotton products made to the highest ethical standards. Yes you will have to trust Terramar on that just as you will have to trust every other company that claims fair trade status.
Posted by: bluemonkey | May 16, 2006 1:02 PM