We've all heard the term 'Fair Trade', whether it be coffee, chocolate or even in the fashion industry. The latter is often associated with insufficient wages and poor working conditions.

What exactly does fair trade mean? There is in fact a slight difference between fair trade and Fairtrade. Fair trade is a global movement that is helping to ensure a product was traded ethically, in a way that supports better working conditions, improves livelihoods and protects the environment.

Fairtrade, on the other hand, is a system of certification that guarantees a just and transparent supply chain by ensuring that a set of standards are met in the production and supply of a product, aiming to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. 

How does it work? Fair trade relies on three mechanisms: instilling standards and terms of trade, ensuring a Fairtrade minimum price as well as a Fairtrade premium, an additional amount of money that allows the workers to invest in improving their life quality.

What difference does it make? Fair trade contributes to sustainable development on three levels. Economic benefits include becoming more income-secure and less vulnerable to poverty ; social progress can also be reached by using the fair wage to invest in education, better housing, better schools and medical facilities. Finally, the Fairtrade Standards promote training for farmers, which can include advice on switching to environmentally friendly practices.

At OhSevenDays, we believe in providing complete transparency wihtin our supply chain. It's our aim to ensure you know where your garment comes from, from design, sourcing and manufacturing to sales and distribution. Our garments are exclusively produced by our Istanbul-based manufacturers, who are fully audited, fair trading and worker friendly, and member of the ethical trade membership organisation Sedex, ensuring social and environmental performances throughout the supply chain.

We hope that learning a bit more about what fair trade entails, it might help you make more conscious decisions while making future purchases. Thinking about every hand that has touched your garment before it gets to you, is a great way of considering it's value!