We aim to cover: what we’ve been doing, details of our suppliers, Fair Trade in the news, local events / diary dates… and much more.

 You can see a copy of our last newsletter online here. 

To subscribe for FREE simply fill out the very short form on our newsletter page.

We look forward to keeping you informed!

2. Drive less: walk, bike,car pool or take public transport more often. We will all save one mile of Co2 for every mile we don’t drive

3. Recycle more: we can save 2,400 pounds of caron dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

4. Check our tyres: keeping our car tyres inflated can improve fuel consumption by more than 3%. Every 4.5 litres of fuel saved keeps 20 pounds of Co2 out of the atmosphere.

5. Use less hot water: as it takes alot of energy. Use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead. (350 pounds of C02 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).

6. Avoid products with lots of packaging: we can save 1.200 pounds of carbon dioxide if we cut our waste by 10%

7. Adjusting the thermostat: moving our thermostat just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer. We can save about 2,000 pounds of Co2 each year with this simple adjustment.

8. Plant a tree: a single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

9. Turn off electronic devices: by simply turning off our televsions, dvd players, stereos and computers when we are not using them will save us all thousands of pounds in C02 a year.

Reference: Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006.

So here I am, Deborah Miarkowska, Founder of EcoChic Fair Trade.

I have just spent this morning teaching students at the University of Brighton on environmental issues, climate change and public health. This so inspires me to make a difference, as it is so clear that climate change will affect us all, most of all the poorest in our world. This is why I am so passionate about Ethical & Fair Trade as it gives people opportunities, sustainable livelihoods and keeps families and communities together. I am so inspired with the people we are working with, who have the smallest carbon footprints in the world and produce the most beautiful products, often by hand and in an eco-friendly manner. So please join us in this success story and help us to continue to support those to a better future . As the weeks progress I will be showing you how our products tell such an amazing story and make such a difference. To begin with each of our products holds their own story which are described alongside each image.

Partner: Dr Ryszard Miarkowski, Business Advisor and all round support

Dawn Parker-Hall, Legal Advisor 

Web Design: Simon McFarlane, of www.clearbytes.co.uk

Graphics: Rick o’Neill, of www.looktouchfeel.co.uk

Grazynia Miarkowska- Accounts Advice & Support

Accountants: Sandisons, Dorset, UK

PR & Marketing Advisor: Andrea Shufflebotham

EcoChic is all about beautiful designs….beautiful beginnings.

EcoChic….The Reason
“A Flare for Fashion, but more importantly, a Passion for People & Our Environment”.

As a partnership, EcoChic believes that what we wear and consume can be both stylish and ethical, made in a just way that gives people an ability to support themselves in dignity, is kind to our planet and respects the traditional skills of artisans, so that families can stay together and communities can grow.

Join us in our support of inspirational change.

As Summer is upon us, to celebrate we are delighted to offer a complimentary gift with each order.

Please also take the opportunity to sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter for details of our new products ranges, eco news and events..we look forward to hearing from you.

Deborah Miarkowska
Founder, EcoChic Fair Trade 

It’s fantastic to be recognised from these style leaders, but it’s even better to be able to pass this praise onto the producers of the bracelet, the Yakanaka beading ladies from Zimbabwe, especially at this turbulent time in Zimbabwe. Speaking to Katie Maxwell yesterday from Yakanaka, she told me how the team of beading ladies are extremely fearful at this time. Please support us, so that we can to continue to support Yakanaka.

Aswell as our partnership with Yakanaka and thirty other suppliers working in the developing world we are delighted to be working with LA Jewellery, producers of elegant, organically inspired silver jewellery created with respect for the environment and holding strong ethical working practices, nestled in the heart of Wales.

Cut your carbon footprint, not those of poor farmers

Many of those who campaign against buying air-freighted produce also claim to be in favour of using trade to help Africa. Spot the contradiction? Fred Pearce reports
March 4, 2008 10:50 AM

The carbon footprint of the average Kenyan is less than a 10th that of the average Brit.

Flying shrink-wrapped green beans from Kenya to Britain is regarded a green crime. The carbon emissions involved are too great, the message has been - think of the air miles. But it’s not quite as simplistic as that.

(more…)

Air support for Africa’s organic farms, Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
Two of Britain’s biggest airlines are joining forces with African farmers to fight environmental restrictions on food transported by air.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which make millions of pounds from flying food in passenger jets, have given free tickets to representatives of farmers in Ghana and Kenya to visit London to argue their case.

The airlines are planning to make a joint submission with the farmers to a review of air freight by the Soil Association, which certifies around 70 per cent of organic food sold in Britain.

The association has proposed new conditions for farmers and wholesalers who want to continue to be certified as organic. They will have to publish a plan for reducing their use of air freight and also achieve “fair-trade” status by investing in education and welfare schemes for their workers.

(more…)

This paper has been taken courtesy of the Fairtrade Foundations Website: www.fairtrade.org.uk

The FAIRTRADE Mark & Guide for Certification of Cotton Products

CONTENTS (more…)

Fairtrade has improved the lives of millions of people- farmers, workers and their families in developing countries.

Over the next two weeks we can celebrate the success of Fairtrade and we need to keep promoting Fairtrade to ensure peope know that buying Fairtrade can make a positive difference.

“If we make Fairtrade our habit, we can play a real part in enabling farm-workers to end poverty in their own communities” Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation.

Can you make this year’s the biggest Fairtrade Fortnight ever?

Buy…Try it..Get it…Promote it…Pass it on…

Did you know that your shopping can save the world!? Here is how Fair Trade works.

Even though we hear the word often these days, Fair Trade is not as popular in Japan as it is in other countries. Learn more about it and find out how to shop in a ‘people- and eco-friendly way’.

Text: Rutsu Tobii
Editor: Maki Hashida

The European Fair Trade market expands annually by 20%

No woman can spend a day without shopping. Women shop on weekends, buy coffee at cafes on the way to work, and even enjoy shopping at home online and via mail order. Just imagine how long a week’s shopping list can be. By paying attention to where we shop and what we buy our daily shopping activity can become a tool for changing the world. While the number of Fair Trade supporters (more…)