Our Suppliers
All of our collections are carefully selected Fair Trade gifts, fashion, accessories & homewares sourced from accredited organisations who have achieved external certification. Our own growing EcoChic collection is produced directly from accredited workshops in the developing world and our ethical range from our UK partners.
One of the many of the important principles that supports Fair Trade business practices is openess and transparency and it is for this reason that we have chosen to supply you with our comprehensive list of suppliers, all of whom are accredited by BAFTS and/or IFAT or hold the SA8000 certification. We also seek to validate our UK partners ethical working practices against a key set of criteria on an annual basis through our partnership questionnaire.
We aim to work as transparently as possible and would like to share with you our partnership criteria. Many of our Fair Trade partners hold their own accreditation.
EcoChic Partnership Questionnaire
About us…
EcoChic Fair Trade… Beautiful designs, beautiful beginnings.
EcoChic is a Sussex partnership, we promote, produce and supply a special collection of limited edition Fair Trade and Ethical products…Gifts, Fashion, Accessories and Homewares.
EcoChic showcases our own collections and brings together a community of Fair Trade and Ethical suppliers, skilled artisans in the developing world and here in the UK, offering you exceptional style and quality. Many of our products are individually handmade and use eco-friendly methods of production, offering a unique and exceptional collection. We are truly inspired by those that we work with.
The principles we adhere to are ones of openess, transparency and fairness in our business practice. We are interested to work with partners who support our aims and we invite you to complete the following questionnaire to commence our partnership.
We look forward to working with you.
Best Wishes,
Deborah Miarkowska
Founder, EcoChic Fair Trade
A simple guide to our Fair Trade & ethical practices:
EcoChic follows the 10 Fair Trade principles laid down by IFAT (International Federation For Alternative Trade).
What are FAIR TRADE principles?
“Fair Trade is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing rights of, marginalized producers and workers”. (IFAT)
IFAT (International Federation of Alternative Trade).
• Fair Trade is a partnership between producers and consumers which ensure producers receive good working conditions and fair prices throughout the supply chain.
• Paying fair prices to the producers which reflect the true cost of production - world market prices often do not cover even the cost of the raw materials
• Providing credit when needed to allow orders to be fulfilled and to pay premiums to be used to provide further benefits to producer groups.
• Supporting producer organisations in their social development projects - many provide health and education facilities through the Social Premium
• Promoting the empowerment of women
• Advising on product development to increase access to markets
• Encouraging environmental responsibility & sustainable projects
• Committing to long- term relationships and trading partnerships to provide stability and security rather than a short-term commercial advantage
• Campaigning to highlight the unequal system of world trade
• Transparency of business practice
• Mutual Respect with all our partners and producers
• Justice for all involved in the production and supply process, trade and sustainability not aid.
What is Ethical Trade?
Ethical trade or ethical sourcing, as it’s sometimes called, can mean different things to different people. Some use it as an umbrella term to include all types of business practices that promote socially and/or environmentally responsible trade. The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) use it simply to refer to the responsibility of buying companies has for the rights & welfare of workers in their supply chains.
Ethical Trading Iniative Base Code:
• Employment is freely chosen
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected.
• Working conditions are safe and hygienic
• Child labour shall not be used
• Living wages are paid
• Working hours are not excessive
• No discrimination is practiced
• Regular employment is provided
• No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
EcoChic passionately believes that all of these principles are vital in any trading relationship.
Your Collection
Does your organisation adhere to following principles?
• Fair Trade Yes/No
• Ethical Trading Yes/No
• Recycling and Carbon offsetting/achieving a carbon neutral status Yes/No
• Use of Organic materials Yes/No
If you would like to demonstrate this further, please give details:
Your organisation’s membership:
Does your organisation hold Fair Trade certification, for example, BAFTs, IFAT, SA8000?
Yes/No
Please specify:
Does you organisation hold organic certification? For example, SKAL, Soil Association?
Yes/No
Please specify:
Do you have any plans to grow further in this area or achieve accreditation?
Use of materials within your organisation:
Materials
What materials does your organisation use to produce your collections?
How are your materials sourced?
Does your organisation use environmentally friendly materials for example: recycled, organic or manmade biodegrable materials?
Does your organisation use packaging that is made from recycled or sustainable materials that are recyclable?
For how long have you worked with eco-friendly principles in mind?
Has your organisation taken steps to look at its carbon footprint and/or become carbon neutral?
Production processes
Does your company use manufacturers that follow the guidelines set out by the International Labour Organisation and respect the basic human rights of workers?
Yes/ No
Is every worker involved in creating, producing and marketing your label guaranteed a Fair salary?
Yes/No
Do you know where your raw materials are sourced from?
Please give details:
How the raw materials are prepared?
Please give details:
How your products are manufactured? Please give details:
Has your organisation taken steps to source and produce locally?
Please give details:
Please include any further information about your organisation should you wish to.
Thank you for your time.
P O Box 5238 Hove East Sussex BN52 9NN
T: +44 (0) 1273 24 55 33 E: contact@ecochicfairtrade.co.uk W: ecochicfairtrade.co.uk
For further information, do not hesitate to contact us: standards@ecochicfairtrade.co.uk
