Fashion Revolution - RELATIONSHIPS

April 18, 2021

Our relationships across the fair trade supply chain are what make fair trade so different from fast fashion.  Relationships form between raw materials suppliers, manufacturers and artisan producers, brands and end customers.  When each relationship along the supply chain is based on equitable, transparent, respectful communication and trading practices, everyone profits.  The supply chain becomes sustainable on a human level.  To refer back to the WFTO perspective on relationships:  “Buyer and producer relationships are ‘based on reciprocal benefits and fair exchanges and should be of a nature that extends beyond trading itself.”  Buyers should collect feedback from end consumers and share it with producer groups; buyers should view themselves as representatives of producers, should work together for the greater good in terms of sharing information and building a network of fair trade businesses.  Fair trade buyers should support producer groups financially, in terms of resources and hand-in-hand training as relevant.”

 

Fair trade is a large scale commitment on the part of each and every participant, not just a checklist for the manufacturer to ‘prove’ they meet.  Fair trade is a responsibility that all participants in the supply chain bear to ensure sustainability, equity, respect.  Forming sustainable, fair trade relationships also shifts the power dynamic from the long-standing colonizing mind-set of the Global North dictating terms to the Global South, and instead, starts to shift trading to more equitable relationships built on collaboration, intent on sustaining everyone.

 

These kinds of relationships take work, adjustment,  and long term commitment. Mehera Shaw is committed to working with both our suppliers and customers on both sides of the supply chain over the long-term, by building trusted relationships.  On the supplier side, we maintain a strict fabric sourcing policy which is in support of India’s farmers.  We source only from within India, source either GOTS certified organic cottons, handloom natural fibre fabrics which directly support artisans, or work with NGOs and cooperatives which support artisan weavers.  We take into consideration the full picture— both the environmental footprint and the labor standards when selecting fabric suppliers. 

 

On the customer side, Mehera Shaw consciously works with like-minded clients and customers who commit to fair trade and ethical standards and who promote sustainability in fashion and work toward transparent, collaborative trading practices.  We strongly believe these relationships are what make the difference. We try to provide as many details as possible our about supply chain when working with customers to give clear insight about our standards, process, and work environment. The saying, ‘It takes a village’ is true.  It takes all of us, working together in respectful ways to develop a product that supports, rather than causes harm.

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