York Scarves

From small beginnings in 2007, York Scarves has grown into a thriving BAFTS registered fair trade UK enterprise which specialises in the weaving and supply of wholesale scarves, pashminas and shawls from India and Thailand.

York Scarves is now one of the UK’s premier wholesale scarf suppliers.

York Scarves spends time each year in India with their weavers working on designs for the coming season and through their hands-on style of business they know their scarves are fair trade in the true sense of the word.

York Scarves welcomes all retailers to check out their website: York Scarves wholesale

All’s Fair Tours

All’s Fair Tours Ltd is a social enterprise started by fair trade campaigner and retailer Joanna Abena Fianu (formerly Pollard) and tour guide Samuel Fianu. They specialise in running tours to Ghana. Guests can stay in the Co-operative House in New Koforidua, which was purpose built for fair trade campaigners to immerse themselves in the local cocoa-growing community. Read more about the welcome which awaits you in Ghana.

All’s Fair also runs an online shop selling fairly traded crafts and other goods.

Shared Interest

Shared Interest provide vital investment for Fair Trade producers and businesses. This year they chose our beautiful city for their pivotal AGM. Several members of the York Fair Trade Forum attended and came away mightily impressed with the organisation and the contribution it makes to the Fair Trade movement.

The picture above shows Fair Trade Forum member Sylvia standing in between Shared Interest staff Paul and Rachel at the AGM at York St. John University.

Shared Interest’s mission statement wants to see a world where finance reaches those communities that most need it. They provide loans to fair trade producers and small businesses. The loans are financed by the investment of shareholders who are ordinary people like you and me. Shared Interest are happy to accept for investment quite small amounts of money for small periods of time.

If you would like to know more go the Shared Interest website.

Fairmail

In May Peter and Janneke, from Fairmail Cards, visited York and gave a fascinating talk at the Spurriergate Centre about their work.

Fairmail Cards is the first photographic greeting card supplier in the world. The photographers are all teenagers from Peru and India, and 50% of the profits on each card go directly to them for housing and education. They are also offered photography training and medical insurance.

This is a fantastic start in life for many youngsters, who would otherwise struggle to find work. They have already come up with some brilliantly creative designs.

You can buy Fairmail cards from the Shared Earth shop at Minster Gates.

Click here to view the Fairmail website.