After two and half years of selling clothes via private sales and at fair trade shows, at the end of 2019 Sophie Depas and Esther Sougné opened the L’envol du colibri boutique in Namur. They support the idea of ethical and sustainable fashion, through brands for both women and men. An interview with the two ladies.
The Biogarantie label is in the process of evolving towards a Biogarantie Belgium label. Objective ? To be ever more responsible and demanding on the notion of “organic”, to highlight Belgian production and processing, to guarantee a fair price for the workers in the agricultural chain, in short, a whole set of specifications defined by the farmers themselves in agreement with the other operators in the sector. This also represents a challenge of pooling points of view.
“Our shirts should catch the eye of the buyer first and foremost because they are stylish and high quality. In doing so they prove this goes hand in hand with fairness and sustainability.” These are the words of An Boone, founder of the Belgian fair fashion brand Mr. Manchette. With her sustainable men’s shirts she fills a gap in both conventional clothing and fair fashion shops.
Belgians attach more importance than ever to sustainability when it comes to their food shopping. In addition to an increase (+42%) in the preference for local produce – logical consequence of the health crisis – consumers also indicate a desire to consume more fair trade (+23%) and organic (+14%) products after the crisis.
A report from WFTO, Traidcraft Exchange, University of York and Cambridge University challenges leaders to foster. The report unveils key features of mission-led business models that put people and planet first and provides a direct contrast with profit-primacy businesses.
“The COVID-19 crisis painfully exposed the vulnerabilities of our economy and of unregulated global supply chains… We need to make sure that responsible business conduct and sustainable supply chains become the norm, a strategic orientation for businesses.” says Didier Reynders in a webinar on due diligence.
Between Parakou (Benin) where they get their shea butter and Sombreffe (Belgium) where their cosmetics and soaps are made, Nathalie and her husband Wassi have decided to do without as many middlemen as possible. This allows them to better manage the sector and to pay the women producers in the village of Parakou. And it also contributes to making their natural cosmetics a range of very high quality.
Denise Nzeyimana and Adélard Nkeshimana run IDEP, a company producing sunflower oil in Burundi. Since 2017, the company has received coaching from the Trade Development Centre. A look back at an entrepreneurial experience and the impressive progress the company has made.
May 9 is World Fair Trade Day. A special edition, because we must celebrate it at home. Choose fair trade in these difficult times! With
As the European Commission is poised to start developing a new ‘comprehensive strategy for textiles’ in the coming months, a group of 65 diverse civil society organisations has set out its vision for the global Textile, Garments, Leather and Footwear (TGLF) sector. They have done so by releasing a non-official (or “shadow”) strategy in which they propose a set of legislative and non-legislative actions that the EU can undertake to contribute to fairer and more sustainable TGLF value chains.
After two and half years of selling clothes via private sales and at fair trade shows, at the end of 2019 Sophie Depas and Esther Sougné opened the L’envol du colibri boutique in Namur. They support the idea of ethical and sustainable fashion, through brands for both women and men. An interview with the two ladies.
The Biogarantie label is in the process of evolving towards a Biogarantie Belgium label. Objective ? To be ever more responsible and demanding on the notion of “organic”, to highlight Belgian production and processing, to guarantee a fair price for the workers in the agricultural chain, in short, a whole set of specifications defined by the farmers themselves in agreement with the other operators in the sector. This also represents a challenge of pooling points of view.
“Our shirts should catch the eye of the buyer first and foremost because they are stylish and high quality. In doing so they prove this goes hand in hand with fairness and sustainability.” These are the words of An Boone, founder of the Belgian fair fashion brand Mr. Manchette. With her sustainable men’s shirts she fills a gap in both conventional clothing and fair fashion shops.
Belgians attach more importance than ever to sustainability when it comes to their food shopping. In addition to an increase (+42%) in the preference for local produce – logical consequence of the health crisis – consumers also indicate a desire to consume more fair trade (+23%) and organic (+14%) products after the crisis.
A report from WFTO, Traidcraft Exchange, University of York and Cambridge University challenges leaders to foster. The report unveils key features of mission-led business models that put people and planet first and provides a direct contrast with profit-primacy businesses.
“The COVID-19 crisis painfully exposed the vulnerabilities of our economy and of unregulated global supply chains… We need to make sure that responsible business conduct and sustainable supply chains become the norm, a strategic orientation for businesses.” says Didier Reynders in a webinar on due diligence.
Between Parakou (Benin) where they get their shea butter and Sombreffe (Belgium) where their cosmetics and soaps are made, Nathalie and her husband Wassi have decided to do without as many middlemen as possible. This allows them to better manage the sector and to pay the women producers in the village of Parakou. And it also contributes to making their natural cosmetics a range of very high quality.
Denise Nzeyimana and Adélard Nkeshimana run IDEP, a company producing sunflower oil in Burundi. Since 2017, the company has received coaching from the Trade Development Centre. A look back at an entrepreneurial experience and the impressive progress the company has made.
May 9 is World Fair Trade Day. A special edition, because we must celebrate it at home. Choose fair trade in these difficult times! With
As the European Commission is poised to start developing a new ‘comprehensive strategy for textiles’ in the coming months, a group of 65 diverse civil society organisations has set out its vision for the global Textile, Garments, Leather and Footwear (TGLF) sector. They have done so by releasing a non-official (or “shadow”) strategy in which they propose a set of legislative and non-legislative actions that the EU can undertake to contribute to fairer and more sustainable TGLF value chains.
