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Justice through Empowerment |
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| Fair Trade School Uniform Project |
   Project Coordinator: Allen Thayer allen.thayer _at_ handcraftingjustice.org 718.204.0909 Fair Trade Education Fair Trade Uniforms Brochure (PDF 0.9 MB) The Fair Trade School Uniform Project offers an opportunity for schools to wear their commitment to Catholic Social Teaching and world peace “on their sleeves.” Fair trade uniforms enable teachers, students, and parents to participate more fully in the global movement to advance human rights, women’s rights, fair labor practices, and the end of crippling poverty. Each uniform is created by women at our sites in Thailand and Mexico. By supporting this project you are enabling women to remain in their local villages to work rather than migrating to the urban areas which often leads to undignified working conditions. Why buy Fair Trade uniforms? -It creates an opportunity to support ethical and fair trade labor policies. -It creates a consistent and reliable market to women working at our sites in Mexico and Thailand which they can depend on from year to year. -It creates a tool to educate students and staff about social justice issues and a means to put faith into action. -It creates a way to build solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the developing world. The Producers Leon, Mexico The city of Leon, Mexico is located about a thousand miles south of El Paso in the highlands north of Mexico City. Despite Mexico’s laws against child labor, many children are exploited at industrial factories in this area. At the Good Shepherd site in Leon, a group of women have developed their sewing skills and made both school uniforms and sweatsuits for the school there, at fair trade wages. Many of them have children in the school and it is very rewarding for them to have this work. We are hoping to expand our relationship with this project by sending them more uniform orders from schools in the US.   Isan Weaving Weaving is an ancient cultural art in the Isan region, which had been lost during centuries of political instability. It was reintroduced to the area through the marketing efforts of the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1981, who sought economic alternatives for the people of the region who faced extreme poverty and were often forced into urban migration in search of work. The Isan weaving project allows the women involved to remain in their villages and support their families, while achieving self-sufficiency. Although the region is still faced with poverty and increases in HIV/AIDS, hope is nevertheless alive in the area through the Isan Weaving project. Frequently Asked Questions Can you make different styles of uniforms? Yes. Send us a sample of your uniform. We will forward it to our global exchange partners who will re-create it and return it to you for inspection. How many uniforms can you make? Can you make all sizes? Our global exchange partners are skilled seamstresses. They can make the quantity you need in the sizes you need.   What materials are the uniforms made from? The blouse above is made of handspun cotton, and the pinafore is wool. The other pinafores, sweat suits, slacks, and sweaters pictured throughout are of various materials. Our partners seek high quality materials and workmanship, and can work with your requests. How much time does it take to complete an order? Not more than six months from order to delivery. Please contact the Project Coordinator, Allen Thayer for more information about the project and to submit orders. allen.thayer _ at_ handcraftingjustice.org 718.204.0909 |
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 17:05:11 Thursday, July 29, 2010 |
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