As part of a programme of events at the university that included Fairtrade chocolate truffle making, a Fairtrade café in the Chaplaincy and a keynote speech from Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, around 45 Edinburgh students shunned a Saturday morning lie-in in favour of the hallowed turf of The Meadows.

With groups as diverse as the Socialist Society, The Student newspaper and the Edinburgh Revue represented on the pitch there were rivalries to be stoked and old scores to settle, but most importantly the tournament brought Edinburgh’s student community together in mutual appreciation of the simple pleasures of a weekend kickabout in the park.

Eight mixed teams competed for the grand prize of a crate of Fairtrade honey ale, with the runners-up happy to walk away with a bottle of Fairtrade South African cava. The final was as close as they come with the skilful but wheezing Edinburgh Revue comedians just losing out on penalties to the tough-tackling and pacy Seager FC after a tense 1-1 draw.

The use of Fairtrade-certified footballs in the tournament was a gentle reminder of how much our everyday lives are intertwined with those of people who may live far away yet whose labour, and often exploitation, we depend on for our nutrition, work and leisure.

Fairtrade Football - ETHLETIC Premier Fairtrade Football

Football doesn’t have the best reputation as a sport, but that is usually due to the racism, sexism, homophobia and ostentatious materialism that are often associated with it. The provenance of the physical object on which the game depends is rarely considered, yet the tools of the trade of the Premier League superstars are manufactured by workers, usually in Pakistan or China, who earn less in a year than the footballers earn from one training session.

Through our celebration of Fairtrade football we hopefully brought a bit more attention to this fact and demonstrated that there is a fairer alternative. The beautiful game doesn’t have to have an ugly underbelly, and as the most popular sport in the world it is in a unique position to act as a vehicle of social change.

Guest Blog from Joel Sharples, Edinburgh University Student

Check out a Fairtrade Football now

The day kicked off quite literally with a Fairtrade football competition at Hopefield Primary School and involved four other primaries.  The eight teams were all named after African countries and in the spirit of equality every team included three girl players. I saw one girl score four excellent goals and wouldn’t be surprised to see her playing for Scotland in the future! Take a look at some of the photos here

Despite very strong winds and difficult conditions, all games were played sportingly and it was a pleasure to present the first Bonnyrigg Fairtrade Cup to the winning team – Ivory Coast.  Thanks to Jamie Dougal for officiating the contest so well and all the staff at Hopefield Primary.

Plans are afoot to replicate this contest next year nationally; over the whole of Scotland. We are of course looking forward to supporting this.

We then popped into nearby Lasswade High School where I was briefed on all of their Fairtrade activities, I then presented Fairtrade certificates to all of the pupils involved for promoting Fairtrade at the school.

After a lovely lunch provided by the kind people of Nicholas Buccleuch coffee shop, Dalkeith we went on to Newbattle Abbey College were we met by James Dolan, a campaigning student who is doing his best to change the college’s purchasing policy in favour of Fairtrade, After delivering a talk on the Fairtrade football story I left discount vouchers for all of the students who attended my talk. Thanks to James Dolan for setting up the talk and also for showing us around the college and good luck with getting Fairtrade products into Newbattle Abbey College.

Our final meeting of the day was at Penicuik Athletic Football Club, where I talked to the club management about the story behind Fairtrade footballs and we were even joined by local MSP Claudia Beamish.  A photo shoot was arranged on the pitch, thanks to Jim Dick for providing these pictures.

Jamie with the Team Management of Penicuik Athletic Football Club

So overall a very positive day in and around Edinburgh, it was great to see how many supporters of Fairtrade there were in Scotland. Thanks to Martin Meteyard for organising the whole day and Ian Miller for his generous hospitality.

For more information on the Scottish Fair Trade Forum visit www.sftf.org.uk 

For more information on Fairtrade visit the Fairtrade Foundation

Fairtrade Foundation - Take a Step in 2012

What I realised was that there was so much I could talk about, which has got to be a good thing. For one the Fairtrade label is now well known and I can now buy with confidence in so many shops and cafes. From the coffee we freshly make in the office every morning (Sainsbury’s Fairtade So Organic, Percol, Cafe Direct – we do like to mix it up) to the tea and instant coffee I drink at home from Clipper and the bananas and flowers I buy from Waitrose. We can now even nibble on Harry’s Nuts, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and wash ourselves in Visionary Soap. all which makes it easy to take a step for Fairtrade.

Percol Fairtrade Coffee

Fairtrade is established in fashion too, writing this I’m even wearing my favourite pair of purple Fairtrade Pants to Poverty and a Fairtrade organic cotton tshirt from SPUK and in my wardrobe I’ve got lots of things from People Tree. And this morning I’ve just read a double page spread in the Metro on Fairtrade fashion including Fairtrade gold jewellery, so it’s easy to step out in Fairtrade style.

Fairtrade Pants to Poverty

We were really excited when the Fairtrade Foundation told us about this year’s theme Take a Step – it fits our Fairtrade footballs and Fairtrade trainers perfectly as both are foot-based. Over the country we have thousands of customers taking Fairtrade steps, everytime they put their ETHLETIC trainers on.

In the office we tried to estimate how many steps people over the years in had taken our trainers, but the numbers got so big and confusing that we had to give up. How often do people wear our trainers versus their other shoes was just the tip of the discussion! It’s safe to say there have been millions and millions of Fairtrade steps in our ETHLETIC shoes over the years.

ETHLETIC Trainers - Fairtrade Trainers

Plus there are hundreds of schools and football clubs up and down the country playing with our Fairtrade footballs and sportsballs – so how many steps have there been during those games for Fairtrade? We didn’t even try to work this one out, how many steps do primary school kids take in a game versus a youth club game was just one conundrums we asked?

Fairtrade Football - Premier High Vis Fairtrade Football

So what steps can you take for Fairtrade? Well there’s no excuse, every time you walk into shop or cafe look out for the Fairtrade mark and buy Fairtrade. If it isn’t there ask the retailer nicely why they don’t stock Fairtrade or even write to their head office – little steps will become big steps and retailers will listen.

Take a step now and get involved with Fairtrade Fortnight – register your steps here

Shop Fairtrade Trainers now

Shop Fairtrade Footballs now

Check out our range of kids ethical shoes now!

During the summer we featured in The Times Style magazine displaying our ethical trainers in their men’s section. In October our Fairtrade Hi-Top trainers were vibrantly presented in the Telegraph’s Christmas Guide and Marie Claire included us in their ‘guilt-free guide’ to Christmas presents for their December issue.

Fellow ethical company People Tree also featured our eco-friendly trainers in their Autumn Winter 2011 catalogue! We are very excited to see what 2012 brings us and will keep you updated with our news along the way. Keep an eye out for our products in the media and let us know your thoughts!

We wish you a Merry Christmas from us here at Fair Corp.

Check out our range of ethical trainers now!

In the past we’ve supplied The Co-Operative with bespoke footballs and rugby balls, but I was surprised when the first thing I saw when I walked in was a big picture of some kids having fun with our Fairtrade rugby balls! We’re going to try and find out who and what this community group is.

Our Fairtrade Rugby Balls - Pictured in our local Co-operative Food

Supermarkets should do more to stock Fairtrade products but we as customers need to show there is a strong demand for them. So next time you’re in the supermarket, make sure there’s lots of Fairtrade brands in your basket.

Check out our ethical Fairtrade rugby balls.

We also offer a promotional football / sports ball service for orders over 300 balls.

Why wait?

However, if you want to be organised now, check out our fantastic ethical and eco-friendly gifts in our Christmas Shop!

Grab a great bargain today for the perfect ethical Christmas present for him, the best eco-friendly Christmas gift for her or a fab Fairtrade Christmas gift for kids!

Their Fairtrade pants are cool, classic and completely ethical, so not only will you look great wearing these timeless pants but you will feel great and guilt-free too!

£1 is donated to the Pants to Poverty charity for every pair sold which supports their farmer projects in India.

We are offering a great, new range of the Pants to Poverty’s collection available for both men and women. Take a look at the classic, Fairtrade and organic cotton pants today for the perfect ethical Christmas present.

Using ethical fashion to bring the issue of human trafficking to the fore, the Red Light Campaign was encouraging consumers to question the labour behind the label, and promoting beautiful clothes which are made from sustainable fabrics by fairly treated workers.

Held in the glamorous Avalon in the heart of Shoreditch, the evening started with talks from Ann Hamilton, the General Manager of the Human Trafficking Foundation and sustainable fashion expert Amisha Ghadiali. This was followed by a catwalk featuring leading ethical designers such as From Somewhere, People Tree, and ETHLETIC as well as donated products from Lily Cole which were auctioned to raise funds for the campaign.

ETHLETIC trainers looked great on the catwalk, paired with a cropped bomber jacket and faux leather leggings.

The show raised approximately £2,500!

After the fashion show we caught up with Talia Chain, founder of Red Light Campaign who told us all about their passion for ethical fashion…

Why did you feel it was important for Red Light Campaign to focus on sustainable fashion?

Firstly Red Light Campaign understands the excitement and draw of fashion which engages people in the way other mediums cannot. Fashion has given us a platform in a wider audience to bring to the fore issues about human trafficking.  Secondly, ethical fashion asks the consumer to question the labour behind the label and the ethics of prioritizing, consumption and production over humanity.

Red Light Campaign promotes the idea that a beautiful piece of clothing can be made from sustainable fabrics, by fairly treated workers and will last through the seasons moving from one loving owner to the next.

What are your favourite ethical fashion brands?

Well we love so many! I started buying ETHLETIC trainers long before I knew much about ethical fashion – they are great. The ethical fashion boutique Fashion Compassion sell beautiful clothes and we also love some of the bigger names such as Ada Zanditon, Emesha, From Somewhere and People Tree.  One of our favourite new designers is Jennifer Sturrock who sells stunning jewellery as well as clothes.

What are the charity’s plans for the future?

The charity has a variety of plans for the future.  We are looking forward to collaborations with other human trafficking charities where we will be showcasing our photographs as well as coordinating another fashion show next year in time for anti-slavery week. During Christmas and the New Year we will be expanding our exhibition by working with the Helen Bamber Foundation’s photographic society. The foundation is focused on the rehabilitation of survivors of torture and, among many other projects, co-ordinates groups where the survivors have a creative outlet. The society will be taking photos, which we will add to our exhibition under their name, about their identity using their relationship to clothes.

Finally, Fair Copr readers would love to keep updated on your news – do you have plans to hold any other ethical fashion fundraising events?

Definitely. We have had much interest in doing collaborations with ethical fashion designers for the coming year which we are in the process of organising.  We will also organise another fashion show on a larger scale in time for Anti-Slavery Day next year jointly with another charity soon to be announced.

We can’t wait to hear more from the Red Light Campaign – so watch this space and check out our range of ETHLETIC ethical trainers now!

(Photo – Claudia by Michael Baron)

Keep your eyes open on Twitter by following us @ETHLETICshoes and Facebook  for your chance to grab a last minute freebie to give to your friends and family this Christmas! We’re giving away everything from fantastic organic socks to our classic Fairtrade trainers and sportsballs.

Don’t miss out – comment on our daily Facebook notices or retweet us on Twitter to enter in our regular Christmas competitions.

If you fancy giving your loved ones an ethical gift anyway – check out our fantastic Christmas Shop and order before the 23^rd December* to receive your gifts in time for Christmas for those last minute buys. 

We wish you a very Merry Christmas from everyone here at Fair Corp Towers!

Enjoy!

Terms & Conditions:

• Prizes are subject to availability
• Restricted to one winner per day
• All competition entries will close at midnight of the day they were posted
• Winners will be announced the day after the competition is posted
• One winner will be selected at random from either the Facebook or Twitter entries
• Last day of competitions is 23^rd December 2011