Jacaranda Blue Blog

Most of us are feeling the effects of the current credit crunch, and struggling to keep up with higher gas and electricity bills. Obviously consumers are going to be more concerned with prices than they were a while back, but does this mean that they will also be less concerned about fair trade?

A lot of people believe that buying fair trade items is much more expensive, but this is not always the case. At the supermarket I’m often pleasantly surprised by how similar in price the fairtrade products are to the standard brands. Even ‘luxury’ fair trade items, such as giftware and fashion, are reasonably priced when compared with the high street. Often exchange rates mean that just a few pennies extra in the UK make a big difference when converted to the local currency in third world countries.

I’ll admit that the current trend for disposable fashion (ultra cheap, mass produced clothing and accessories) does give the impression of better prices for the customer - until you look more closely. There are several ways in which buying fair trade is the better option:

1. Conscience is the obvious reason - no matter what a bargain a piece of clothing is, is it worth wondering whether child labour has been used to produce it, or whether your saving of a few pounds is depriving someone else of their meals for the day?
2. Value for money also comes into it. Cheap, mass produced items are not going to last, either physically or in terms of fashionability. Think about it in cost-per-wear terms. A £3 t-shirt worn once works out more expensive (£3 per wear) than a £15 t-shirt worn even just ten times (£1.50 per wear) - and a good quality t-shirt is likely to be worn far more than that! We’ve all made the mistake of buying something cheap only to find it twists in the wash, the colours run, seams rip or it shrinks. Isn’t it better to invest a little more in something that will last and that you really love (and didn’t just buy because it was ‘a bargain’)?
3. Individuality makes a big difference. Cheap mass produced items all look the same - the styles and cuts are usually very boring and basic. When producers are paid fairly for their work, they can afford to spend time on design and on detail, which makes their creations stand out as something special. Clothes and accessories that are more individual also have better longevity, as it’s not as obvious when and where they were bought, so they can last several seasons or even several years.

To summarise, when money is tight you should be spending more wisely, and cheap disposable fashion is not wise but wasteful. Think before you buy and invest in a few beautiful pieces that you really love - you’ll not only look more stylish but you’ll save money too!

Take a look at Jacaranda Blue’s range of fair trade accessories to see just how gorgeous and affordable ethically sourced handbags and jewellery can be!