[Fair Trade] Fashion comes in a bag

from The London Times

By Carola Long

The United Nations has turned its hand to fashion to develop the first fair trade luxury accessories label.

Taytu, an entirely Ethiopian label, is named after the country’s first empress. All its profits will go to the collective of Ethiopian companies behind the label, and guarantee their employees fair pay and safe working conditions.

Unido, the UN’s industrial development organisation, collaborated with ITC, its marketing and development branch, on the project after manufacturers said that they were unable to compete with mass producers, particularly those in Asia.

Unido hired two Westerners, including Barbara Guarducci, an Italian designer, who said that the climate was right for the label The label’s first collection will be available at the start of next year.