Introduction Fair trade is an initiative that was created by importing organisations in the United States and Europe with the purpose of fostering inclusion, capacity building as well as equal opportunities for agricultural and textile producers who had been marginalised in less developed nations (Huybrechts 2012). The whole concept of fair trade has seized the imagination of the public in a remarkable way. This is evidenced not only by increased sales of products or the rampant acknowledgement of the trade mark, rather from the almost global recognition and understanding of the term itself as well as immense advocacy at the grassroots through establishments as fair trade towns. Fair trade has been defined by major fair-trade organisations as: “A trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, securing the rights of, marginalised producers and workers, especially in the south. Fair trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in rules and practice of international trade”. (Huybrechts 2012, p.13) Perceived from this angle, fair trade has turned out as an ‘alternative’ standard institutional arrangement to marshal and regulate production and trade in a range of sectors. Much marketing of fair trade products lean towards the principle of a fair price for producers, integrating both minimum prices enumerated in relation to each particular product line (Shaw et al. 2006). Additionally, the system attempts to embed principles of democratic decision-making and social and environmental stability ac... ... middle of paper ... ...10. Ethical Products and Consumer Involvement: What’s New? European Journal of Marketing, 44(9/10), 1305-1321. Gomersall, K., and Wang, M. Y., 2012. Expansion of Fairtrade Products in Chinese Market. Journal of Sustainable Development, 5(1), 23-32. Huybrechts, B., 2012. Fair Trade Organisations and Social Enterprise: Social Innovation through Hybrid Organisation Models. Routledge: New York. Pelsmacker, P. D., Driesen, L., and Rayp, G., 2005. Do Consumers Care About Ethics? Willingness to Pay for Fair-Trade Coffee. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 39(2), 363-385. Raynolds, L. T., Murray, D., and Wilkinson, J., 2007. Fair Trade: The Challenges of Transforming Globalisation. New York: Routledge. Shaw, D., Hogg, G., Wilson, E., Shui, E., and Hassan, L., 2006. Fashion Victim: The Impact of Trade Concerns on Clothing Choice. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 14, 427-440.
Wright, L. T., & Heaton, S. (2006). Fair Trade marketing: an exploration through qualitative research. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 14(4), 411-426. doi:10.1080/09652540600948019
Berry, Hannah. “The Fashion Industry: Free to Be an Individual.” The Norton Field Guide to
Fair trade should give protection to governments from exploitation. For example, small farmers can be protected by giving government food sovereignty. An article from the Chicago Democratic Socialist Organization proposed, “The agreement must return to governments the ability to safeguard food sovereignty by protecting family and small-scale subsistence farmers” (Chicago Democratic Socialist). Rewriting the agreement can protect the small farms and retain jobs for farm workers. The article further addressed an issue discussed previously, “Large-scale importation of basic grains into Mexico is a major cause of the economic collapse of rural communities, which forces millions of undocumented migrants to seek work in the USA” (Chicago Democratic Socialist). Therefore, it would solve problems both in the US and Mexico. It will take efforts of the many to renegotiate NAFTA, and many other terms needs to be added. The general direction should focus on protecting the interest of the general public by restricting corporate powers. Fair trade will reduce the problems caused by
...ystem primarily responsible for promoting global competition. Free trade also promotes shifts in production so as to fit the “comparative advantage” model. Though free trade is widely practiced concerns with how to regulate free trade, something supposedly unregulated, countries have to subject themselves to the controversial institutions of the IMF and WTO. Fair trade policies while potentially creating smaller markets support workers’ rights in both the U.S. and developing nations. Though the pros and cons of globalization continue to be debated the United States can no longer escape its role in the global economy nor can it impose policies that are detrimental to the United States founding ideals. However policies that play towards the advantages of both free and fair trade could stimulate a healthy domestic economy that is also competitive in the global market.
Although fashion has an impact on people’s appearances, it has an even bigger impact on people’s lives. Many workers who manufacture clothes, are actually in a copious amount of danger. According to New York Times Upfront Magazine, “...so when her manager refused last year to give her time off to see a doctor about a persistent fever she accepted it…. Shortly after, her heart stopped
Fair Trade coffee truly presents a difficult dilemma: through attempts to help farmers it sometimes backfires in certain areas and ends up hindering instead. Rules for the guaranteed market, guaranteed price floor, and opposition of child labor all originate from good-hearted desires to improve the lives of coffee farmers. Unfortunately, the situation many coffee farmers face cannot be so easily solved. The process of moving Fair Trade to the next level of functionality may not come quickly: it may take years, even decades. But that does not matter; rather, it matters much more that we ensure that the issues are addressed and thought over rather than simply swept under the carpet with the National Debt. With care and creativity Fair Trade can grow if we simply put forth the effort required to help it do so.
Thesis: With the unregulated practices that goes on in the Fashion Industry, change is one notion that this abusive yet glamorous business have yet to see.
It’s no secret that some women believe fashion portrays who they are. Therefore follow every season’s new trend. This leads to spending money that they don’t have. Waller Lea, a journalist, suggest that “for some communities, purchasing knockoffs or generic products are frowned upon, forcing minorities to spend more money. Now businesses and companies are targeting minorities, causing more debt problems.” Addicted to retail or brainwashed? Opponents claim that fashion is simply a creative way to express themselves. There are others ways to express ourselves that are no based on our appearance. Through drawing, painting or through our thoughts and ideas. What happens when someone can’t afford expensive clothing or doesn’t have access to fashionable clothes? They are singled out and excluded from society for being different.
The movement particularly emphasizes on exports from developing countries to developed countries, with products such as handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate, flowers and gold. Moreover, coffee is one of the most widely traded goods in the world. For many developing countries, coffee trade is an important source of income. Producers can provide a better trading and improve terms of trade. Moreover, this allows producers to improve workers’ living environment and future life in general (De Pelsmacker, Driessen and Rayp, 2005).
In the early 1800s, France was the sole fashion capital of the world; everyone who was anyone looked towards Paris for inspiration (DeJean, 35). French fashion authority was not disputed until the late twentieth century when Italy emerged as a major fashion hub (DeJean, 80). During the nineteenth century, mass produced clothing was beginning to be marketed and the appearance of department stores was on the rise (Stearns, 211). High fashion looks were being adapted and sold into “midlevel stores” so that the greater public could have what was once only available to the social elite (DeJean, 38). People were obsessed with expensive fashions; wealthy parents were advised not the let their children run around in expensive clothing. People would wait for children dressed in expensive clothing to walk by and then they would kidnap them and steal their clothes to sell for money (DeJean, 39). Accessories were another obsession of France‘s fashion; they felt no outfit was complete without something like jewelry or a shrug to finish off the look and make it all around polished (DeJean, 61). As designers put lines together, marketing began to become important to fashion in the nineteenth century; fashion plates came into use as a way to show off fashion l...
Free trade is a form of economic policy which allows countries to import and export goods among each other with no government interference. In recent years there has been a general consensus in economist’s stance on free trade. They view free trade as an asset. Free trade allows for an abundance of goods with increased varieties and increased availability. The products become cheaper for consumers and no one company monopolizes an industry. The system of free trade has been highly controversial. While free trade benefits consumers it has the potential to hurt manufacturers and businesses thus creating a debate between supporters of free trade and those with antagonistic positions.
Children use clothing as a form of identity, and when their families cannot afford the latest trends, it can lend itself to feelings of low self-worth and can even make children targets of bullying. Children are inundated every single day with advertising and marketing, and these kids are connected to media a good portion of their day. This allows advertisers to creep into our children’s lives and target them multiple times every day. Corporations are guilty of putting financial gain ahead of children’s health and well-being, and the fashion industry has been identified as one of these industries (L...
Free trade can be defined as the free access of the market by individuals without any restriction or any trade barriers that can obstruct the trade process such as taxes, tariffs and import quotas. Free trade in its own way unites and brings people together. Most individuals love the concept of free trade because it gives them the ability to move freely and interact in the market. The whole idea of free trade is that it lowers the price for goods and services by promoting competition. Domestic producers will no longer be able to rely on government law and other forms of assistance, including quotas which essentially force citizens to buy from them. The producers will have to enter the market and strive into to obtain profit.
Gardner, Marilyn. "Fast Fashion Is a Problem." The Fashion Industry. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Fashion Industry Gives Rise to a 'Disposable Culture, '." The Christian Science Monitor. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 22 Nov.
Fashion in the 21st century is a big business, as its production employs millions of people and generates billions of dollars in revenue. Fashion has for the past century been, and is still today, used as an indicator of social change and progress, as it changes with the social norms of the society and the political changes of the world (Finkelstein 3). Works Cited Finkelstein, Joanne. A.S.A. & Co. Fashion: An Introduction to Fashion. New York: New York University Press, 1998.