“For every beautiful garment People Tree makes, there is an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world”. Safia Minney, Founder of People Tree.
People Tree is a pioneer in the fair trade fashion industry founded by Safia Minney in Japan in 1997 and headquartered in Great Britain since 2001. People Tree is the pioneer in Fair Trade and sustainable fashion, and prides itself on continually working towards meeting Fair Trade standards throughout its supply chain and trading operations.
“We make beautiful garments that are a living proof of our values: people and the planet are central to everything we do. Our garments are hand crafted in organic cotton and sustainable materials, using traditional skills that support rural communities”.
Consumers- People Tree is making their customers aware about the impacts of fashion industry on environment and make them a conscious shopper. The Brand also uses the internet through Safia Minney’s blog “People Tree Magazine” to communicate with its consumers: on her blog, the designer openly shares all the news and events of the brand and its producers.
Workers- For over twenty years, People Tree has partnered with Fair Trade artisans and farmers in the developing world to produce a collection of Fair Trade and sustainable fashion and accessories. Fair Trade is about creating a new way of doing business, creating access to markets and opportunities for marginalised people in the developing world.
“We get regular visits from the People Tree team, where they give us training in pattern cutting, fabric development and advice on our work” — Monju Haque, Artisan Hut, Bangladesh.
They use traditional skills and combine them with new innovative technologies to support and grow their businesses. By using skills such as hand weaving, hand knitting or hand embroidery they create employment in rural areas where work is often scarce. E.g. Artisan Hut, Bangladesh: gathers 250 artisans from rural areas. By ensuring production and extended deadlines, those workers ensure the conservation of the traditional expertise of handlooms and improve their standard of living. E.g. of Assisi Garments, India: trains and employs 200 women (poor, deaf, or dumb) on the processing of transforming cotton into clothing. After 5 years every woman gets a sum of money to start their own shop. Profits are reinvested in a hospital in southern India.
Environment policy of People Tree-
- To use only natural fibres or fibres that follow closed loop processes, such as Lenzing certified TENCEL.
- To promote organic farming.
- They aim to source GOTS certified organic cotton throughout the supply chain as much as possible.
- To use products that are biodegradable as much as possible.
- To avoid polluting substances, including using GOTS and azo free dye.
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