Fairtrade cotton alternatives – bed sheets to dog collars (and you can even ‘get shirty’ about poverty)

Recently, the Guardian newspaper in the UK found that children as young as six are working 10-hour shifts in 40C heat for 20 pence a day making Egyptian cotton sheets; their job? Picking the cotton that makes the world’s finest bed linen.

Thankfully the New Internationalist (a World Fair Trade Organisation) is producing a cotton sheet alternative made by the Chetna Organic Farmers Association which is certified as Fairtrade by FLO-International (Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International) – this ensures that small scale cotton farmers from developing countries receive a fair and stable price for their goods and labours. Additionally they receive a Fairtrade premium which enables them to invest in their farm businesses and communities.

Get shirty about poverty with Rise Up

Closer to home, Rise Up Productions is selling business shirts in addition to clerical shirts made from Fairtrade cotton.

No Sweatshop shirts with Fairtrade Cotton

Find out about the Rise Up shirts promoted by Dan MacPherson.

Even dog collar shirts …

For women ... and men

The Rise Up clerical shirts came from an idea by Simon Butler, curate at St Giles Church in West Bridgford in the UK. All of the shirts are made from 100% Fairtrade Certified Cotton – not the usual scratchy and uncomfortable poly-cotton mix.

Article on children picking cotton in Egypt

Sheets made from Fairtrade certified cotton

Buy your minister a clerical shirt made from Fairtrade certified cotton