by Patricia Jurewicz, Senior Associate, Trade and Global Governance at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Caught between protesters and government negotiators, Fair Trade offered a beacon of hope during the Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. With major support from the Swiss and Canadian governments, IATP and an international steering committee hosted the 2005 Hong Kong Fair Trade Fair and Symposium. It featured over fifty Fair Trade producers and NGOs from twenty countries, a welcoming reception with a traditional lion dance, high profile speakers such as Mary Robinson and trade ministers from India and Germany, and the highlight -- a Fair Trade fashion show. From December 13-16, 2005, the Fair Trade Fair and Symposium promoted a working success story to government ministers and their delegations, to NGOs who observed the negotiations, and to the thousands of demonstrators on the street.

The event that gained the most publicity and drew the largest crowd during the week was the Fair Trade fashion show. Although the music was thumping, and the lights were whirling, what gave this show a politically-charged message were the message boards the models carried with captions such as “Who Made Your Clothes?” and “No Peace with Poverty.” At the end, Safia Minney, founder of the People Tree fashion label and the show organizer, had the models pass out the International Fair Trade Association’s position on cotton. “The fashion show may have been one of the most important events this week,” commented IATP’s President Mark Ritchie. “It shows vision and creativity, and it highlights the success of Fair Trade... beauty and justice are a stylish combination.”

The intention of promoting Fair Trade in the midst of a world gathering of negotiators and protestors was to illustrate how international trade can benefit those who have been hurt the most by the negative affects of the WTO: the marginalized, those living in rural communities, and the small farmers who are suffering from low global commodity prices. By highlighting an economic development system that works, and can be scaled up, Fair Trade supporters aim to raise awareness, increase financing and affect policy that promotes Fair Trade... if this happens, then maybe in the future there will be fewer reasons to protest.

Speaking of Fair Trade Fashion, don’t miss this one of kind fashion show of Fair Trade Bridal Wear by designer Crystal Miller (www.getconscious.com) featuring exquisite hemp, silk and satin blends. The show begins on Friday, March 10th 6:30-9 pm; Saturday, March 11th 10-6 pm at Birch Clothing, 2309 West 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410. Call Birch Clothing for more details at 612-436-0776.

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