Who says Fairtrade can’t be Fashionable?

The School of Design believe that an integral part of the design process should involve being ethical and work towards a responsible design practice. They continuously encourage students to create fashion that is ethical, so when the Fairtrade Foundation invited the school to take part in their Fairtrade Cotton Fashion Project it was an exciting opportunity. The project was part of their Fairtrade Fortnight to celebrate five years of Fairtrade cotton and was designed to elevate Fairtrade cotton to a new fashionable platform.

First year Fashion Marketing students were asked to immerse themselves in the challenges facing cotton farmers in the developing world, taking into account the culture they live in and the way in which Fairtrade benefits them, with the help of mood boards. They then had to use this research to design and make a one off, innovative statement piece that has Fairtrade certified cotton at its core. The students chose to focus on a favourite fashion staple – a shirt.

Using locally sourced Indian Cotton, from Bishopton Trading Company and Fabrics Ltd the students created an exciting range of inspirational garments. Worlds apart from a standard workaday shirt, these garments proved beyond doubt that Fairtrade cotton can be fashionable.

For information about Design courses at Northumbria visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/enquiries