Playing Fair:: Fair Trade Kids Clothing

When possible, I like to buy Fair Trade items. Lots of us know about and care about items such as Fair Trade coffee and chocolate – anyone who’s read or watched information about how such seemingly everyday items are sourced in certain parts of the world knows that goods like chocolate and coffee, which we take for granted, are brought us in part by people who don’t get a fair go for the work they do. In fact they’re often treated very badly, paid very little and in worst cases, can suffer in ways we, munching on our chocolate or sipping on our coffee can’t even imagine.

For that reason, buying products sourced from organisations that treat their workers well is becoming increasingly the more responsible way to act.

Until recently I’d never thought of Fair Trade beyond items such as coffee or chocolate. I knew it must apply to other items but hadn’t given it much consideration. So when I came across the online store Playing Fair: Fair Trade Kids Clothing, I wanted to find out more. I learned about the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand and where to buy other Fair Trade products locally. I learned that Playing Fair is a business that sources and imports clothing that meets the Fair Trade standards.

And of course, it was exciting to buy some cute clothes that came from far away, knowing the creators had been treated well and paid fairly for their handiwork.  I bought two dresses and two shirts. Today, when Alice was here for a sleepover, I got a picture of her in one of the dresses. Rather, it’s a top, but I bought a bigger size for her so she’d get a couple of years’ wear out of it. Isn’t it adorable?

This is the Flamenco Top and at $15 I thought it was a total bargain! She’s got a little pair of shorts on underneath and I imagine a year from now, when she’s taller, it’ll work equally well as a top.

Owner of the Playing Fair online shop, Nadiah, told me she’s working hard at the moment to keep her own costs down by promoting her business through word of mouth. I like to think that Alice, looking as lovely as she does in her little dress from Thailand, is doing her bit for the fight for justice – she just doesn’t know it yet.

If you have little people to buy for, Nadiah has some fabulous stuff – there’s a dragonfly dress I bought for Alice, as well as some very handsome little shirts. I got one for Willem and plan to get more. I love how they’re a bit different to the run of the mill stuff that’s around for kids. I hope more and more stores like this begin to appear – it’s a wonderful idea.

Bells