Interesting
intersections that happen when you are least expecting it are the ones
that make me smile the most.Yesterday I was glancing through my Google Alerts and found a reference to both fairtrade soccer balls and Fair Indigo, the hip new apparel company from Madison, WI.
I popped over to Just Things - a good source for an “applied counter-economics” perspective on the Fair Trade movement - to read through the candid interview with Fair Indigo’s Bill Bass and Rob Behnke.
Bill was walking journalist Steve Herrick through his design department when they spotted one of our fairly traded children’s soccer balls. An interesting and insightful discussion about the pros/cons of partnerships between fair trade companies ensued.
I’m already a fan of their apparel line. One of my favorite shirts is their logo tee - amazingly soft and lots of folks ask about the tagline “style with a conscience” when I wear it around town.
Position yourself as a true hipster at the local park by snagging your own fairtrade children’s soccer ball *before* the next Fair Indigo catalog comes out. Then you’ll be able to show your kids the catalog and reap their adoration for being on the cutting edge of hipness. At least that’s what I’m planning to do.
:)
Published by Scott James March 9th, 2007 in Apparel: sweatshop-free, Sports balls: Fair Trade, What others are saying about us.
FYI — There’s some concern out there about Fair Indigo’s refusal to make detailed information about their factories, wages, and producers available on their website: http://emergingwomen.blogspot.com/2007/03/fair-trade-accountability.html
I hear you, Steve. It’s a valid concern.
It was interesting to note in the interview that Fair Indigo did reveal their trade secrets - the factory information - to the Fair Trade Federation, who is checking on their factories as part of their application to join.
For me, the question then becomes, “Do I trust the screening committees at FTF - that they will do their homework on Fair Indigo?” My answer is yes, I do trust them. I know those folks and they are quite good at due diligence.
My answer is reinforced by getting to know Rob Behnke a bit via email. I trust him, as well.
[Note: I edited this post slightly on 3-20-07 after a friend pointed out FI’s is not yet a FTF member.]
Steve K., I talked to Bill Bass, the CEO of Fair Indigo, for three hours when I interviewed him, and for another hour when I dropped in again. As an outspoken proponent of fair trade, I have to say that I got a good vibe off him. Is he a militant, street-fighting activist? No. He’s one of a handful of people willing to put his personal assets and even career on the line to push fair trade into an area where it didn’t previously exist.
Would I like them to reveal their suppliers? Sure. But, regardless of what I think of the idea, I am firmly convinced that they are firmly convinced that to do so would be catastrophic for their business, and their business model. But, read the interview for yourself.