Porcupine quill earrings with hematites

You can have nice jewellery and fabulous designs and not pay over the odds [...]]]> Of course you aren’t. Not in jewellery that uses blood diamonds and gold that was mined by young children and that was produced in huge factories by “artisans” that work 16 hour days for US$2 per day…

Porcupine quill earrings with hematites

You can have nice jewellery and fabulous designs and not pay over the odds yet buy with peace of mind. Knowing that your necklace, earrings or bracelet have been made by a skilled artisan with love for his or her profession and using traditional methods. You can also rest assured that the precious stones used in your jewellery have either been recycled from “old” jewellery or mined with care and respect for the environment.

At Cebra we only buy jewellery from sources that have been inspected and are rigorously monitored making sure that work conditions are the same as you would expect them here in the West. That no child labour is involved and that precious metals and stones have not been mined by carelessly ripping open wounds into landscapes.

Rosary style necklace with aquamarines and sterling silver

We support local co-operatives in South Africa, India and Peru. Designs are unique and the workmanship is outstanding. You may choose from stylish fashion earrings and necklaces made from recycled glass starting at £7 to unique, one-off necklaces selling for up to £125.

read [...]]]> Cebra is a fair trade and eco accessories internet shop with a difference. The aim is to bring together artisans from Africa, South America, Asia and India and conscientious consumers who are looking for unique products that make a difference to their lives and that of the producers. Cebra also strives to preserve ancient craftmanship.

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My aim is to bring you stylish, modern, well made eco chic. Accessories that you can be proud [...]]]> My web designer Jamie Lovell and I have worked very hard over the last few weeks to bring you our new look Cebra fair trade website. And here it is – fresh, contemporary, informative and easy to navigate.

My aim is to bring you stylish, modern, well made eco chic. Accessories that you can be proud of and that stay in fashion for some time. And when you tire of your purchase you can either pass it on to someone who appreciates eco chic or compost most items (or dismantle them and make them into new accessories – the jewellery for example!).

All our fair trade and eco accessories have been made by small co-ops and individual artisans from either Africa, Asia, South America or Europe. Buy purchasing fair trade accessories you can really make a difference to their lives. I believe that fair trade not only supports the people but also the environment they live in (and therefore ultimately our environment – our planet is here to enjoy for everyone, not just a chosen few). Fair trade enables people to get a better education and send their children to school. It empowers people and gives them a meaning in life. Fair trade to me also means products that have been made using traditional skills and craftsmanship as well as sustainable and/or recycled base materials.

It is important to support ancient skills as hand made items have an aura of luxury and instill a sense of pride and self worth not only in the maker but also in the buyer of these accessories. And they don’t have to break your bank balance. However, most hand made fair trade items don’t come cheap if you want a fresh, modern, contemporary design as a lot of input goes into research and producing pilot products before the end result is released.

I think it is worth buying fair trade eco chic – you want accessories that last and that are not polluting our planet. At the same time you want stylish and contemporary items that you can be proud of.

Buying fair trade and eco accessories makes sense. Buy them with a clear conscience at Cebra.

Cebra’s new website was mentioned on springfair.com marketplace

Whilst I agree that certification is a super idea I object to [...]]]> I am not a member of BAFTS or the British Fair Trade Organisation, simply because BAFTS wants me to sell only products from IFAT certified and FLO certified “suppliers” (i.e. producers AND middlemen) and I don’t sell coffees and teas or bananas and chocolate.

Whilst I agree that certification is a super idea I object to the notion that I MUST sell only from such suppliers or at least 75% of my products must come from such producers and suppliers. Firstly it is expensive for small producers to get the IFAT and FLO certification (they have to pay a yearly fee based on their turnover, just as I would as a member) and secondly most IFAT and FLO certified producers and suppliers in my experience either don’t supply small retailers such as myself or they don’t supply what I want to sell!

Now, I could go and form a company in Kenya, Nepal, India, Brazil and then apply for the certification. But – I don’t have the money to do this and I don’t want to limit myself to just one product. I want to give a retail outlet to as many small producers, artisans and co-operatives as possible. Which is why I decided not to apply to any of the aforementioned bodies for a certificate. Until they change their policies that is – and I believe BAFTS is in the process of reviewing their application process. Hopefully so that people and small businesses such as myself have the chance to become members and support the fair trade movement with their enthusiasm and expertise as well as their knowledge and strong belief that what we do is the right thing. We should not be restricted and bogged down by administration and rules that sometimes don’t make any sense and sometimes are simply downright silly (plus that cost money that goes into the administration of said regulatory bodies i.e. the salaries of chairmen and women rather than the actual cause i.e. helping small producers).

In the meantime I am an enthusiastic supporter of Transfair and the American Fair Trade Federation (which laughably is boycotted by BAFTS for reasons that nobody explained to me). Both are far more transparent and open minded than their European counterparts, alas as to whether the hostility between the European and US bodies is reciprocal remains to be seen…… I just hope they find a way to work together rather than against each other as this would make them the strongest network for fair trade that there can be.

In the meantime I am posting a video, financed by TransFair and produced by Mobius. It is the best video clip on fair trade and what it means, but also shows how each of us consumers can help change trade for the better if we all stick together and vote with our money. Enjoy. (c) of the video is eq.tv
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