Fair trade fashion show

Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer in Asheville (among other locations) is hosting a fair trade fashion show and consignment sale on Saturday, May 7. 

The Fashion show takes place at Lexington Avenue Brewery from 1-4 p.m.  Admission is free.; the show includes apparel from Ten Thousand Villages and The Old North State Clothing Company. Says Old North State, on its website, “The excitement and activities will kick-off a week of celebration leading up to World Fair Trade Day on May 14. …The details are still being worked out but we will be featuring the new spring Beija Flor jeans, as well as scarves and tops.”

“We are excited about our first annual Fair Trade Fashion Show and Consignment Sale,” says Jennifer Elliot, store manager at Ten Thousand Villages. “We’ll feature fabulous Fair Trade clothing from Ghana, India, Brazil and more. This event is being held, in part, to celebrate World Fair Trade Day. We hope to increase our communities’ awareness of fair trade and the growing variety of fair trade products available in the marketplace.  Many volunteers are donating their time to put together the various ensembles, model the clothing and make this a memorable event.” 

Also participating: Purls Yarn Emporium and Beads and Seeds (who sells Ugandan jewelry). After the fashion show items will be available for purchase. 

Fair trade provides artisans a fair price and better income for the art they create, providing improved living situations for artisans globally.  Fair trade retailers are attempting to raise awareness in consumers so that they may realize the impact they can have on another person’s life.  Ten Thousand Villages promote products made under fair trade agreements by selling artisan created goods at a reasonable price.  For each garment that is purchased from a fair trade retailer, an artisan is given fair compensation for materials and time, as well as a dependable yearly income, and quality goods with minimal environmental effects.