What Is Fair Trade? 10 Principles & Five Artisan Partner Stories
When you choose a gift, you probably think about who will open it. Will your amiga love the little cat ornament? Is that necklace her color? At Recetas, we also care about the people who made it.
That’s where fair trade comes in. It connects what we buy with how people are paid, the conditions they work in, and the opportunities available to their families. The person making your gift deserves care and respect, too.
Let’s take a closer look at what fair trade means and meet five of the artisan partners behind gifts in our shop.
What Is Fair Trade?
Fair trade is a way of doing business that puts people and the environment first. It means working toward fair pay, safe workplaces, lasting trading relationships, and a voice for producers in decisions that affect their work. Community programs can be part of that work, but fair treatment starts with the job itself.
The World Fair Trade Organization, or WFTO, sets out ten principles. Here’s what they mean in everyday terms.
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1. Creating Opportunities for Economically Marginalized ProducersOpen doors for producers who face barriers to earning a reliable income. Give small businesses and artisan groups room to grow and build independence. |
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2. Transparency and AccountabilityBe open about how the business works. Include producers and workers in decisions, and take responsibility for the commitments made to them. |
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3. Fair Trading PracticesHonor agreements, build long-term relationships, and share risk fairly. Agreed advance payments can help producers cover costs before an order is finished. Respect for cultural traditions and craft skills belongs here, too. |
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4. Fair PaymentNegotiate prices and wages through conversation with producers. Work toward a local living wage and equal pay for equal work. A bargain for us shouldn’t come at someone else’s expense. |
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5. Ensuring No Child Labor and Forced LaborProtect people from forced work and children from exploitation. Children need time for school, rest, and play. Learning a family craft should never take those things away. |
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6. Nondiscrimination, Gender Equity, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Freedom of AssociationGive people fair access to work, training, pay, and leadership. Respect workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively. |
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7. Ensuring Good Working ConditionsMake work safe and healthy, with hours and conditions that respect labor standards. That includes artisans who work from home. |
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8. Providing Capacity BuildingHelp producers learn skills, strengthen their businesses, and reach new customers. Training should give people more choices about their future. |
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9. Promoting Fair TradeHelp customers understand who makes their purchases and what fair trade involves. Share honest information about the work behind the product. |
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10. Climate Action and Protection of the EnvironmentUse resources carefully, reduce emissions, protect biodiversity, and help producers adapt to climate change. How a product is made matters alongside who makes it. |
Meet Five of Our Artisan Partners
Fair trade takes shape in different ways. These partners connect craft and business with education, career training, and support for families. Their programs and membership arrangements vary, so each has its own story.
Gry & Sif: Felt Gifts Made by Hand in Nepal
Gry & Sif brings Danish design together with Nepalese felt craftsmanship. Artisans have access to training, health insurance, and flexible arrangements for working from home. A scholarship program also supports children’s education in Nepal.
UPAVIM: Women’s Craft and Community Care in Guatemala
In La Esperanza, Guatemala, UPAVIM connects women’s craft income with services for their community. Its education programs include a Montessori school, childcare and preschool, English learning, tutoring, and scholarships. Craft sales and donations help support this work.
Guatemalan Embroidered Heart Ornament
Handwoven textiles and hand embroidery give this heart its color and texture. Tuck a handwritten note alongside it for someone you’re grateful to have in your life.
Starfish Project: Jewelry and Room to Grow
Starfish Project employs survivors of human trafficking and exploitation. Jewelry-making is one part of its work. Holistic care, life-skills training, and vocational training in areas such as design, photography, and accounting help women build careers and independence.
Rowen Leaf Necklace in Mint
A mint enamel leaf on an adjustable gold-plated stainless-steel necklace brings a soft touch of color to an everyday outfit.
WorldFinds and Tara Projects: Supporting Education in India
Women artisans in India make WorldFinds’ Educate bracelet. The program supports Tara Projects’ education work in the Bawana community, with donations based on the bracelets WorldFinds purchases from artisans. The support happens through those wholesale purchases, rather than a new donation from each Recetas sale.
Cause Bracelet: Educate
Three strands of glass and metal beads make a colorful stretch bracelet for someone who likes a little color on her wrist.
Venture Imports: Practical Support for Artisans
Venture Imports works with artisans through fair compensation, safe working conditions, and interest-free loans that offer an alternative to predatory lending. Flexible work arrangements help families balance earning an income with responsibilities at home.
Word Hearts
Artisans in Kenya carve, sand, dye, and etch these small stone hearts by hand. Ask us about available words and ordering options, then choose a message you’d like someone to keep close.
A Few Questions Worth Asking
Who made this? Where was it made? How are the makers paid and supported? These are good questions to bring to any purchase. Look for clear answers about pay, working conditions, training, and environmental practices.
You may also see different fair-trade memberships and verification marks. They aren’t all the same. WFTO uses the ten principles above; the Fair Trade Federation has a related nine-principle framework.
Buyer FAQs
What Does Fair Trade Mean for Me as a Shopper?
It’s a way to consider how a product was made and how the people who made it are treated, rather than focusing only on whether a purchase includes a donation. Look for clear information about pay, working conditions, lasting trading relationships, and producer opportunities.
Does Buying One of These Products Mean a Donation Comes from My Recetas Order?
Not necessarily. Each partner’s programs and funding arrangements differ. Check the product or Artisan information. At time Recetas may donate a portion of sales to specific partners.
Are All Five Partners Certified in the Same Way?
No. The partners’ structures and verification arrangements differ. This article does not claim that all five are certified by WFTO or hold the same membership; check each organization’s current information for its own claims.
What Should I Check Before Ordering?
Choose a gift that fits the recipient and your budget, then check the current product listing for materials, size or fit, available options, and availability. Details and stock can change.
Give with Care
You don’t have to find a perfect gift or spend more than your budget allows. Start with the person you love, then get curious about the people behind what you choose.
A little ornament, a necklace, or a heart with just the right word can be a thoughtful way to say, “Me acordé de ti - I thought about you.” Browse the gifts above, or ask us if you’d like help choosing.