Fairly traded textiles celebrated in Canada

TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles, a social enterprise launched by two Canadian women, celebrated World Fair Trade Day in style! With two events held in Nova Scotia, TAMMACHAT's home province, exquisite silks from IFAT-certified member groups in Thailand and Laos took centre stage. These naturally dyed silks are produced by village-based weaving co-operatives Prae Pan Group and Panmai Group in Northeast Thailand, and Mulberries, a Lao enterprise involving more than 200 families specializes in the production of naturally dyed, handmade silk.

Now in its second year, TAMMACHAT has developed a presentation that takes people - through photographs and stories - to villages in Northeast Thailand where Prae Pan and Panmai co-op members live and work. The 30 people who attended the Halifax, Nova Scotia presentation heard stories of the women who make cloth from plants and cocoons as their foremothers did, and learned about their weaving traditions, the important of natural dyeing to the health of the artisans and their environments, community development and fair trade in action.

The 300 people who attended this event and a second event held a week later in TAMMACHAT's home town of Mahone Bay took home not only beautiful textiles but a greater appreciation of the work involved in producing them. The slideshow presentation -- and two photography books on display that TAMMACHAT produced as "thank you" gifts for the two Thai co-ops whose members opened their homes to share their stories -- showed how fair trade helps these artisans sustain their weaving traditions, families and communities.

As well, strong media coverage in local newspapers in both Halifax and Mahone Bay reached thousands of readers with the fair trade message.

Based on the success of these events and the growing interest of consumers in Canada about the people who make what they buy (and under what conditions), TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles is planning to take its fairly traded textiles to Canada's capital city, Ottawa, to celebrate World Fair Trade Day in 2009.

To learn more about fairly traded textiles and the artisan groups with whom TAMMACHAT is building trading relationships, visit www.tammachat.com