Gift Focus - May/Jun 2018 (Issue 107)

BAFTS started the year with some of our supplier members attending a whole host of trade fairs up and down the UK and in continental Europe. As usual, our Executive Officer, Kathryn Sygrove, visited Spring Fair with other board members to chat to our existing supplier members and those interested in joining us. It was great to see some of our members short-listed for awards. We were thrilled when Just Trade (UK) Ltd was awarded Best Supplier award at the ACE Convention in Brighton at the start of March. It really is a great testimony to the company’s quality range of goods to receive this award, and proves that fair trade is as much about skilled design, consistent production, and stunning products, as it’s about improved lives and livelihoods for the producers. BAFTS campaigns The annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign followed. Running from 26 th February to 11 th March, this was a great opportunity to showcase fair trade as part of a high profile national campaign and it was great to see so many BAFTS shops and suppliers getting involved with events to encourage people to ‘Come on in to Fairtrade’. From interviews with local press on the benefits of Fair Trade to producers in developing countries and why our support is as vital as ever; to organising talks on gender equality; to dressing up in banana suits; to holding sample sales and Fairtrade tasting events on International Women’s Day, many of our members were acting, speaking, posting, tweeting, and spreading the message as widely and loudly as they could – and having great fun. Hot on the heels of one campaign event comes another. Fashion Revolution Week runs from 23 rd - 29 th April, commemorating the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh five years ago with events and awareness-raising initiatives around the globe. Thousands of garment workers lost their lives in a horrendous and preventable factory collapse. Events are held annually to focus on improved conditions and pay in garment factories in the poorest of countries. Gateway World Shop in Durham is running a ‘Pulling the Poverty Chain’ event on Thursday 26 th April, raising awareness of fair trade and Toilet Twinning initiatives, which often has greater implications for women than men. Another dedicated supplier of ours ‘Where Does It Come From’ is teaming up with Ethical Hour to put on an inspiring free event in London on Saturday 28 th April at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, with an ethical fashion show, expert panels, and Q&A sessions. BAFTS Annual Conference The highlight of the BAFTS calendar comes on May 20 th - 21 st , when we hold our Annual Conference, open to members and non- members alike. We hold our conference at different venues around the country and this year we’re heading to Westbourne Grove Church, London, an amazingly elegant and all-purpose venue in the Bayswater/Notting Hill area. This venue boasts plenty of space to house our supplier stalls, workshops, guest speakers and informal ‘shorts’ by supplier and shop members who try to explain in 10 minutes the benefits they bring to their producers and artisans, as well as some of the challenges in working with producers from developing countries and different cultures. It’s also a fabulous opportunity to hear some key speakers from the wider world of ethical trade. Our conference is always a hugely rewarding, informative and enthusiastic gathering, where members and friends go away galvanised, focussed and inspired. It’s a great opportunity to see how well BAFTS works as a member organisation, provides plenty of time for networking and allows shop members the chance to browse goods from supplier members who may not be able to exhibit at trade shows. Why not come along, check us out and see what we do here? We would be delighted to see you! For further information, please visit bafts.org.uk BAFTS, the British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers, brings you the latest news in fair trade retailing BAFTS news 94 giftfocus