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Trade Winds: FTC to me

July 31st, 2007 by Amanda

AmandaI sometimes wish my mouth could speak as fast as my mind, or that my fingers could type as fast as my thoughts. Only then would I be able to share with people how much I’ve seen, felt, learned, and experienced since the start of Fair Trade Culture. When Dominic and I decided to start this fair trade business, it felt more like a statement to each other than a business; one that we both knew opened uncountable doors for more people involved than we would ever know. That statement, put simply, is that ‘it’s about freedom’.

We both had stumbled on a way to put together our efforts and the efforts of other like-minded, caring humans, to help connect people and cultures from around the world. We decided to travel to different countries considered third world or poverty stricken and buy traditionally made and natural arts and handicrafts to help provide people with an honest income, and consumers from other countries a way to connect with cultures around the world through arts and crafts. It provides the artists the freedom that comes with using skills traditionally passed on to them, while also providing them an alternative income. It provides the consumers the freedom of mind knowing that they’re buying a product that has been handmade by an artist that is paid a fair wage, and who works under natural and humane conditions. It provides the environment the freedom from corporate factories and unfair treatment that often comes with mass produced products of any kind. It provides the buyers of Fair Trade Culture the freedom to travel, providing they’re willing to do the often difficult task of buying the art direct from the artist, face-to-face, with no middleman involved. If we don’t speak their language, we use English translation dictionaries, trusted interpreters/friends, and body language.

I went to Thailand for my first two trips with three rules of criteria in mind for what art I would buy. If at least two of the three criteria abode, I would consider buying. The three things I was looking for was:
1 – I needed to see the art being made with my own eyes;
2 - I needed a tour of the work environment to see where the art is made.
and 3 – I needed to meet the artist or artists personally.

AmandaThe whole idea is to provide a freedom to places where people may live with very little money, but they’ve learned to create handmade β€œart” as a way to provide not only for their family and the local people, but also for the growing international consumer interests. Travel and first-hand experience of another culture is a unique way to learn how people from all around the world are connected. No book, school, movie, or television show could actually put the smell in your nose, or taste in your mouth, or feeling in your body that comes with walking on the land of another country, and interacting with the people of a place you’ve never been. We want to take the experiences we’ve had on our trips and share them, so that we help remind people about this interconnection that every human shares around the world.

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Posted: 6:17 pm Tuesday, July 31st, 2007
Categories: fair trade culture, fair trade.

2 Responses to “ Trade Winds: FTC to me”

  1. carrie Says:
    August 1st, 2007 at 6:39 pm

    Congratulations chica and dominic!!!!
    The site looks beautiful, a perfect reflection of the amazing work you’ve been doing. keep up the hard work…you’re an inspiration to all of us.
    peace and love.

  2. pierro Says:
    August 22nd, 2007 at 12:37 pm

    Great work Amanda, it shines like you shine.

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