• Paying fair prices to the producers which reflect the true cost of production – world market prices often do not cover even the cost of the raw materials.
• Supporting producer organizations in their social development projects – many provide health and education facilities.
  Promoting the empowerment of women.
• Advising on product development to increase access to markets.
• Encouraging environmental responsibility
• Committing to long term relationships to provide stability and security.
• Campaigning to highlight the unequal system of world trade.

The Difference Between Fairtrade Fashion and Ethical Fashion
This declaration was put together in March 2004, by Fairtrade producer groups and organisations supporting producer groups in Bangladesh making fairly traded garments and handicrafts.

We at Bishopston Trading Company endorse this declaration that clarifies that there is a huge difference between fair trade Fashion and Ethical Fashion, and reflects our own experience of working in rural India.

1. There is an urgent need for livelihoods in rural areas, with lack of government policy, infrastructure and human resources development. fair trade provides this efficiently where government policy and ODA have not.

2. Fair trade sets out to provide livelihoods for the economically marginalised in rural areas. Fair trade clothing has provided thousands of jobs for handweavers, hand embroiderers, block printers and tailors in the rural areas, helping to provide a good standard of living, sustained orders, with investments going back into the community in the form of schools, environmental protection etc.

3. Thus, fair trade provides an alternative to urban migration, enabling families to stay together, avoid the appalling living conditions of life in Dhaka slums, where living costs can be two to three times higher than in the village.

4. Fair trade clothing production has promoted the empowerment of women as leaders within the community. There are examples of women who have gone on to stand for local authority after receiving confidence through their work, training and experience in leadership. Women are not only educating their daughters to have higher expectations; these children are becoming the link to push for greater rural development to support village development, and ensure that rural areas are not forgotten by the government.

5. Fairly traded clothing is promoting the use of appropriate technology and reviving traditional skills, which are important to the cultural heritage of this country, are unique to Bangladesh, and create a pride and dignity amongst the producers and within their communities, at the same time as giving real economic incentives to develop these skills by training others. The preservation of these skills have value in themselves that go beyond just economic value.

6. Promoting fair trade fashion with its roots based in social justice,community development and member participation, encourages a sense of sharing and creates a model within the rural areas of ways to go forward in partnership.

Fair trade therefore provides a "Gold Standard" for Ethical Trade, the latter guaranteeing the basic legal minimums of Freedom of Association, no enforced overtime, payment of a living wage, health and safety at work etc. whereas fair trade goes beyond this in the ways outlined above.