18 September 2009

Fashion and film to promote fair trade philosophy

A film highlighting the plight of sweatshop workers in China, and an ethical fashion show are two of the events lined up for an evening promoting fair trade products to be held at the University of Dundee.

The Dundee Fair Trade Forum (DFTF) will host the event, which takes place at the University’s Dalhousie Building from 7pm on Thursday, October 1st.

‘China Blue’, the 2005 documentary to be screened at the event, follows the life of Jasmine, a young worker in a Chinese jeans factory. The film, which won an award at the Amnesty International film festival, examines the significance of factory conditions in China at a time when the country exports consumer goods to the West on a massive scale.

This will be followed by a catwalk display of items from ‘People Tree’, a fair trade clothing collection designed by Pauline Cameron. Fair trade clothing and jewellery will also be available to buy from stalls at the event.

Trudy Cunningham, Environment & Sustainability Officer and member of the DFTF, said she hoped the evening would appeal to anyone interested in learning more about fair trade, and not just members of the forum.

'Fair trade gives people in less developed countries the tools they need to help them work their way out of poverty,” she said. “Farmers receive an agreed stable and sustainable price for their product and an extra payment - a premium - to invest in their community.'

'As part of the agreement, farmer groups must be democratically organised and meet environmental standards. This includes careful use of chemicals, looking after soil and water sources and respecting nature. Buying fair trade can make a big difference, so we’d like to ask people to please think about this before they buy.'

Admission to the screening and fashion show is free, and wine and nibbles will be provided to guests. The third annual general meeting of the DFTF will follow, and anyone looking for more information should email ftfdundee@yahoo.co.uk or call 01382 454603.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277