Fair trade fashions hit the runway

Hannah Shulman

NYU Wagner hosted the IPSA 4th Annual Fair Trade Fashion Show where both men and women’s clothing were worn by fellow NYU Wagner students.

Cristina Fraga, Contributing Writer
April 8, 2015

The Wagner Graduate School of Public Service showcased the work of fair trade designers and manufacturers during the IPSA Fourth Annual Fair Trade Fashion Show on April 3.

This industry advocates for livable wages, good working conditions and environmentally friendly practices. The Wagner Graduate School of Public Service is dedicated to the stufy of social and public issues. This is one of the reasons that they put the Fair Trade and Fashion Show together. Bringing these designers and vendors together was a way to show the community that the fashion industry can collaborate in new and exciting ways.

A. Bernadette, Accompany, Canopy Verde, Dekan Clothing, Eco Lustre, Marquet, Mayarii, Norlha, NYR Organic US, Threads 4 Thought and UNITY participated in the show.

Lorna Byfield, an attendee of the event, was one of the many people present with no affiliation to NYU. Byfield, who frequently attends United Nations meetings relating to trade laws, was curious to see how NYU Wagner was making an effort toward fair trade fashion.

“I’m interested in seeing these laws being applied to fashion background,” she added.

Hannah Shulman

A. Bernadette is a fair trade producer from Uganda that displayed different kinds of prints as well as fringe blouses and dresses. Mayarii showed its summer line, which contained work clothes finished with beautiful handmade artisanal fabrics from Mexico. Norlha’s collection included products that used textiles from the Tibetan Plateau, while Marquet featured handmade accessories from Thailand
and Vietnam.

Other brands focused their lines on the empowering of youth, such as UNITY.  Others, like Accompany, looked at the combination of human fashion impact in the world.  On the other hand, some brands focused more on fashion’s involvement with the earth and its preservation. Canopy Verde used organic cotton and eco-friendly leather to reflect their ecological philosophy. All of the designers featured clothes that supported a sustainable yet fashionable lifestyle, and the show overall promoted environmentally friendly, fair trade practices. 

A version of this article appeared in the April 8 print edition.  Email Cristina Fraga at [email protected]