Monsoon Launches Fairtrade Cotton Range

Monsoon has announced it will be extending its ethical trading commitment by launching a range of t-shirts made from Fairtrade certified cotton. This builds on Monsoon’s heritage, as a company that started trading with small producer groups in the Indian sub-continent. Monsoon is committed to expanding its Fairtrade range to other products over the next few years.

As Peter Simon, Chairman, Monsoon Accessorize explains, “Monsoon commenced trading in the early 1970's selling hand blocked printed cotton and silk clothes from Rajasthan, using vegetable dyes that developed their colour in natural sunlight. As well as being a founder of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), in 1994, the company set up The Monsoon Accessorize Trust, a charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged groups in the Indian Sub-Continent. This includes funding micro-enterprise projects, such as Vidya in New Delhi, that aim to help poor women generate a sustainable source of income. It is appropriate that Monsoon should continue this process with the purchase and sale of merchandise made with Fairtrade certified cotton as it is in the spirit of the original principles of our company.”

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, says “We are delighted about this recent move by Monsoon, well known for sourcing natural fibres from India, as they launch an exciting new range made from Fairtrade certified cotton. This is a win-win where shoppers on the UK high street get great products and the farmers are able to provide a better future for themselves and their families”.

In recognition of Monsoon’s long established trading links and charity work in the Indian Sub- Continent, the company is sourcing all its Fairtrade cotton from farmers in India. Monsoon also hopes to work with disadvantaged producer groups, such as Vidya, to improve the quality and marketability of their products and, in the long-term, to develop trading relationships with them.

Monsoon prides itself on its commitment to achieve sustained improvements within all aspects of the supply chain.

To offer on-going support to the Monsoon Accessorize Trust, 10% of the profits from the sale of the Fairtrade cotton t-shirts will be donated to the Trust. Future projects also include a scheme to launch an organic cotton range for Spring/Summer 2007. The Fairtrade cotton range will be available at 36 Monsoon stores nationwide and online, for Autumn Winter 2006.

To see more visit monsoon.co.uk