Highlights of Fairtrade Fashion Show at St. Martin in the Wood Church: May 2017

I attended the Fairtrade Fashion Show last Friday at St. Martin in the Wood Church in Hiltingbury. It was a fun and relaxed fashion show, with lots of Fairtrade items for sale.

Fairtrade Fashion Show was organised by local fairtraders, Tricia Urquhart, and Heather Dibb (minus one arm).

Tricia Urquhart (left) and Heather Dibb. Fairtrade Fashion Show at St Martin in the Wood Church, May 2017. Image credit: Debbie Pearce.

Local residents did a brilliant show. Because a law in France has now banned the use of unhealthily thin fashion models, in Chandler’s Ford we used happy, healthy, normal sized models in the fun show.

Fairtrade Fashion Show - promoting fairtrade clothes. Image credit: Debbie Pearce. — Fairtrade Fashion Show – promoting fairtrade clothes. Image credit: Debbie Pearce.

Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography captured the spirit of the evening.

Fairtrade Fashion Show at St Martin in the Wood Church, May 2017. Image credit: Debbie Pearce.

The event was supported by Sue Moll from Asvanna Fairtrad, who supplied all the clothes from Nomads Clothing and Braintree, Sue Hunt from Shop Equality at Wells Place in Eastleigh, and Daphne Bright from Fairtrade in Eastleigh Borough Committee.

I have attended a few Fairtrade Fashion Shows in the past few years. It’s always an inspiring event to see how our decision making in shopping can directly impact on the quality of life of an individual, a family, and the poorest communities in some developing countries.

Our action can support small producers in developing countries to help them live sustainably.

Paul Smith (minus one leg) compered the whole ‘catwalk’ show with confidence and humour. Well done Paul (and I hope you remember to elevate your leg above the level of your heart as your doctor advised).

Compere Paul Smith: Fairtrade Fashion Show May 2017 - promoting fairtrade clothes. Image credit: Debbie Pearce. — Compere Paul Smith. Image credit: Debbie Pearce.

Tricia, in her talk, highlighted the work of Traidcraft in particular. She chose two videos to share with the audience. These are meaningful videos and I hope you appreciate them:

Show You Care – Noah’s Ark, Truly Special

Show You Care – Nepal, The Stonebreakers

Below are more photographs taken by Debbie Pearce. Many thanks for the support of Debbie for providing us these stunning photographs and showing the best of the evening.