Fair Trade at Sustainable Threads

Guided by the Fair Trade Federation's Nine Principles of Responsible Trade

Fair Trade at Sustainable Threads is rooted in the relationships we build with the artisan communities we work alongside across India. Over time, these partnerships have shaped how we design products, source materials, price our work, and bring handmade textiles into contemporary homes

As a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation, the commitments below reflect the ways these principles guide our decisions and partnerships—from creating meaningful market opportunities and supporting fair pay, to respecting cultural knowledge and stewarding natural resources.

01

Our commitments, shaped by long-term partnerships

FTF Principles: Transparent & Accountable Relationships • Cultivate New Market Opportunities • Building Capacity

Fair Trade at Sustainable Threads is rooted in relationships — built slowly, practiced consistently, and shaped by the people we work alongside.

As a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation, we align our work with its nine principles. Rather than presenting them as a list, we’ve grouped them here to reflect how they come together in practice — in workshops, homes, and artisan communities across India.

For us, Fair Trade is not a fixed standard or a single outcome. It is an ongoing process — one that requires attention, reflection, and care.

02

Creating OpportunityThrough Partnership

FTF Principles: Cultivate New Market Opportunities • Build Capacity

We work directly with artisan groups to bring time-honored textile traditions into contemporary homes.

Our role goes beyond placing orders. We collaborate on design, adapt products for evolving markets, and grow thoughtfully — ensuring that opportunities expand in ways that are sustainable for both artisans and the craft itself.

Over time, this approach supports the development of skills, confidence, and economic resilience, allowing artisan communities to plan ahead and sustain their work across generations.

03

Transparency, Fair Pay & Dignified Work

FTF Principles: Transparent & Accountable Relationships • Pay Promptly & Fairly • Support Safe & Empowering Working Conditions

Fair Trade is built on trust.

We maintain transparent and accountable relationships with our artisan partners, with clear communication, fair pricing, and prompt payment. We work with groups that prioritize safe, inclusive, and empowering working environments — including cooperatives and workshops that engage women artisans and physically challenged makers.

This foundation allows craft to remain a viable and dignified livelihood — while also acknowledging how fragile this work can be. External forces beyond any one community’s control, from fluctuating material costs and pricing pressures to shifting trade policies and tariffs, directly affect artisan livelihoods.

02

Respect for People, Culture & Children

FTF Principles: Ensure the Rights of Children • Respect Cultural, Racial & Ethnic Identity

We partner only with groups that uphold the rights, well-being, and education of children, and we are committed to ensuring that craft does not come at the cost of safety or opportunity for the next generation.

Equally important is respect for cultural identity. We approach traditional craft as living knowledge — something to be built upon thoughtfully, not preserved in isolation or removed from context.

Designs are developed collaboratively with our artisan partners, bringing together heritage techniques and contemporary sensibilities. The result is work that honors where a craft comes from while allowing it to evolve for modern homes.

03

Stewardship, Storytelling & Shared Responsibility

FTF Principles: Promote Fair Trade • Cultivate Environmental Stewardship

Fair Trade extends beyond production to include how stories are told and how resources are used.

We share the stories of our products and partners with care, avoiding exaggeration and honoring nuance. Through hangtags, trade shows, and digital platforms, we aim to make the value of Fair Trade visible and understood — without oversimplifying the realities behind the work.

Environmental stewardship is part of this responsibility. We prioritize materials such as kora (unbleached) cotton, upcycled and plant-based fibers, low-impact dyes, and small batch, hand-driven processes that rely on skill rather than heavy machinery.

02

A Living Commitment

Fair Trade is not something we consider finished. It continues to take shape through the relationships we build, the choices we make, and the responsibilities we carry as part of a larger community of makers, businesses, and consumers.

As our partnerships evolve and circumstances change, we remain committed to approaching this work with care, transparency, and humility—continuing to listen, learn, and adapt alongside the artisan communities we work with.

Fair Trade, in that sense, is a practice something we return to and work toward each day.

These commitments guide our work as we continue to learn and grow within the broader Fair Trade community.

Sustainable Threads is a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation, Green America, and People & Planet First—organizations that evaluate companies for ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and people-centered business practices.

Fair Trade Certified