This April I was asked to judge five social enterprises at
I travelled to Dehli, India to visit family and meet fairtrade producers
M.E.S.H and Tara Projects.
I interviewed Alex and Marie-Louise of Valy Export, Madagascar.
This April I was invited once again to judge 5 social enterprise businesses at the Middlesex University Dubai.
Many thanks to Shanthi Rajan, Sandra Stevenson, Suzannah Fernandes and Dr Michael Kloep and Dr Cody Paris for their hospitality.
It was a difficult decision as all the social enterprises were winners.
Congratulations to Pentagon and their initiative Mihriban for their concept and vision.
Middlesex University Dubai
Social Enterprise Showcase April 19
Middlesex University Dubai
Social Enterprise Showcase April 19
Dr Cody Paris introducing the teams at the Middlesex University Dubai
Social Enterprise Showcase April 19
Sandra Stephenson with Shanthi Rajan and winners Pentagon at the Middlesex University Dubai
Social Enterprise Showcase April 19
Sabeena Ahmed with Isatou Ceesay at
The Middlesex University Dubai
Social Enterprise Showcase April 19
Sabeena Ahmed with Isatou Ceesay with the IEBE team at
The Middlesex University Dubai
Social Enterprise Showcase April 19
To read more about the Social Enterprise Showcase please click here.
It was a dream come true to finally travel to the country of my parents birth, India.
I arrived in Dehli and was greeted by a beautiful warm evening.
What followed was one of the most memorable weeks of my life.
Despite recovering from two shoulder surgeries and enduring a terrible bout of Dehli belly I proceeded with my magical tour.
I was humbled and privileged to visit two World Fair Trade Certified Organizations, M.E.S.H and Tara Projects.
Many thanks to Mathew K and Ms Moon Sharma for their time, care and hospitality.
M.E.S.H Dehli India, hand embroidered Kashmiri bags
M.E.S.H Dehli India, hand embroidered towels napkins aprons
M.E.S.H Shop, Dehli India, fairtrade hand made toys
M.E.S.H Shop Dehli India, 'THE AMAZING M.E.S.H TEAM.'
M.E.S.H Shop Dehli India, THE AMAZING M.E.S.H TEAM
and Sabeena Ahmed
Mathew's comments in my guest book
Mathew's comments
I finally planned my visit to their shop in New Delhi and recorded several videos promoting the work of disabled artisans from all over India.
The shop was a treasure trove of hand embroidered bespoke home accessories, children's toys and bags.
If you happen to travel to Dehli the M.E.S.H shop is one fairtrade organisation you must visit and support.
What a gem of shop!
I had the pleasure of welcoming CEO Ms Jackie Bonney now resident consultant and Manager Mathew to Dubai when they visited 2012.
Ms Jacky Bonnie MBE and Mathew K of M.E.S.H Dehli, India
visiting Sabeena Ahmed in Dubai, UAE November 2012
To watch more videos and read the blog click here
It was an absolute pleasure and honour to meet with Moon Sharma of Tara Projects.
Apa (Big Sister) as she is lovingly known spent an evening talking about her travels around the world, fairtrade and sharing stories of Gateshead and Newcastle.
Apa! Thank you so much for your care kindness and time.
Interview with the inspirational Moon Sharma of Tara Projects
visit by Sabeena Ahmed of The Little Fair Trade Shop - April 2019
Apa's Comments in my guest book
Dear Sabeena,
So happy to meet you at last specially in Dehli.
Interview with Moon Sharma - short version
Interview with Moon Sharma - extended version
TARA (Trade Alternative Reform Action) Projects made its humble beginning in early seventies with the objective of creating avenues of economic growth for economically disadvantaged artisans and craftsmen of Delhi and its surrounding areas in the un organized home-based sector. Encouraged by its initial success the project gradually extended its socio/economic and trade reform activities to the adjoining states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan in Northern India.
Since its inception Tara actively engaged in providing support services to the production and marketing of handicrafts on Fair Trade Principles, while addressing community developmental needs of the grassroots craft persons by imparting, general awareness, Human Rights, vocational and informal education for the human dignity.
Tara Projects, the Association has constantly remained an active catalyst in eradicating poverty, by fighting against exploitation and illiteracy of the producers and its working communities who are deprived of dignified identity and remained constantly subject to social injustice at the total disposal of Unfair Trade and middle men practices. “Make Trade Fair” has always been a principle goal for ushering into social and economic transformation at Tara.
Courtesy of the Tara Projects website
Interview with the inspirational Moon Sharma of Tara Projects
visit by Sabeena Ahmed of The Little Fair Trade Shop - April 2019
To read and watch more interviews with Ms Moon Sharma please click here.
Hello and Assalaam Alaikum (peace and blessings) everyone,
Thanks for dropping by.
So here I am for the eighth consecutive year I'm participating in the Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind The Label.
This year the challenge commences 6th March - 18th April March 2019.
Six Items Challenge 2019
I have decided to participate and support the Six Items Challenge for the eighth year because I started to campaign for garment and factory workers while caring for my mother who had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
The six items challenge means I choose six items of clothing to wear for six weeks.
Don't worry!
This does not include under garments or exercise gear. You can wear an endless supply of these. :)
This year I hope to design a clothes range in memory of my beautiful mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano and support fair trade certified cotton farmers and ethical producers.
My beloved mother was a great advocate for women's empowerment and education.
I believe she would have been happy and proud of me to continue my campaigning for the millions of countless individuals producing clothes and accessories in factories and workshops around the world.
Hopefully by the end of the Six Week Challenge I would have educated a few people and raised a few pounds/dirhams.
During Week 4 and 5 I hosted an environmentalist activist called Isatou Cessay from Gambia. I interviewed Isatou and would like to share her story of reducing plastic pollution and writing her book 'One Plastic Bag.'
Isatou's interview short version
Isatou's extended interview
Isatou talks about her book One Plastic Bag
Interviews with Moon Sharma of Tara Projects Dehli, India
Interview with Moon Sharma - extended version
Fast fashion is a term the fashion industry uses to entice consumers to purchase new trends, products and accessories every six to eight weeks.
Most of the products are cheap, poor quality and mass produced by workers in sweat shops around the world.
Workers in many cases are under age children who endure long hours to support their families.
Many are as young as 14 are the only bread winners and often forfeit the chance of a decent education and future.
I hope to record vlogs and raise awareness about garment workers over the next coming weeks.
Best regards to all the Six Items Challenge participants.
Love and regards
Sabeena XXX
Labour Behind The Label are calling on leading UK shoe brands and retailers (Schuh, Office, Faith (Debenhams), Dr Martens, Primark, Asda, Very.co.uk
(Shop Direct), Bohoo.com, Boden, Harvey Nichols and Sports Direct) along with leading global shoe brands (Deichmann, Camper, Prada, Birkenstock, CCC, Leder & Schuh) to:
Publish the names and addresses of all their suppliers.
Report on progress in moving away from dangerous chemicals
Show that they are respecting the human rights of the people who make their shoes, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions.
Every little helps and your donation will provide Labour Behind The Label the opportunity to raise awareness about the rights of factory workers and improve their wages and working conditions.
A Living Wage is a Human Right.
To read more about Labour Behind The Label and their campaigns please click on the link below.
If you feel inspired, sign up and take the challenge with me.
Helen Barlow Scott and Sabeena Ahmed
WHEN YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT BEING ETHICAL IS SO EASY
With the help of my creative director Helen we've created a little reminder of how easy it is to support fairtrade producers and be ethical at the same time.
We hope you will find it useful.
TOP 10 TIPS TO FAIR TRADE AND ETHICAL SHOPPING
1. Seek Fairtrade, organic, slave free and eco friendly labels.
2. Support socially conscious brands.
3. Buy only what you love and be selective
and ask 'Who made my clothes?'
'Do I really need to buy it?'
4. Do your research if you can't see where the product is made the company does not want to know.
5. Think beyond the end result where did the sourcing happen and what is product made of?
6. Reduce waste by avoiding disposable products.
7. Shop locally and support independent designers and boutiques.
8. Shop vintage and upcycled for truly unique products.
9. Speak up - ask designers and shops where their products are made.
10. Make it yourself and impress your friends with your new found skills.
HAPPY SHOPPING, SEWING AND CRAFTING! :)
More Questions we all need to ask ourselves...
Think twice when out and about conducting that much needed retail therapy.
Do you really need that skirt, blouse, dress, shoes, bags?
Could you purchase an ethical alternative that supports artisans, doesn't exploit animals and protects the environment?
IF the answers are yes than find out where the shops are in your local area.
Do you have a creative streak?
Why not upcycle that old blouse, dress or jacket you just can't throw away. Take up sewing or enrol on a fashion design course at your local college maybe even invite a friend or two.
Alternatively, if like me you like a good bargain, how about walking down to your local charity shop, visit your local car boot sale or donate your clothing to organisations who support millions without adequate clothing.
A recent survey indicated that American consumers throw away 68 pounds of clothing in their lifetime. Clothes and accessories that take years to decompose in landfills.
Why not host ''The True Cost'' a documentary showcasing fast fashion and the treatment of garment workers around the world and organise a clothes swap.
Why wait?
Start today...inspire others and be an ethical conscious consumer, support garment workers, fairtrade and ethical producers receive a decent living wage and good working conditions.
video here
Marie Louse of Valy Exports Madagascar supporting SDG's 1 and 8
- April 2019
Adam of Valy Exports Madagascar supporting SDG's 2 and 10
- April 2019
Marie Louise of Valy Exports Madagascar
models small raffia purses visit - April 2019
Marie Louise of Valy Exports Madagascar
modelling a round red raffia bag - April 2019
Guest comments by Alex and Marie Louise
Valy Export
This month my right shoulder is still very painful and I have struggled to record this vlog and type this blog.
This month I supported fairtrade fortnight 2024 and celebrated Fairtrade's 30th Anniversary.
Here is my Easy Fairtrade Cocoa and Fairtrade Bananas Recipe which I baked for Fairtrade Fortnight 2024.
I have tried my best to translate this recipe in Urdu.
یہ ہے میری ایزی فیئرٹریڈ کوکو اور فیئر ٹریڈ کیلے کی ترکیب جسے میں نے فیئر ٹریڈ فورٹ نائٹ 2024 کے لیے پکایا تھا۔
میں نے اس ترکیب کا اردو میں ترجمہ کرنے کی پوری کوشش کی ہے۔
This month I supported fairtrade fortnight 2024 and celebrated Fairtrade's 30th Anniversary.
Sign up to get the latest on fair trade fashion.
I'm Sabeena Ahmed owner and creator of The Little Fair Trade Shop. I've been an individual associate member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2011 and together with my artisans I bring you a bespoke collection of ethically sourced fashion & gifts.
© 2024 The Little Fair Trade Shop. “We love to listen to our customers and for this reason we would be delighted to hear from you if you would like a bespoke fair trade product made especially for you.”
The Little Fair Trade Shop Ltd
Registered in England & Wales
Company Number 08189489
