UK's First Fair Trade School Uniform
The First Fair Trade School Uniform
Clean Slate is launching the UK’s first range of Fair Trade and Organic School Uniforms during Fairtrade Fortnight. Clean Slate aims to be a revolutionary force in the £1billion schoolwear market by providing an ethical alternative for parents and schools who for the first time can purchase uniforms made from certified organic cotton fabrics and produced according to fair trade principles.
Carry Somers, co-founder of Clean Slate, says “Jamie Oliver brought the poor quality of school dinners to the awareness of the public and the government and his campaign inspired me to extend this accountability to the clothing our children wear to school. I have been designing fair trade clothing since 1992 and am excited at the response which my new project has already elicited from parents and teachers who share my concerns about sweatshop labour and environmental pollution”.
Worker exploitation is all too common in the garment industry where production migrates to the cheapest possible suppliers. Furthermore, cotton is the world’s most heavily sprayed agricultural crop accounting for 25% of annual insecticide use, posing a serious threat to the environment and the health of third world farmers.
Also of concern is the recent announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of the phase-out of a potentially carcinogenic compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in the manufacture of stain-resistant coatings for fabrics which are commonly used in ‘easycare’ children’s school uniforms.. According to EPA, PFOA can remain in the human body for up to four years, and small amounts of the chemical are found in a large portion of the general public.
WWF is one of the environmental groups that is working to highlight the dangers of PFOA and other man-made hazardous chemicals. "The recent revelations about PFOA are yet another example of why we need strong chemicals regulation in the EU and why related substances should not be used in school clothing" said Dr. Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland.
As a result of these concerns, Clean Slate is offering a junior range of school uniform for ages 4-12. Most of the garments are made with certified organic cotton and all are produced following fair trade practices which include paying producers fair prices, ensuring good working conditions, promoting rural development and a committment to long-term relationships with suppliers. Clean Slate uniforms are made by an organisation in India which provides employment for women with disabilities and supports three schools.
Clean Slate will be launched at the New Consumer Fair Trade Experience in Glasgow which takes place on the 10th-11th March 2006 during Fairtrade Fortnight. Clean Slate school uniforms will be sold directly through schools and PTAs, enabling them to earn a percentage for their school fund. Parents will soon be able to purchase school uniforms and PE kits for their children direct from the website www.cleanslateclothing.co.uk
Clean Slate contact: Mark Rogers or Carry Somers
Office: 01335 345851 Mobile: 079800 46132 Home: 01538 266246
Email: enquiries@cleanslateclothing.co.uk
*WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign has been working since 2003 to raise awareness of man-made hazardous chemicals and to lobby for improved legislation. WWF is concerned about the impacts of two groups of chemicals that are 'very persistent and very bioaccumulative chemicals' - those which persist for a long time and accumulate in our bodies and wildlife.
Nicky Golding, WWF Scotland, Communications Officer, mobile: 07771 818 683
email: ngolding@wwfscotland.org.uk
Clean Slate is launching the UK’s first range of Fair Trade and Organic School Uniforms during Fairtrade Fortnight. Clean Slate aims to be a revolutionary force in the £1billion schoolwear market by providing an ethical alternative for parents and schools who for the first time can purchase uniforms made from certified organic cotton fabrics and produced according to fair trade principles.
Carry Somers, co-founder of Clean Slate, says “Jamie Oliver brought the poor quality of school dinners to the awareness of the public and the government and his campaign inspired me to extend this accountability to the clothing our children wear to school. I have been designing fair trade clothing since 1992 and am excited at the response which my new project has already elicited from parents and teachers who share my concerns about sweatshop labour and environmental pollution”.
Worker exploitation is all too common in the garment industry where production migrates to the cheapest possible suppliers. Furthermore, cotton is the world’s most heavily sprayed agricultural crop accounting for 25% of annual insecticide use, posing a serious threat to the environment and the health of third world farmers.
Also of concern is the recent announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of the phase-out of a potentially carcinogenic compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in the manufacture of stain-resistant coatings for fabrics which are commonly used in ‘easycare’ children’s school uniforms.. According to EPA, PFOA can remain in the human body for up to four years, and small amounts of the chemical are found in a large portion of the general public.
WWF is one of the environmental groups that is working to highlight the dangers of PFOA and other man-made hazardous chemicals. "The recent revelations about PFOA are yet another example of why we need strong chemicals regulation in the EU and why related substances should not be used in school clothing" said Dr. Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland.
As a result of these concerns, Clean Slate is offering a junior range of school uniform for ages 4-12. Most of the garments are made with certified organic cotton and all are produced following fair trade practices which include paying producers fair prices, ensuring good working conditions, promoting rural development and a committment to long-term relationships with suppliers. Clean Slate uniforms are made by an organisation in India which provides employment for women with disabilities and supports three schools.
Clean Slate will be launched at the New Consumer Fair Trade Experience in Glasgow which takes place on the 10th-11th March 2006 during Fairtrade Fortnight. Clean Slate school uniforms will be sold directly through schools and PTAs, enabling them to earn a percentage for their school fund. Parents will soon be able to purchase school uniforms and PE kits for their children direct from the website www.cleanslateclothing.co.uk
Clean Slate contact: Mark Rogers or Carry Somers
Office: 01335 345851 Mobile: 079800 46132 Home: 01538 266246
Email: enquiries@cleanslateclothing.co.uk
*WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign has been working since 2003 to raise awareness of man-made hazardous chemicals and to lobby for improved legislation. WWF is concerned about the impacts of two groups of chemicals that are 'very persistent and very bioaccumulative chemicals' - those which persist for a long time and accumulate in our bodies and wildlife.
Nicky Golding, WWF Scotland, Communications Officer, mobile: 07771 818 683
email: ngolding@wwfscotland.org.uk
posted by Carry Somers at 2:42 PM
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