I started One Village in 2009 because I wanted to be able to buy clothes that I felt good about. Over the last few years I have read much information about how exploitative the fashion and textile industry is, but what are we to do? We all need to buy clothes and many of us are on a budget!

I learnt about fair trade a number of years ago, but it wasn't until I spent a year in Nepal that I become more aware firsthand of how producers in developing countries are often forgotten in the production process. I also saw how small fair trade organisations were producing lovely, high quality products without sacrificing their producers to the treadmill of mass production. The fair trade principles and the passionate people who have established businesses working with these principles really inspired me, and made me think more and more about how we produce goods for sale in Australia.

I decided to embark on producing a range of women’s clothing designed in Australia, and produced using organic and certified Fairtrade cotton and by a fair trade organisation in India. So, whilst the range is small One Village has launched! Our garments are fantastic quality, affordable and designed specially for Australia women. We hope to expand our range shortly and branch out into children’s clothing and more accessories. We carry a small range of clothing and tablecloths produced by Anokhi. Anokhi have been in business for more than 40 years and their goods carry the Craftmark - Handmade in India certification meaning that their products have been made by hand using traditional textile techniques. Anokhi also have a very socially and environmentally ethical approach to their production - which is why we stock them. Our scarves are produced by a fair trade company in Nepal called New Sadle who work incredibly hard with people with disabilities. New Sadle are members of the World Fair Trade Organisation and all of their products are handmade.

I hope you enjoy the range and continue to support One Village so we can grow and bring you more beautifully made, ethically produced goods from around the world.

Please read more about our producers, fair trade and organic cotton on our website.