Taylor, Year 9

Q: Taylor, can you tell us what have you learnt by taking part in Fairtrade Fashion Club?

“I have learnt so much!. I have learnt more about how to use a sewing machine; I’ve also learnt how to make a bag. If there were any problems I just got help straight away, and that was really good.”

Q: What is the difference between an after school project like this one and doing textiles in school time?

“In school I feel like I have got a time limit to when I’ve got to finish it. But at FFC, I feel like I’ve got more time to do what I need which is much better for designing.”

Q: Have you learnt more about Africa & Ghanaian culture?

“Yes, because I have always related Ghana to being poor, but looking at them they are not poor. I think everyone is rich in their own way, and everyone is poor in their own way.

People in Ghana are rich in the way that they know how to do and make things, which we don’t. We take things for granted, but they don’t. They use what they have and make it better – whereas we just get the things we need and don’t really think where it comes from.”

Q: Do you think you have learnt more about fairtrade by doing this project?

“Much more. Because I always thought fairtrade was just things that came from other countries, which they are, but there’s more to it then that. Like when we went into Topshop at Canary Wharf, and they didn’t have any fairtrade bags, and I was thinking ‘Right, well if we went into another shop would they have something?’.

It made me think there really is something to fairtrade. Even though a fairtrade bag might not be as good as a £100 bag from River Island or Topshop, or might only cost £1.50, it’s the individuality that’s important.”

Q: Will you try and look for fairtrade products in shops now?

“I’ve already asked my mum to start buying more fairtrade stuff. Like coffee she buys, but she buys the wrong kind, so I’ve asked her to start buying fairtrade. So even though we are trying to save more money because of the recession, it’s better for other people if we buy fairtrade.”

Liz Milward, Head of Art at Cumberland School

"The Fairtrade textiles project is so important to us, as we have selected pupils who we feel need to develop their skills, develop their creativity and push their levels in Art & Textiles. The pupils who we have selected were keen to develop their skills, and enjoy the subject too!.

From this project the technique of Batik has been introduced which is new one for us, linking this to fairtrade and sustainablilty ticks all the boxes as part of the citizenship programme, and eventually this project may become a project in curriculum time.

The pupils are certainly made aware of the fairtrade issues especially when visiting Canary Wharf where they can see in the commercial world how fairtrade is marketed. Lots of discussion takes place within the project raising awareness on how fairtrade still has a long way to go in retail.

The pupils certainly love the link to using the fabric from Ghana and they appreciate the work/culture/lifestyle/story behind the fabrics. The pupils respond really well to the calm and professional atmosphere that FAD brings to the project. They enjoy the fun and creativity, as well as taking their work very seriously. This is why we love the project and have employed FAD to work with us again this year."