What connects the men of the Scottish Hebridean Islands and the women of the coastal region of Southern India? One answer you might not expect is beautiful Harris Tweed bags. 

On 20th October, customers of Fair Trader, the Holmfirth based community co-operative, learned more about the connection - in a fascinating talk by Peter Turner of the Peter James Company. 

Based in Huddersfield, Peter James garments and accessories feature stunning Harris tweed fabrics, woven on the windswept Outer Hebridean islands. Wools including Scottish Cheviot are dyed, spun, woven and finished on the islands of Harris and Lewis. 

Working in their croft homes, men hand weave the tweed fabric, following a timeless Scottish tradition, to create one of the world's most distinctive fabrics. The patterns and colours reflect the waters of the surrounding seas, the island landscape and the changing hues of the seasons. 

Shona Easton designs the bags, combining the tweed and top quality leather into stylish and practical bags.  

These designs are then skilfully crafted in a village a few hours from the coastal city of Chennai, Southern India. 

Based in converted farmhouses, over 200 highly skilled women transform the fabric into bags. The stitchers work in good conditions and often use the stable income to fund school places for their children. 

Tamil Nadu has been at the centre of much textile production, but often the mainly female workforce has been unfairly treated and badly paid. ​

Pramilla is the workshop manager and Masthanma is in charge of the finances. This photo shows some of the women with Shona Easton. 

The two communities are a world apart. However, they share a way of life where highly skilled, fairly paid artisans continue the textile techniques and traditions of their forebears.

See the bags at Fair Trader, 32-34 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 2JS


Fairtrader.coop
Peterjamescompany.co.uk
Eastondesignstudio.com

fairandfunky are proud Co-operative Trust Partners at Honley High School and work closely with staff and students to develop a programme of Global Citizenship learning for the school community.
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As Trust partners we join Honley High School Fairtrade Forum for their fortnightly meetings and are constantly inspired by their enthusiasm and commitment for bringing Fairtrade into the everyday life of school.
 
Last month we hosted a Q&A session with the students and Jason McCartney MP. We had last met in Parliament during Fairtrade Fortnight to launch the new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fairtrade, and we were all interested to hear how the group was progressing and why it was important.
 
We discovered that the Fairtrade APPG was formed by MPs with a shared passion for Fairtrade and concern for producers and workers. The Fairtrade APPG aims to promote Fairtrade within the Houses of Parliament in terms of procurement and to raise awareness with policy makers to make real change. Working with Ministers the group intends to put Fairtrade at the heart of trade deals.
 
Jason McCartney MP then turned the questions on the students, and we discovered that they too have a shared passion for Fairtrade, and concern for producers and workers.
 
These are just a few of their comments from our session:
 
“Large companies and people in charge seem to take advantage of farmers and it’s not fair. Fairtrade is important to give people the same chances in life.” Nyall
 
“We need positive messages from Fairtrade workers to inspire others to make a difference with Fairtrade. Some people lack motivation but if we appeal to their better nature things will improve.” Hope
 
“All people deserve an equal right and deserve a Fairtrade chance in life.” Ben
 
“Fairtrade should be part of our education, we should be taught about how Fairtrade makes a difference.” Gabby
 
 
We were struck by the determination from the students that Fairtrade should become ‘the norm’. We all agreed that change needs to be consumer driven and recognised that individuals, campaigners and Government all have their role to play to nudge people into making better decisions; ultimately succeeding in the goal of putting Fairtrade at the heart of Government and making it ‘the norm’.