The pioneering organisation has been working with M&S since last year to help them source Traidcraft-branded cards from Swajan, in Bangladesh, and Salay, in the Philippines, which are now on sale in 40 M&S stores.
M&S designers worked with Salay and Swajan to create the exclusive range of embroidered and appliquéd cards, which is helping to provide valuable work for producers - mainly women in poor urban and rural communities. Through their work they benefit from a fair wage, new skills and growing confidence.
Embroiderer Taslima, pictured with her six-year-old daughter, Rubina, has been working for Swajan for more than six years.
"My husband is not able to support our family with his income only so that is why I am working here," she said. "I enjoy doing good work and working here with us all together. When I learn that the customers are buying these cards, it is confirmation of the quality of our work. My work is selling and I feel proud."
Paul Chandler, Traidcraft's Chief Executive, said, "Taking fair trade into the mainstream requires both a fair trade specialist to work closely with small producers at the early stages and a major retailer to extend the market reach. Traidcraft is pleased to be working with M&S in this way - offering UK consumers quality handmade cards and helping to transform the lives of many of the Salay and Swajan workers."
