Best fairtrade clothes

Published on Tuesday 19 February 2008 19:22

IF YOU fancy a spot of retail therapy that won’t cost you an ounce of guilt – bank balance aside – Scotland’s high streets have a lot to offer. From trainers to trilbies, you can find a Fairtrade alternative for pretty much any item these days. These stores will kit you out head-to-toe in chic gear that’s easy on the eye – and the conscience.

1 BOLSHIE

57 Bank Street, Glasgow, 0141-357 1777, www.bolshieclothing.com

At the moment, you’ll have to visit the Glasgow store to check out Bolshie’s fantastic range of recycled, ethical and Fairtrade clothing and accessories, but an online store is in the pipeline. Among the wares on display are some rather fettching climate-change pants from Green knickers that change colour with body heat, and gorgeous natural fibre dresses by Sarah Ratty's Ciel label. www.greenknickers.org

2 SEESAW

109 Broughton St, Edinburgh, 0131-556 9672

www.seesawtoys.co.uk

For your mini eco-warrier, Seesaw sells adorable children’s lines from Frugi and Green Baby, including 100 per cent organic cotton babygrows which are manufactured in India on Fairtrade projects – give Gywneth Paltrow a run for her money…

2 dotRUN

Studio G26, 32 Dalmeny Street, The Drill Hall, Edinburgh, www.dotrun.co.uk

Quirky range of men’s and women’s hand screen-printed T-shirts on American Apparel tees. Featuring hula-hooping street signs, retro details and motifs inspired by the designer’s “technical drawing days”, they’re sweat-shop free and just a little bit different.

4 ONE WORLD SHOP

100 Byres Rd, Glasgow 0141-357 1567 www.oneworldshop.co.uk

Bit of a one-stop shop for all your Fairtrade needs. As well as stocking food, jewellery and gifts, they have a great range of good-quality ethically sound clothing for men and women from labels such as People Tree, Traidcraft and Bishopton Trading.

5 MARKS & SPENCER

www.marksandspencer.com

Even good ol’ Marks & Spencer has got in on the game – the high street does a range of basic women’s Fairtrade cotton T-shirts which come in a range of styles and colours, so now there’s no excuse not to make ethically produced fashion a staple of your wardrobe. These are not just Fairtrade clothes, these are M&S Fairtrade clothes.