The goal of fair trade is to create greater equity and partnership in international trade, thereby helping to create or maintain decent jobs and allow people to stay in the place they love. Fair trade supports safe and empowering working conditions, ensures the rights of children and respects cultural identity.
A fair trade environment helps preserve traditional skills. The artisans create their own designs and produce the product through methods that were developed in their own trade village or even home. The producer and purchaser agree on a fair price. Payment is often made prior to production to enable the producer to source materials without having to bear the upfront cost. The practice is born out of respect for the producer and their culture. It is an alternative to unfair international trade structures. The overall goal is to improve the living conditions of the poor in developing countries.
Buying a fair trade product has an ongoing positive impact to producers in developing countries.