Equal Exchange:

The middle of the 1980s was a tough period for the Fair Trade movement.  Fashion trends changed and the popularity of Fair Trade handicrafts and jewelry was waning.  If Fair Trade was to regain momentum, it needed to go in a new direction.

In the early 1960s the British NGO (Non Governmental Organization) Oxfam began to sell handicrafts at their stores to help raise money.  The first handicrafts came from importers who purchased their goods from “sweat shop” style factories around the world.  Oxfam, through their importers, were able to buy products for extremely low prices and then able to turn around and sell them for a significant profit.