George and Vee
George and Vee are a stunning fair trade company that will be experiencing their third Fair Christmas Fayre with us this year. At last year’s Fayre I tried to commit to ONLY buying presents for others, but was too tempted by a gorgeus pair of George and Vee earrings so had to buy a little present for myself too. Their stall is always jampacked with a huge array of unique accessories. 
Helen combined her love of beautiful handmade items with her passion for fair trade and up cycling when starting George and Vee. Named after her grandparents – who were married for 62 years, Helen hopes her thriving business will last as least as long!
Helen wants to make fair trade beautiful items accessible to as many people as possible, she keeps her prices as low as she can, so more people can afford to shop ethically for their accessories and homewares. Helen chooses her products carefully, everything is colourful and has a sense of fun about it. Her jewellery is a unique blend of handmade oya lace and up-cycled fabrics, beads and semi precious stones. Her bestselling quilts made from old saris are both functional and beautiful, recycling at its best!
At Helen’s stall at Fair Christmas Fayre you will find lots of her beautiful handmade lace jewellery made by both Helen and the friends she has made in Istanbul, a great selection of her hand stitched sari quilts and scarves made by a womens cooperative in India and fun & brightly coloured felted and leather accessories from cooperatives in India and Nepal to name but a few choice items! To see some of her previously sold items visit her Etsy page (the online will be fully stocked and running by the beginning of the new year.)
I especially love these hand sewn lace necklaces, they have a certain vintage feel to them.
Alot of their jewelry uses really vibrant colours and stones, I know a lot of women that would look AMAZE in this beautiful statement piece.
Get along to the Fair Christmas Fayre THIS SATURDAY at 275 Oxford Street, from 12-7pm to see George and Vee’s full selection of twinkly treats.
Facebook Event competition
Our Twitter comp was wildly successful, with over 50 Tweeters getting amongst it. So today I bring you our Facebook comp – for the non twitterers who missed out!
Simply go on to our Facebook event and click “ATTEND” then make sure you SHARE the event on your wall. From that simple action you also could win a beautiful package of ethical gifts including a cute crochet brooch, a fabulous sari notebook, some brilliant stationary, stunning Christmas decorations and some poverty fighting pants!
Winner will be announced on Thursday 24th November and this is open to UK peeps only I am afraid!
Global Seesaw – the company that transform’s the lives of trafficked women
Global Seesaw is a company close to my heart as they were one of the first businesses to get involved with the Fayre 4 years ago. They always turn up with an incredibly impactful stall and a sales person who engages energetically with every customer. I love ‘em.
Global Seesaw is the umbrella company for five fairtrade labels, selling all manner of products from bags to stationary. Check out these gorgeous Sari notebooks- perfect lifechanging stocking fillers! 
They also have a range of beautiful eco and green products along with those made from natural fibres and organic cotton. It is well worth scoping out their shop if you are already working through your Christmas list.
They are so passionate about making a difference to people’s lives and focus particularly on women who are exploited by human trafficking and prostitution. Every bit of profit is reinvested to bring about greater change for this area of injustice. Mark explains;
“We’re into ethical trade not because it’s the latest thing but because it’s the right thing.”
Global Seesaw will have a stall at this years Fair Christmas Fayre on Oxford Street, 3rd December. Make sure you come along to see their beautiful products yourself!
Just Trade- beautiful and unique accessories
Just Trade have been coming along to Fayre Christmas Fayre from the start, four years ago. Every year they bring out a stash of gorgeous goodies and last year I was lucky enough to be bought a brooch by my mum!
Like many Fair Trade companies they began small as a family business, back in 2006. Since then they have gone from strength to strength and see themselves not only as business partners with the vulnerable communities they work in, but also as mentors and trainers.
Their jewelry is often fun and bright like this cute crochet flower brooch.
But they do elegant too- these brass rings could grace anyone’s hands to great effect.
But mostly I love Just Trade because they are bang on trend such as this brilliant owl brooch. It rocks the current animal fashion so perfectly that is hard to believe it is made from a nut!
Browse their shop to see their full selection, or get yourself along to Fair Christmas Fayre on 3rd December, Oxford St, in order to nab some of these beauties yourself.
PRESS RELEASE – FAIR CHRISTMAS FAYRE for immediate release 09/11/2011
Fair Christmas Fayre, an ethical Christmas festival, is back for it’s 4th year on Oxford Street.This year is due to be the biggest Fayre yet with over 30 stalls selling a variety of beautiful products. Fair Trade cupcakes and organic Christmas cakes, Fair Trade fashion, upcycled homewares, eco gadgets, ethical toys, organic health and beauty, eco-candles and handmade Christmas decorations are just some of the items on sale.
Shopping in the West End can be a challenge for ethical consumers, and Christmas shopping in general can be hard for parents with kids in tow. Organiser Lucy AitkenRead explains “Fair Christmas Fayre aims to provide a range of fair trade and eco gifts all under one roof – making Christmas easier for shoppers thinking about the impact of their purchases. We create a space that is fun for the whole family too – easing some of the stress for parents.”
As well as the stalls there is also a free craft corner for people to make their own gifts; this year shoppers can craft up their own such vintage badge. Kids will be able to get their face painted with a festive theme and everyone can enjoy the live music and Fair Trade cafe. Once the shopping is completed people can get their gifts wrapped with the surprisingly elegant, and free, recycled gift wrap service.
Lucy says “The Fayre is a marketplace where people can pick up a unique fair trade or eco gift for every person in their family; siblings, kids, even their father in law! But it is more than an ethical market – all the fun extra trimmings transform it into a Christmas festival.”
Fair Christmas Fayre is at Regent Hall Salvation Army, 275 Oxford Street (opposite BHS and nearest tube is Oxford Circus) on Saturday 3rd December from 12-7pm.
Win a Fair Trade gift hamper – enter our Twitter comp
Enter our Twitter comp to be in to win a collection of beautiful Fair Trade gifts including: a cute crochet brooch, a fabulous sari notebook, stunning Christmas decorations, a gorgeous tee and some poverty fighting pants!
Simply need to follow us on Twitter (@fairchristmas) and tweet the following two tweets by 11/11/11
TWEET ONE
Win a Fair Trade gift hamper! http://fairchristmasfayre.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/win-a-fair-trade-gift-hamper-enter-our-twitter-comp/ Simply follow, RT this and the following tweet by 11/11/11…
TWEET TWO
Sat 3 Dec Fair Xmas Fayre -275 Oxford St. 30 fairtrade/ eco gift stalls,vintage craft corner & festive facepainting. http://fairchristmasfayre.wordpress.com/about/
Winner will be announced on 12/11/11.
Good luck!
Cards from Africa- Beautiful and just
We have a huge variety of stalls booked in for Fair Christmas Fayre 2011. One of them is Cards from Africa who have a vast range of stunning cards that are created in craft rooms in Rwanda. Their mission is to improve the lives of orphaned young people, by providing employment and investing in training for them. The business began several years ago when founder Chris Page teamed up with an African artist to develop materials and designs. Before long they had a bustling trade and were able to become a certified Fair Trade business.
I love ethical businesses that challenge the stereotype of “fairtrade” - and Cards from Africa is one of them. Their designs are modern, hugely varied, often fun, sleek and simple.
Their lovely website is worth a browse as it is packed with inspiring stories from the cardmakers.
You can meet Florence who explains “I am grateful for Cards from Africa. Not only do we have enough for today, but we have enough for tomorrow. Now, I don’t just want to have enough to survive, but I want to have a brighter tomorrow. I am saving money so that my son and niece can attend university. A few years ago I thought that was impossible. Now, it seems possible.”
You can purchase a card for every occasion from their online shop, or come along to Fair Christmas Fayre on 3rd December, Oxford Street, to browse their cards and meet the people behind this amazing business.
Fair Christmas Fayre 2011
Fair Christmas Fayre 2011 Oxford Street London 3rd December
Rudolf- the star of our poster
Here he is, a little stuffed Rudolf, the star of the Fair Christmas Fayre marketing campaign! He is a “Pouchbag” – made of vintage fabrics and made to smell utterly scrumpcious and he comes from a family of other lovable Pouchbags. Check out Nicola’s Folksy page and blogspot.
Keep your eyes peeled for him!
