Chicago Fair Trade

Chicago Fair Trade was founded in 2006 by a small, dedicated group of activists and volunteers. Over the years, as businesses and individuals have connected to the significance and importance of fair trade practices, the coalition has grown to more than 70 business, institutional, and individual members. By driving this proliferation of fair trade business practices, CFT has been able to contribute towards the wellbeing of individuals such as Thanan. Thanan leads an artisan group that works with CFT member Malia Designs. She received her educational training at the National Centre of Disabled Persons in Cambodia. After she graduat- ed Thanan received a micro-loan and began her own ethical fashion business. Today she em- ploys more than fifty home-based artisans who are also disabled. It is Thanan’s mission and passion to provide secure, consistent employment for these disabled individuals. In Cambodia it’s an unfortunate fact that the disabled are often treated like third class citizens, and their chances for finding gainful employment are very slim. As a whole the disabled population is also more vulnerable to exploitation and to traffickers. Thanan’s compassion and dedication to im- proving the lives of others combined with her design talents truly make her a valued partner and a fair trade champion. 

We are proud to be a driving force behind Chicago being named a Fair Trade City in 2011, and a Sweatshop-Free city in 2014, and Cook County becoming the largest Sweatfree Municipality in the US in 2015.