Any work of art produced in accordance with fair trade principles qualifies as fair trade art. Better wages and working conditions for workers, as well as sustainability and environmentally sound practices, are among the top priorities of the fair trade movement. Fair trade art benefits are typically targeted at economically disadvantaged producers in developing countries. A certification body will often label products as fair trade. After that, they’re sold on the global market.
The structure of the fair trade movement has changed over time. After World War II, students in Europe formed the majority of today’s fair trade trends. Volunteers ran a number of worldshops in the Netherlands, selling handicrafts from all over the world. These worldshops were regarded as a success, and a slew of similar businesses sprang up across Western Europe. The first fair trade label was applied to Mexican coffee sold in Dutch supermarkets in 1988.
In 1997, the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) set out to unify the fair trade certification process. FLO wanted to see a single, easily recognizable label on all fair trade items, including fair trade art, so that these products would be more visible in stores. FLO has a branch that establishes the standards and requirements that fair trade employers must adhere to in their respective countries. Another division of FLO inspects products and procedures to ensure that they meet these requirements.
As a means of subsistence, many economically disadvantaged indigenous groups sell handicrafts. These are items that are usually associated with a group’s historical heritage; they can range from purely decorative works to clothing and accessories to practical household items. These handicrafts are frequently exported to developed countries when they are not sold in their producer’s home country. Some fair trade art products can be found in regular stores, while others are only available in fair trade specialty stores.
The practices associated with fair trade art have been subjected to a number of criticisms. According to the Adam Smith Institute, a British economic think tank, fair trade distorts market prices in the same way that farm subsidies do. Fair trade tries to establish a price floor, which some argue can lead to market overproduction and excess supply. On the other hand, some argue that fair trade isn’t aggressive enough in helping producers improve their lives. Christian Jacquiau, a French author, has criticized the practice of selling fair trade products in traditional mass retailers and advocated for a fully independent fair trade market.