Life’s Not Fair – The Competition
Life’s Not Fair But…My Knickers Are….! is a new women’s underwear and lounge wear range made with Fairtrade certified cotton, aimed at fun loving women who appreciate great design.
The founders of this fabulous new range are Sarah Duncan and Julia Brown. They both have a passion for underwear, and a passion for fairly traded production. With a combined total of 40 years experience within the underwear industry, this brand new range of fashionable undies is both affordable and also ethically produced, using Fairtrade Foundation approved suppliers and garment producers in India.
Sarah and Julia are big fans of Fairtrade, and believe that it’s important to make fair trade mainstream in order to benefit the whole supply chain, all the way to the cotton growers and pickers who make it all happen at the outset.
With so much experience in garment manufacture, Sarah and Julia are very aware of the challenges that come with that production. There will always be more work to be done in ensuring that all clothing factories are working in a ‘Fair’ way. Life’s Not Fair But… My Knickers Are…! is not just a brand, it’s a commitment to Fairtrade and to all the principals that the belief entails.
The new Life’s Not Fair But… My Knickers Are…! collection is all about making a difference by being as desirable as possible. Take it from someone who’s tried these PJs on – they’re great quality, beautifully designed, and they look great too!
If you want a bit of this feminine eco-chic for yourself (or a friend!), here’s the perfect opportunity to get involved – Life’s Not Fair But…My Knickers Are! have are giving away three sets of their gorgeous Dotty Range, in celebration of the launch of their Spring Range, Valentines Day, Fairtrade Fortnight, and just in the name of spreading the word!
For a chance to win, sign in and leave us a comment below with your favourite Fairtrade anecdote, most interesting Fairtrade fact, or question for Sarah and Julia. We’ll try to get your questions answered, and our three favourite contributions will be rewarded with their favourite set from the Fairly Dotty Range.
Editior’s decision is final. No cash alternative. Competition closes Midnight 28th February 2010.
The winner can choose between the Fairly Dotty Chemise OR the Fairly Dotty Vest & Shorts OR the Fairly Dotty Vest & Pyjama Bottoms, colour and size of choice –
SUBJECT TO STOCK AVAILABILITY.
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I admire your company that people in poorer countries are being treated well and allowed to actually earn a decent wage for a hard days work. My question: How do you decide what to pay the cotton growers and other Indian staff, is it a wage set by Fairtrade, or do you decide?
Gosh, Sarah and Julia, to be FAIR your range is gorgeous and it won’t be long before everyone has COTTONED on! For the larger ladies who have a FAIR old rump what size equivalents are your Large, Medium and Small please?
I’m picking cotton. My lady isn’t a slave to fashion, but she knows how to spot a good thing..
Hi Maya – Thanks for getting involved! In response, the sizes are as follows: Small = UK10, Medium = UK12, L = UK14, XL = 16. Hope that helps!
What lovely underwear kind to our skin but more important kind to earth.
Hi,
It would be nice if ‘xl’ was a bit bigger than a 16…. or if you did bigger sizes in the future, as there’s probably a lot of ladies with bigger bums than that who are missing the chance to wear your stuff! x
I love the look of these products,well done Sarah & Julia,funky,pretty underwear with lashings of peace of mind thrown in for good measure.Hopefully more companies will follow suit and give people in less fortunate countries than our own a FAIR deal.x
Thanks for the competition Sarah and Julia Xx
I heard this the other day and I think its lovely …
One generation plants the trees another gets the shade.
Keep up the fairtrade good work
Totally agree with Caroline I can;t believe how many companies think that XL is only size 16 –
My idea for fairtrade would be getting the products as they are not only cheaper but they are quality purchases.We are so lucky to go fairtrade and I am glad I live in a fairtrade town as well 🙂
I have never tried fairtrade clothing but I love fairtrade chocolate and raisin bars. Also they are the lowest fat cereal bars I have found on the market!
rather surprised that a size 16 is extra large,it puts you off when it says extra large as I don’t consider that to to that big.
Apparently Criollo beans make the best quality Fairtrade chocolate.
Fab site and the prices are fair
I can’t believe that while one person buys clothes that are cheap, another person is suffering because of that. Keep going with the Fair Trade and I would like to share this quote that I think should be made practice.
“Fair trade. Would it not be more logical to label unfair products?”
— Loesje
I’m happy to see another company prioritising Fairtrade, but “ethically sourced” should also include a move to kind to earth as well as kind to people policies, I’m interested to know whether the dyes you use are biodegradeable and non toxic and if you have any plans to use more sustainably produced (those not needing pesticides or much human intervention) fabrics such as hemp, or bamboo, fabrics produced from food waste such as soya or organically produced ones? I know Fairtrade certification requires a move to reduce agrochemical use, but would you move to organic AND fairtrade certified cotton – no pesticides to harm either the growers or wildlife or the wearer if traces remain in the fabric…
And do you have plans to introduce a menswear line, I’d love to give some patterned trunks to my fiancé for Valentine’s Day!
Yes why do we have so much and and poor countries so little why can’t every one have the same
It’s the best thing of all having organic & fairtrade underwear next to your skin.
From another fairtrade believer and lover of knickers to another…you are an inspiration
I think its fabulous that you are producing such beautiful fair trade underwear… when I first started looking for fair trade clothes the only thing you could get was whole body thermal underwear and neck to toe Victorian night dresses – hurrah for dotty! My question is, do you think bras will be part of the range, as there doesn’t seem to be many fair trade options in the cleavage department!
There don’t appear to have been any fair trade facts yet so…
People are probably aware that there are many Fairtrade wines now available but did they know that there is now also Fairtrade Communion Wine! I’m definitely going to have to have a word with our parish priest! 🙂
Being chocolate lovers and having our own kids we’ve supported ‘stop the traffik’. My kids were really excited to see a poster for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk going Fairtrade – Becky said ‘Its because Mummy wrote that letter…’ If only it were that simple! But isn’t it great that kids know that they can make a difference to others lives through what they do and buy. Love the knickers! Any plans for a kids range?
What a lovely range. My only other comment is that the average size in the UK is 14/16 so why stop there??
I am a great believer in Fair Trade, but have found that most clothing is aimed at the very young and very skinny. We older ladies care too and would like to be given a chance to buy Fair Trade.
Wow! Thank you all for your wonderful comments. It is great to hear from you all! As such a new brand, we only started about 9 months ago, we really take on board everything you are saying about sizes and expanding the range to include a mens and childrens range. Because of the regulations around minimum order quantities, we had to limit our range to only 4 sizes. We are asked for both bigger and smaller sizes, so these requests we will try to take into account in our next range! To answer regarding bras, Karen, this is something that we are really keen to start working on. However, it is extrememly difficult due to the factories that we have to use becuase of the Fairtrade certification, and they don’t necessarily have the skills or machinery to produce bras as they are so complex! We are also only able to use cotton. All of which makes bra making quite tough! Do sign up for our newsletter though, as soon as we have any news we will of course let you know! We would love to produce a mens range, and also a kids range, and we are definitely planning this for some time in the future.
We are always amazed by the range of wonderful Fairtrade products on the market, from wine to bubble bath! It is great to read your comments on what is out there.
I’d be interested to know out of all the cotton garments sold in this country, what percentage are sold under the fair trade label?
Its nice to see pretty thing that are ethical and you feel good wearing them as they have been made in place that is not “sweaty”.
Lovely prize, would love to win it – my Fairtrade fact is – 1 in 4 bananas sold in the Uk are now Fairtrade!
Hi girls i am a big fan of the site and what you do, this year fairtrade fortnight is held from 22nd feb – 7th march and is a huge celebration what will you girls be doing to celebrate ?? also i am dotty about the dotty range its fab
I read that there is even FairTrade communion wine available now which goes to show how big FairTrade has become. People think of bananas, chocolate and tea/coffee as the main items but we are surrounded by fantastic ethical alternatives to so many products.
Beautiful undies, ladies – thanks. I am veggie and like to shop fair trade too – where would you recommend to cover both? I currently use Sainsbury’s mostly.
Did you know that Bananas contain tryptophan and vitamin B6, known to help make you feel happy. Fairtrade bananas were launched in 1994, and now one in four bananas sold in the UK is Fairtrade.
I like buying fairtrade clothes but find getting products that i like are increasingly difficult, it would be great to have more choice and of course of sizes but having said i love your choice of underwear and it feels great wearing fairtrade as you know you are helping to make a difference.
I love fair trade cotton – it always feels really soft on my skin and i love knowing that the people making items are working in fair conditions
Ooh the range is lovely. If you are able to expand the range at some point a wrap and cotton bedsocks to match would be fab too.
The first fairtrade shop opened in 1969 in the Netherlands, today there are 4,000 organisations worldwide So much more to do though, it needs to penetrate onto the High Street and stop all this cheap, throwaway sweatshop fashion
Tate & Lyle are switching all their own label retail sugar to Fairtrade sugar. The move will benefit more than 6,000 farmers from Belize, who will receive Fairtrade premiums of around US $4 million (£2 million) for investment in their community, in the first year alone.
I’ve got to say, I’m really impressed with this and it certainly increases my respect to Tate & Lyle as a company.
(thanks for this fabulous competition by the way and please keep up the excellent work!)
Since the introduction of Fairtrade certified cotton in 2005, annual sales have risen from a humble 200,000 to a marvellous 7.79 million in 2008.
This is an amazing growth rate and is partly down to the fabulous companies like yourself making gorgeous products with the fairtrade cotton. I am loving the products I have seen so far, they are so pretty yet look comfy too. Let’s hope more companies choose to use fairtrade cotton to help it grow even more.
Well done – you have proved that fairtrade clothing doesn’t have to be dull and unfeminine.
Beautiful range and looks soft and comfortable too. You get my vote!
This is a fabulous competition and I love the items on the website – fantastic products and all for a very worthy cause. I thought I’d add a Fairtrade fact to the list. More than 7.5 million people (farmers, workers and their families) in 59 developing countries benefit from the worldwide Fairtrade system! How fantastic!
I like the principle of fair trade – and often buy fairtrade products.Thanks for the competition!
Your range is absolutely gorgeous, Fairtrade is great for the producers and great for the purchasers with fab designs like these
Great, now I can look gorgeous without it costing the earth, in more ways than one!
Guilty as sin but good for the soul.
Great combo, keep up the good work.
Chris
What fab clothes and great to think they’re ethically produced too.
I love your products and wondered if you had considered a children’s range? i also agree with other comments in that why stop at size 16?
The pyjamas look great! It’s so depressing wanting to be ethical and eco-friendly and only finding drab shapeless clothes.
A Fairtrade anecdote: when I was still at school we did a quiz for Fairtrade week. The questions were damn near impossible, and after half an hour of searching for questions, my dad and I found the quiz on the internet. With all the answers. So naturally, I copied all but a few. I won a bar of Divine chocolate, which I shared with my class (punishment), but I’ve bought a tonne of it since, and it’s the only chocolate I buy now. In fact, I am collecting wrappers to cut up and paper my room!
Hey I know it SAYS March 1st, but it’s actually 23:28 on 28th February. That counts, right? It’s before midnight!
A massive thank you to everyone who got involved in this competition, we’ve really enjoyed hearing your responses! Congratulations to our winners – Julie Kenning, Joanne Hemming, and Karen (from the 8th February).