Organic Cotton Vegetable Bags

Earlier in the year we were contacted by some very concerned people from Seattle. They were very happy about the decrease in plastic-bag-use that has been seen in both the UK and the USA over the last few years and the increased consciousness generally about the damaging effects of our plastic-bag habit. But they'd noticed that when people buy their groceries they still tend to pack each different kind of vegetable and fruit in its own little plastic bag. So they had come up with an attractive and affordable solution which they wanted us to make for them using our organic cotton cloth.

Have a look here at Wonder Thunder's blog posts for a short video clip about their breathable, washable and reusable organic cotton fruit and veg bags with quirky cartoon toast and other friendly characters printed on them.

Here are the Wonder Thunder fruit and veg bags in production in K.V.Kuppam

Fairtrade Cotton Project: Northumbria University

At the beginning of 2010 we were contacted by the Design School at Northumbria University. Their Fashion Textile students were embarking on a design project and keen to use our organic Fairtrade certified cotton cloth and integrate the ethos of Fair Trade into the design work.

Last month I caught up with Rosey, one of the students on the course, and tutor, Doug Miller, at a conference in Liverpool. They gave a presentation about the project and explained how much the students had enjoyed the work.

Here is the brief and some photos of the finished garments. We are really impressed by the standard of the work and very pleased to have supplied the cloth for these fantastic pieces.

Using your research as inspiration, design and make a one-off piece using Fairtrade cotton. Focus on one Fairtrade producing region and use your design to communicate the cultural heritage of where the cotton was produced. This piece should show that Fairtrade cotton can be used in cutting-edge fashion."

Organic Fairtrade Cotton Aprons

Recently we were contacted by a bakery with the intriguing name of Quangle Wangle. They were interested in our organic Fairtrade cotton catering aprons. We sent them the information, they placed an order, our partners in K.V.Kuppam produced them, we delivered them to Quangle Wangle... and a few days later we received a very friendly thankyou-email from them saying how much they adore the aprons.

Here's what they have to say about themselves:

Quangle Wangle Foods is a small artisan bakery business selling hand made, stone baked breads and patisserie from organic ingredients to a gaggle of local customers and a couple of village shops. In addition I make limited edition seasonal jams and jellies from the fruits of my garden and yummies like real lemon curd when my hens are laying more eggs than I can bake solidiers for.

As well as sporting the aprons myself, they will be part of a gift pack containing a lovely loaf of bread and some jams - perfect as a new house pressie, or people who already have everything - as in the picture!

Me? I love them because they are big enough to fold a tuck into at the waist, then tie round at the front and hide the tie in the tuck - then I feel ready for anything - to bake without one now would feel like riding my bike without a helmet!

The Company name comes from an Edward Lear nonsense poem. The Quangle Wangle sits on his Crumpetty tree and declares that jam and jelly and bread are the best of foods, and that's what I make - mostly bread but also jams and jellies from home grown fruits...!

Jemma - Quangle Wangle


They are based in Shaftesbury, Wiltshire. One day we'd like to visit them and sample their delicious stone-baked breads with seasonal jam.... mmmm!

Quangle Wangle Foods
The Rectory
Semley
Shaftesbury
Wiltshire
SP7 9AU

Fair Trade Panamas

Now the summer sun is out, our shops are finding the Fair Trade Panama hats we source from Pachacuti are selling fast. Pachacuti are fellow World Fair Trade Organisation members and work with women's cooperatives in the mountainous regions of Ecuador. Yesterday a team of local butchers came into our Bristol shop to each buy a panama hat as part of their staff uniform.

Barry and Ophelia proudly sporting their Fair Trade Panamas

Murrays is a delicatessen butchers specialising in local, free-range meat, poultry and cheese. Every Saturday a long queue of people stretches down the Gloucester Road, hungry for a famous Murray's burger - barbecued to perfection whilst you wait.

Murrays can be found at 153 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8BA (0117 9424025).

Birthday Festivities in Glastonbury

Our 25th Birthday was also celebrated in our Glastonbury shop this weekend. Newly-elected local MP, Tessa Munt was there to cut the cake, along with Graham Coles the town crier. The shop can be found at 8a High Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9DU.

From Left to Right: Jan, our fantastic shop manager; Ella, Jan's daughter; Tessa Munt, local MP; Graham Coles, Glastonbury Town Crier.

The anniversary window at our Glastonbury shop.

Wonderful cake prepared by Jan.

Birthday Party in Totnes

On Saturday, Bishopston Trading's 25th Birthday was celebrated in our Totnes branch. Staff, long-term customers, the Mayor, the Mayoress and members of the town's Chamber of Commerce were there to cut the cake, swill down the wine (Fairtrade of course) and generally have a good time.

From left to right: Lovely Alice (one of our Totnes shop team), Wendy (loyal customer and Totnes Fairtrade Town committee member), the Mayor, Wonderful Karen (our ever-effervescent Shop Manager), the Mayoress, Paul (Head of Totnes Chamber of Commerce), another loyal customer whose name we must apologise for misplacing, and our Lovely Hannah (another member of the Totnes shop team and our pattern-grader).

The Mayor and Mayoress cut the Birthday ribbon.