Fair trade clothing in Canada: the capsule wardrobe

If I had a dime for every time someone asked me where to find basic, minimalist fair trade clothing in Canada, I’d be a billionaire.

The fair trade clothing movement has been steadily gaining momentum as more and more folks realize how unsustainable fast fashion is. (For planet, yes, but especially for people, as shown in the 2013 Rana Plaza incident.) Even in Canada, which isn’t usually able to keep up with Europe in the fair trade area, fair trade and sweatshop-free clothing is discussed more and more among businesses and consumers in 2020.

At the same time, minimalism and zero waste have seen a huge spike in the past few years. In the ’90s, the idea of a zero waste lifestyle was laughable to most, but now there are tons of people who are ditching single-use plastic altogether and investing in long-term belongings. Fast fashion is met with raised eyebrows by more and more Canadians. Many of these folks have started a capsule wardrobe that will last them a long time and help them reduce their clothing consumption (and disposal).

This is really positive for the planet, but it also complicates the fair trade situation. You see, most fair trade clothing isn’t exactly neutral-looking and doesn’t fit neatly into this minimalist aesthetic in most cases. Want big, block-printed batik dresses, or brightly-coloured, upcycled handbags? Fair trade’s got you! But if you’re looking for a simple tank top or a pair of leggings, you typically get left out in the cold. Especially if you live in Canada, where fair trade isn’t as big a market as elsewhere.

Fair trade clothing for Canadians

This lack of options was a problem that I took really seriously and wanted to be part of solving. Why can’t Canadians buy a simple legging? Why aren’t there athletic wear basics for us that are fair trade, organic and made with longevity in mind? What about a simple but comfortable tank top that fits well and will last a long time?

It was 2019 when Rosette Fair Trade entered the world. (It’s bananas to think about how far it’s come in only a little over a year!) Right away, I set to searching for basic fair trade clothing.

I came across Green Campus Cotton, which makes our super cute pineapple t-shirts, and I knew I wanted to partner with them. But all they had was t-shirts. Because fair trade clothing in Canada is such a new market, so few companies are making it at all, so a small operation like Green Campus Cotton is about as good as we can get. They’re the kind of dedicated, tiny, and courageous social entrepreneurs that always lead the way.

So for other options, it’s necessary to go elsewhere. Enter Maggie’s Organics!

Buying Maggie’s Organics in Canada

Maggie’s Organics actually started as Maggie’s Socks because they specialized in socks at first. But now they have beautiful, essential, minimalist pieces that are perfect for those trying to build a capsule wardrobe.

Only problem is Maggie’s is in the USA. Some brick-and-mortar stores carry Maggie’s in Canada.

Making this type of essential fair trade clothing available in Canada is so important. I’m so glad that these in-demand items are available to some Canadians! And even though there are only a few stockists in Canada for now, hopefully that will grow with time as well!

New options in Canadian fair trade clothing

Maggie’s is great, but what about other brands that are Canadian-owned? Check out my post on the top 6 fair trade clothing brands in Canada, where I outline what’s currently available overall. Some of the items aren’t as basic and versatile as what we talked about today, but they’re still ethical and beautiful.

Also, stay tuned, because I’ll be keeping an eye on the Canadian fair trade clothing market, as always! If something new pops up, we’ll be sure to keep you posted!

In the meantime, thank you for supporting the amazing fair trade brands that are making clothing in ways that put people and planet first!

In solidarity,

Lia