Ireland’s reputation for being a green and naturally beautiful island has made us a striking destination for the ethical fashion follower. The world renowned quality of our fabrics and yarns like Magee tweeds, Donegal linens,  ultra soft wools and designer lace has helped the emerald isle to become forty shades cooler as a nation that cares about the people who make their clothes and their working conditions.

Whether you are wearing the kitten-soft cottons from Grown, the artistic designs of Tweed project, Sophie Rieu’s elegant skirts or Ethical Silk’s stunning nighties you’re holding steadfast to the principles of fairtrade. To be honest, really cheap gear tends to turn into really wrecked rags after a few spins  in the washing machine – ready for the landfill or as a handy floorcloth perhaps.

“Fair pay for a fair day’s work” is the universal motto of ethical trade, along with no chemicals, accessing organic materials and using fabrics from ethical producers. After the disastrous Rana Plaza factory in India collapsed killing 1,129 of the workers, more of us have thought twice before buying cheap clothing produced by oppressed workers.

You can read more about this topic in the last quarterly of the Irish Times Business Ireland supplement – irishtimes.com/businessireland.