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Frankly, there really is no reason why anyone should not shop in Arkadash all the time. Not only are all their products as up to date with fashion as Kate Moss, but Arkadash; which is named after the Turkish word for friend, has a strict policy to only sell merchandise which has been made by workers who will receive a fair wage.
The business duo behind Arkadash, Vik Banks and Chantelle Scott, who met at trade fairs in the North West separately selling ethical products, are motivated by wanting to value the rights of labourers in terms of their money and the conditions they are working in.
Vik and Chantelle are well aware of the problem within the consumer market that some high street stores are suspected, or have been accused of knowingly cheated their third world labourers out of the wages they need to keep their families out of poverty.
However, in shops like Arkadash, following sweatshop free policies ensure that the labourers and farmers receive their accurate wage, something that in the western world we take for granted. There is a lot of good stuff going on in the shop. The clothes come from many different companies. One of these companies is the house brand Kitnkabu, which features some of Arkadash’s custom designs.Arkadash also uses companies such as Seasalt, the first to produce organic clothing and ethical brand Gossypium, who set up organic cotton farming in India to work with small scale cotton farmers.
But supporting fair trade does not just allow you to deck yourself out in fashionable gear; there is always a story behind the product.
For instance, if you were to buy a pair of socks you would know their point of origin, what they are made of, what the issues facing the surrounding the area are and what factory they came from. A free story with every sock. Arkadash now has two branches, with its Headingley base quickly catching up on the success of their flagship in Manchester.
The owners picture a mini department store full of top notch ethically approved wonders. But this dream is not fulfilled easily. While there is incredible support for fair trade Arkadash, competition with high street stores is serious, but when there is such great stuff out there it is a shame not to check out what is right on our doorstep.
However, clothes in Arkadash are not outrageously priced, nor are their clothes lines frumpy or their jewellery dangling with unnecessary amount of coloured beads.
Friendly, fair and fashionable Arkadash is well worth a visit.
www.Arkadash.com |
