Hello George, Ive had a good look at your website and Im impressed. I am involved in a number of international projects one of which is linked to India. I can see possibilities for linking up.

Hi George,

Yes, I made it to Cotton On. Thanks for your hard work in organising it.

I certainly learned more about the complexities of the ethical fashion business, and the labelling issues.

I thought Carolyn from Bishopston was an inspiring speaker, and would happily have listened to her for longer. The idea of a few days at the Bishopston Guest House in KV Kuppam also appeals (though my budget doesn't currently stretch to a return to India in the near future).

I was rather disappointed in the headline speaker from the Observer - less articulate and less incisive than I'd have hoped.

I also found the Soil Association guy really annoying. While I will buy organic, including organic cotton, the neo-Luddite anti-GM blinkered attitude of the organic movement does sadden me - when I first read about GM technology nearly 20 years ago, including the potential for crops that need fewer pesticides, I thought this was exactly what the organic movement was looking for, not realising that their distaste for large industry that was investing in GM R&D meant that they'd reject it out of hand. Maybe the ethical fashion movement could combine forces with philanthropists to invest in forms of GM cotton which use less water, or are more resistant to pests and diseases, but without the "terminator" genes (which prevent seed saving from one year to replant in the next, or the antibiotic resistance genes which are sometimes inserted alongside the "useful" modification to see if it has taken).

I must confess I came away from Cotton On feeling rather deflated and more cynical, as opposed to inspired. I recognise the value that an independent third party ethics audit holds, and a publicly recognisable label like Fairtrade. But I got a rather uneasy feeling that they guard their intellectual property rather too jealously. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick, but got the impression that even if a product was made from officially Fairtrade certified cotton, a further licence fee would need to be paid for the manufacturer or retailer to label it as Fairtrade (with the little blue, black and green logo). Not sure all that is truly necessary to ensure the brand isn't devalued, especially when they emphasised that the Fairtrade label only really relates to the payments to the original growers, rather than e.g. the treatment of the workers sewing the garments. Seems like they're trying to have their cake and eat it!

The day also reinforced for me realise that the presence/absence of the label is not the be-all and end-all of ethical consumerism (in the same way that I continue to buy a brand of coffee called "Good African" - not Fairtrade (TM) but the company has a similar mindset - African owned, reinvests 50% of the profits in community projects and packets labelled "Africa needs trade not aid to fight poverty", a sentiment to which I wholly subscribe!)

I'm also a little concerned that the plethora of differnt labels and certification schemes (e.g. Fairtrade, Organic, the new "Made by" label whose promoters were at the conference) may become a "green parasite" industry - a bit like management consultants, sucking money away from businesses for dubious benefit.

It was an interesting day, but I didn't come away with a flash of inspiration about a future business opportunity for myself.

Apologies if this is a bit of a braindump.

Kind regards

Eleanor Cawte

Good to hear- I enjoyed it, Tamsin

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond so fully to my comments.

Hi George, Thanks for the comment. I will be in touch about some fabric, is there possibility of seeing some samples? thanks

Yes please do send me swatches Im always looking for new textiles and other components...QUE-VA, 63 Ellesmere Ave. NCR, Dublin 7, Ireland
Thank you for your msg.
Caiomhe

Hi George
Some time ago you left me a message saying that you sell cotton voile. I am not based in the UK, but Australia and am heading to India in just a few days now. Would you have some links or contacts there?
Thank you

Vienda

George,
Please rush your catalogue and pricelist(perhaps by e-mail)
Thanks
albattah@videotron.ca

thanks george...i am concentrating on cotton jerseys though so not sure if initially the options you have will be right but i will have a proper look through the site as i am seeking the odd wovens too

much appreciations!

Hey there, if you're free next Thursday Evening, come down to Tantric Jazz in the centre of Bristol between 8pm and 10pm and be part of one of the first EFF Socials, which I'm sure you've heard about. It'd be cool if a load of us Bristol folk could meet up. Abbie.