Our History

Chicago Fair Trade was formed in 2006 by a small, dedicated group of activists and volunteers. Over the years, our coalition has grown to more than 70 business, institutional, and individual members. We are proud to have been the driving force behind Chicago being named a Fair Trade City in 2011, and a Sweatshop-Free City in 2014, and Cook County becoming the largest Sweatfree Municipality in the US in 2015.

About Fair Trade

Fair trade is an alternative business model that focuses on the triple bottom line: people, the planet, and profits. More than 1 billion of the world’s population survive on less than $1 per day. Fair trade aims to combat this widespread poverty by providing opportunity for economically disadvantaged producers, cultivating transparent trade partnerships, ensuring safe working conditions and the rights of women and children, and focusing on environmental sustainability through all stages of production.

If you’d like to learn more about fair trade, visit the World Fair Trade Organization’s website.