People Tree - Spring/Summer 2011

Emma has collaborated with People Tree on a new collection for the fair trade brand for Spring/Summer 2011.

This second collection has a slightly different feel to Emma's previous summer collection and includes fitted dresses, blazers, t-shirts, skirts, and harem pants.

Speaking about the new line, Emma said:

"I designed this collection last year after I'd started university in the US. Safia, People Tree's Founder, and Misato, People Tree's designer, came out to work with me in Rhode Island. Together we decided on all the colours, fabrics, shapes and craft skills. Most of all, we took care to design a really wearable collection that truly celebrates the traditional skills of People Tree's Fair Trade groups around the world."

Following the initial design stage, Emma continued to work closely with People Tree during the following months, looking at samples whenever she was back in the UK and trying on each and every piece to get the fits just as she wanted them to be.

In July 2010, Emma visited Bangladesh to see the clothing for the collection being made and to meet the people making it and saw firsthand the difference fair trade makes to the garment workers. Of the trip Emma said:

"It was an incredible and life-changing experience – I really wish everyone had the chance to see the difference Fair Trade makes with their own eyes! Fair Trade fashion comes from the villages – and provides a real alternative to working in a garment factory and the harsh environment of living in a slum. Fair Trade fashion is often completely handmade – and made of 100% natural and organic cotton – and it's a small miracle that we as consumers can participate in a process that is keeping skills and communities alive and helping them to prosper."

Emma was interviewed by Safia Minney while in Bangladesh and you can read the full interview on the http://www.peopletree.co.uk/ site.

As before, Emma is donating all royalties made from the collection to the People Tree Foundation, an independent charity working alongside People Tree, the Fair Trade company. The aim of the foundation is to bring the benefits of Fair Trade to an even greater number of farmers and artisans through scaling up training, technical support and environmental initiatives, and through raising awareness and campaigning for fair and sustainable fashion.

The collection is on sale in various outlets in Europe and Japan and pieces can be ordered from www.peopletreeyouth.com which also ships to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.