Our Partners – Building Trust Through Responsibility
Under the principles of fair trade, we offer our customers high-quality and attractive products at fair prices. We work in partnership with select suppliers who are committed to the guidelines of fair trade and are regularly audited. Almost all are members of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO); all adhere to the principles of fair trade.
We have selected all of our suppliers after visiting them in person and carefully inspecting their production facilities. We select suppliers based on high quality standards and view our producers as equal partners. For this reason alone, we place great importance on ensuring that our goods do not come from industrial mass production. We place great emphasis on:
- sustainable production and resource-efficient processes.
- fair working conditions and long-term partnerships.
- high quality standards and regular audits.
- transparent supply chains, to the extent permitted by law and practicable.
These values form the foundation for the trust we place in our suppliers—and that you, as a customer, experience every day through our products.
Transparency Without Compromise
We would like to provide you with an honest look into our partnerships without compromising our partners’ confidentiality. For this reason, we do not name individual producers here, but we do indicate the regions from which we source our goods and the standards we adhere to.
All of our production partners pay their employees a wage that is significantly higher than the national minimum wage and offer them various social benefits, such as sick leave, financial support for their children’s education, retirement plans, etc. Working conditions and the work environment also often exceed the national standard and provide a safe working environment.
Here is an overview of the various countries from which we source our products:
Nepal
Since our founding, we have worked closely with producers in Nepal and have built trusting relationships with all of them over the years. Our partners understand our high quality standards and fulfill their social responsibilities toward their employees and the environment.
- New employees receive thorough training, which helps create income opportunities for socially disadvantaged groups.
- All employees receive a fair monthly base salary, and those in production often receive an additional piece-rate wage based on their output.
- To encourage school attendance, the companies generally cover the tuition for 1–2 children.
- In October or November, employees receive an additional month’s salary ahead of the Dashain and Tihar Diwali festivals, which are very important in Nepal.
- Long-term employees receive a retirement benefit,
- Only azo-free dyes are used for dyeing.
India
Our long-standing partner specializes in the production of paper and jewelry products. Here, too, production is carried out using traditional handcrafted methods, combining cultural heritage with modern designs and quality standards. The basic idea: to harness the creative potential of artisans in India to bring about social change. The goal: to strengthen the position of underprivileged and marginalized artisan communities by providing them with sustainable livelihoods based on fair trade standards, as well as opportunities for growth.
Through fair trade practices, artisans gain self-confidence and take pride in their work. Under fair trade standards, they receive approximately 25% more than the standard market wage in India; 15% of sales are reinvested to support the artisans and preserve their traditions. As a general rule, as many natural and recycled/reused materials as possible are used to ensure that all products are environmentally sustainable.
Cambodia
Smateria bags and accessories are fair-trade, eco-friendly, and sustainable: The Net Collection is made from nylon nets traditionally used for fishing or on construction sites. Smateria also stands for transformation, as an unassuming material is now turned into a fashionable accessory.
In addition, Smateria has developed its own process to create a new material from plastic waste generated by the apparel industry in Phnom Penh, which is used to produce the IKI collection. This helps prevent large amounts of waste and emissions. Intertek, an independent international quality assurance company, has tested the material and confirmed that it contains no toxic or hazardous substances.
The collection’s high quality and Italian chic are the reasons why Smateria is recognized as a fashion company. Today, the company employs around 90 people and is a recognized WFTO member. All products are 100% vegan and free of animal-derived ingredients. That is why it was also important for Smateria to have a certification seal that certifies both its products and the company itself as vegan and cruelty-free.
As a long-standing and reliable partner of Smateria, Frida Feeling is now the exclusive distribution partner for Europe.
Shared Responsibility
We are convinced that long-term, successful business relationships are based on mutual respect. That is why we continuously invest in expanding our international partnerships, training on quality and sustainability standards, and fair trade structures. We visit our business partners once or twice a year, as we place great importance on ongoing on-site communication.
