A SMALL business in Gloucestershire virtually destroyed in last year’s floods has relaunched itself to become possibly the world’s first safety supply company to sell own-brand FairTrade clothing.
Alpha Safety Supplies in Northway Lane, Tewkesbury, had already begun to consider launching its own website when the premises were engulfed and the entire stock destroyed.
“We felt the environmental catastrophe would only be repeated unless we all change the way we live and consume,” said marketing director Joanna Dale.
“Also, along with others in Tewkesbury, we were given a taste of what life is like in developing countries.
“With that in mind and with our insurance money we took a gamble. We did not replace what we had, we started again with a new strategy.
“We launched www.ethicalwork wear.com and are fast becoming the country’s leading eco-workwear label.”
She added: “A proportion of our stock insurance money went on an order for FairTrade polo shorts in Andhra Pradesh, India.
“This gave more small-scale cotton farmers the means to change to organic cotton farming and improve their living conditions.”
Within weeks of the launch of the website, the company, which currently employs a staff of four, received its first contract from one of the country’s largest environmental providers.
When it took a small stand at a recent trade show at the NEC in Birmingham, it received a lot of attention.
“The response was very, very good,” said Joanna. “Since then we have enquiries from as far away as America, Greece and Saudi Arabia.
“From being a small local business supplying uniforms, workwear and safetywear to local businesses in the Tewkesbury area, we are now beginning to establish a global presence. We have some exciting times ahead.”
4 Sales executive Olivia Hutchins and marketing director Joanna Dale with examples of Alpha Safety Supplies’ FairTrade clothing. 46nov08024-1. Picture by BEN DALBY.
