Whether you have a brand or you are a supporter yourself, if you want your work to become official and recognized under the label of sustainability there are communities of people that can help put your efforts on a legitimate pedestal: this is the objective of Fair Trade USA, a certification non-profit agency that serves businesses involved in sustainability practices. 

Jane Leyva, partner success manager at Fair Trade USA, is a proud advisory board member of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition. Today we are sharing our sparkling conversation with her as she illustrates us with her personal connection with fashion sustainability and our work at the SFCC. 

What do you do at Fair Trade USA?

I work on the factory programs at Fair Trade USA and I support our program operations, as well as our partnership success team. I am a huge advocate for social responsibility and in apparel supply chain. I’m extremely passionate and feel humbled that I get to bring my values to work every day in the nonprofit, at Fair Trade USA. 

How did you come across, our community at SFCC and NYC Fair Trade Coalition?

I had connected with you through our liaison at Fair Trade USA, who manages the relationship with our organization and the different initiatives for towns, cities, and many other type of connections relevant to us and our philosophies. I had wanted to connect with Andrea on ways that we could potentially partner together and ways that we can expand and educate people on the Fair Trade movement. Andrea is just an amazing person and such a driver for change.

I really connected with NYC Fair Trade Coalition to deepen our relationship for for a broader scope of fair trade education to consumers, to retailers, and also different factory partners and NYC Fair Trade Coalition does so much work in educating and promoting different aspects of the fair trade movement, and I was really, really excited about collaborating with with this community.

Do you have any fond memories related to to us?

I visited the SFCC in El Barrio, East Harlem. When I was there it was it was really exciting being able to see see so many different aspects of conscious consumerism and seeing Fair Trade principles in action, on display. I think being in community and having a physical place really is inspiring and a great method to connect with consumers and the nearby community of people living in that neighborhood.

I participated at the Sustainable Design and Merchandising conference, and was able to interact with different members of NYC Fair Trade coalition and advocates in the Fair Trade space as well and being around thought leaders that are fearlessly advancing what their mission was, and is a another reason why I feel inspired to do this work and feel feel honored to to carry out the mission.

How important is sustainability and sustainable fashion to you and your own community?

We’re at a time right now where we are seeing consumers, particularly younger consumers, really driving and transforming sustainable fashion.

I feel encouraged by the younger generation that is driving this and really asking the hard questions: What does supply chain transparencies look like? What and how can we build products that are designed for longevity? What are our environmental and social goals 10, 20 years down the road? How can we collaboratively come together to really meet the moment and reach those goals because we too? 

Is there something you’d like to see from us, any event we should host? 

Something I would love to see more is sharing resources on ways that consumers can get engaged with the brands and retailers that they’re shopping at. I think that the NYC Fair Trade coalition has a really really unique advantage point to educate the community and ways that we can creatively keep textiles out of landfill. Keep up your great work!