Tell your Fair Trade story. All stories welcome.

My name is Mary Beth, and I’m a second year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, looking at the history of fair trade in Scotland. I’m delighted to be on a Collaborative Scholarship between the University and Scottish Fair Trade, through the Economic and Social Research Council. My project’s official title is, “The Making of a Fair Trade Nation: The Development of Fair Trade Business Ethics and Practice in Scotland, c.1980s-2013,” and it’s been a truly exciting and enlightening journey so far.

I spent my first year immersed in reading and reading… and then more reading, covering everything from the very earliest definitions of the concept, its grassroots origins, expansions across the globe, and the development of so many new international structures, initiatives, labels… I’ll admit I thought I knew about fair trade, but after all the time I’ve spent untangling ‘fair trade’, ‘Fairtrade’, ‘FAIRTRADE’ and ‘Fair Trade,’ my head has spent many days spinning, many more days digesting, and I recognise just how much I really need to learn!

Now into my second year, with the foundations grasped, I’ve been able to look much closer at the part I really love – the people and their stories. Through accessing the brilliant archive held by Scottish Fair Trade, I’ve started to gain valuable insights into the big successes of Scotland’s fair trade movement, the conflicts and challenges within this time, and its impact on both politics and our wider society.

As the bigger jigsaw comes together piece by piece, it’s been fascinating to see how strong a social justice network exists here, and to continuously learn more about these legacies of brave, compassionate activism rooted throughout our communities.

Now is the time I ask for your help…

In the coming months, I am looking to undertake the next part of my research – collecting oral histories to expand our understanding of fair trade’s journey in Scotland.

I am looking to organise interviews and focus groups with people who were involved in the movement during ‘80’s, ‘90’s, ‘00’s and beyond.

Through these conversations together, I’d hope to learn more from you about topics like:

• Your original personal motivations for getting involved in the Fair Trade movement
• What did your activism look like? How did you feel being part of this wider movement?
• Your views and experiences in campaigning specifically for Fair Trade goods
• Any of your involvement in Scotland’s Fair Trade achievements particularly in our Fair Trade Nation status,
• Your personal opinion on FTN status, its successes and challenges
• Your personal perspectives on Scotland’s wider contributions to Fair Trade as a social justice movement.

As for the practical part – I can be very flexible, meeting you at a time and place that suits you best, or we can even chat over video call, phone call, or email!

If you’ve been involved in fair trade’s history here in Scotland, I would be delighted to chat with you about it, and celebrate your contributions to this powerful social justice movement.

If interested, or if you have any questions about my research/interviews, please get in touch! My email address is 2838234G@student.gla.ac.uk

Thank you to Scottish Fair Trade for all their team’s support so far, and this opportunity to share. I’m looking forward to sharing more insights about my research in the future!

Mary Beth Graham, 27 January 2025