Fairtrade Standards are designed to support the sustainable development of small producer organizations and agricultural workers in developing countries. The Fairtrade Standards incorporate a holistic blend of social, economic and environmental criteria. Traders are also covered by the standards, underscoring the commitments companies and businesses must make to contribute to sustainability in their supply chains and operations.

The Fairtrade Textile Standard is one component of the greater Fairtrade Textile Programme to facilitate change in textile supply chains and related business practices. This comprehensive approach engages manufacturers and workers in the supply chain to bring about better wages and working conditions, and engages brands to commit to fair terms of trade.

Due the high costs of Genetically Modified seeds & the tremendous amount of water & fertilizers needed to grow conventional cotton, farmers in the developing nations are forced to spiral down a vicious, debt laden cycle. This coupled with various external threats such as weather conditions and fluctuating commodity prices leads to a number of farmers committing suicides. This is where Fairtrade comes in, providing the farmers and the rest of the supply chain the necessary infrastructure & support groups to look after their interest and make sure the entire chain follows ethical practices. Fairtrade is important to authenticate & transform the entire international trade cycle into one that prevents the persecution of the disadvantaged people. The aim is to create a more humane system safeguarding the workers from unscrupulous practices.