From September 16 to 19, the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) held its global summit in Lima, Peru. Gathering more than 400 attendees from 76 countries, the event included fair trade buyers, NGO representatives, government officials, and leaders from international agencies like Simel Esim of the International Labour Organization and Isabel Durant of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Hosted at El Pueblo Hotel, the summit spotlighted pressing issues such as fair wage provision, climate change, sustainable procurement, marketing strategies, and alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Notably, 54% of leadership roles in WFTO member organizations are held by women—an encouraging figure for gender equity in the sector.

One standout contribution came from Judith Condor-Vidal, director of the UK-based Trading for Development (TFD), who partnered with Intercrafts’ Casa Betania and Naturtex to present a curated exhibition of organic cotton textiles. Visitors were captivated by the soft hues and textures of Pakucho®, a naturally pigmented cotton native to Peru. On display were hand-knitting yarns and baby garments made from ancestral, undyed cotton fibers.

Naturtex, founded in 1997, manufactures over 450 eco-textile products from native Andean fibers, including organic cotton and baby alpaca. The company has maintained organic certification since 1995 and was the first in the Americas to achieve Fair Trade textile certification in 2005.

Trading for Development continues to promote ethical fashion and design by supporting artisans, developing sustainable tools, and fostering global partnerships with universities and fashion houses.