• The second annual Fair Trade Holiday Fair will be held tomorrow
• The fair will feature items such as coffee, crafts and clothing
• All items were made by artisans from around the world

Giving new meaning to the term "smart shopper," Marquette's second annual Fair Trade Holiday Fair will offer students the opportunity to purchase items produced in a socially responsible manner at a reasonable price.

Hosted by the student groups J.U.S.T.I.C.E. and Ubuntu, the fair will be held tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union Ballrooms. The event will feature chocolate, clothing, crafts and a number of other items from artisans around the world, according to Ubuntu member Carlo Giombi.

Giombi, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said while many of the items sold will not be officially labeled "Fair Trade" by non-profit certifier Transfair International, all of the items have been purchased from their makers at a fair price.

Ubuntu president Drake Dettmann, a senior in the College of Business Administration, said the fair trade movement aims to achieve greater equality for marginalized workers and businesses throughout the world. By purchasing fair trade items, consumers help poorer members of society gain status and profits, Dettmann said.

"Items in stores are more likely to have been mass produced with cheaper labor and cheaper quality products," Dettmann said. "Typically the workers that produced these goods were not given the fair wage or a fair, safe work environment, nor were they given an opportunity to develop an understanding of their work."

Giombi said the goal of the fair is to show students the global impact they can make by purchasing fair trade items.

"The purpose of the fair is to show students and anyone else who comes that it is well within their power—and budget—to make decisions around purchasing that can have positive effects worldwide," Giombi said.

He said Marquette students in particular have an obligation to make conscientious choices that will positively affect society as a whole.

"With the increase of free trade agreements around the world, what we have seen is an increase in the amount of exploitation of workers, the responsibility for which eventually comes back to the consumer," Giombi said. "As members of a Jesuit institution we have a special responsibility to make a positive difference in the world."

Giombi said purchasing fair trade items is beneficial not only for artisans, but for consumers as well. Consumers are able to purchase high quality items at a reasonable price, while using their purchasing power in a manner reflective of their values, he said.

Giombi said the number of people embracing the fair trade cause has grown significantly in recent years, increasing the availability of fair trade goods.

Home to a number of socially responsible cafés, marketplaces and clothing stores, Milwaukee has earned a national reputation for its fair trade enthusiasm. In July 2007, Alderman Tony Zielinski of the 14th district proposed a resolution that designated Milwaukee as the first "Fair Trade City" in the United States.

"In the past few years, our country and our city have woken up to the idea of fair trade, and the effect this has had has been wonderful," Giombi said. "The amount of fair trade businesses in Milwaukee has skyrocketed, which gives people more options."

Brian Harper, a sophomore in the College of Communication, attended last year's Fair Trade Holiday Fair. Harper said he believes the event allows students to gain greater insight into the impact of their everyday purchases.

"I think it's a really good idea because it helps people to realize the ramifications that go along with buying something," Harper said. "It makes you realize that not everything you buy is fair trade."