Latest news OCTOBER 2025

​Lotus bowls have finally arrived, Sunday! The shipping people are arranging delivery to our yard on Thursday and we aim to distribute them across the UK and further afield from Monday- see schedule below.

54 have been pre-sold and will get priority in delivery. 66 are still available to sell in both 80 and 100cm and in both styles. We will hold prices at £399 (100cm) and £299  (80cm) for October and £499 for the larger ‘classic’ launched at Grand Design (NEC) last week. We deliver systematically across the country and any new orders received in time will be incorporated into the delivery runs below. 

The more we sell the more we can invest in amazing products produced in other communities around the world! The overwhelming majority of our customers, you, have been very supportive of our trials and tribulations over the last few months and have been humbling in your generosity; a tiny handful have been less so, perhaps with justification as we have struggled to get deliveries out in some cases, but the process has been wearying beyond words.

I have had much criticism, and much abuse thrown at me, some no doubt justified, and I want to take this opportunity to explain about True Fair Trading CIC.   True Fair ‘ is a ‘not for profit’. It’s goal is fair trade, to sell great products at great prices supporting amazing producers around the world and their communities. It measures its success on turnover, not profit as its intent is to buy more product and help sustain the producers, not to make a profit out of them. 

I took great personal satisfaction from the sales of the lotus bowls, we were able to order three containers of them which was hugely beneficial to the community making them. Surpluses were invested in supporting teenage girls in getting a university education (and so avoiding the ‘love’ markets frequented by Chinese men), tree planting initiatives and micro financing local craft production, mainly through women artisans. I draw no income from this process!!

Around True Fair’ we want to build a community of individuals who care for the planet and its peoples, people who want to support the disadvantaged both around the world and in the UK (God knows, we delude ourselves if we think we are an advanced nation!). It wants to support amazing producers around the world, all struggling to maintain ancient art, traditions and cultures,  by helping them to stand on their own feet and promote their amazing products. And it wants to link purchases to projects!  The Lotus bowls are a great example of this and we are working with other traders to support the communities they buy their products from, from Zimbabwean bronze workers to pottery communities on Crete and exquisite balsa wood mask makers in Costa Rica.

In the UK it (True Fair’) wants to work with young people. Mental health issues in our young are at epidemic proportions, we are on the verge of losing a whole generation. Through encouraging our youth to engage with our work: promoting Global Village and communities around the world; in facilitating their travelling to meet with these communities; in developing and supporting projects together with them to help forge a better world; in helping them to understand and appreciate the personal benefits of altruism, we can help our youth build better and stronger worlds for themselves. 
Are you interested in learning more about our growing community? Do you want to explore ways in which you could help ‘make a difference’? Would you like to be more involved? Then, please contact me. [email protected] 

We can make a difference but it will only happen if ordinary people pull together.  Changing the World, One Sale at a Time.

DELIVERY SCHEDULE  OCTOBER
Monday/ Tuesday 20th 21st                              Midlands
Wednesday/ Thursday 22nd /23rd                   North & Scotland
Saturday / Sunday  25th  / 26th                         South
Tuesday  28th                                                   South West/ South Wales
Thursday Friday                                              Ireland
30+                                                                  Holland, France, Germany