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OUR ETHICAL STANCE
Vincent Adams Imports has been active in trading from Asia & Indo-China for more than two decades, initially in Antiques and more recently in a variety of hand made products including Jewellery & Fashion Bags.
From the very start it was our policy to deal direct with the actual artisans who made the products that we bought, never dealing through agents or middle-men, thus ensuring that the full, local market price we agreed went directly to the maker. Our method of trade also ensured that we always knew the conditions and in many cases the workers who produced for us. Thus we can be absolutely certain that no child or indentured labour is employed by any of our suppliers.
Intimate knowledge of our suppliers also gives us a great deal of insight into the sources of materials used in the manufacture of our designs and we have always insisted that timber be obtained only from government licensed suppliers with an established policy of resource management. More recently, we have become concerned with regard to the sourcing of shell and other materials from the sea and have frequently had contact with DEFRA, including the submission of materials for official approval.
The manner in which we have traded over the past twenty years has rewarded us in many ways. We have made many friends and have attended weddings in India and Indonesia and even a Tooth Filing ceremony in Bali. In Java and Bali we believe that it is important to communicate using the local languages, to better understand our suppliers and show respect to their ancient cultures.
This has not been a response to a more recent concern amongst consumers for the rights of people making their goods or for the sustainability of forests, it has been the manner in which we originally chose to trade, however it is pleasing that so many have come to see the importance of fair and reasonable trading methods.
Suzie
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