"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life... The steps that are needed from the developed nations are clear. The first is ensuring trade justice."

Nelson Mandela - Trafalgar Square, London, 3 February 2005

With a preference for WAHMs (work-at-home-mums - or aunts, or dads...), or sweatfree commercial manufacturers when a WAHM product isn't available, you can be sure that you are supporting ethical means of production. To buy sweatshop free means that you support trade justice - fair trade, not free trade.

What is sweatfree manufacturing all about?

It's about the workers who make the product receiving fair pay, and having safe working conditions.

Most people think of factories in developing countries when they think of sweatshops. This is a big part of the problem - factories where workers' pay is less than the local cost of living, long hours with forced overtime, no protection of workers rights, and children working in these conditions. For people with few alternative employment opportunities, it's hard to fight for fair pay and safe working conditions.

What you may not realise is that it happens in Australia, too. Having an industrial relations system is little protection for home-based outworkers, who are technically sub-contractors rather than employees of a manufacturing company.

Click here to read more about sweatshops, or click here to find out more about home-based outworkers in Australia.

How does Brindabella Baby know it's sweatfree?

Brindabella Baby prefers to source from WAHM's, as locally as possible. Sourcing local products means I can personally meet with the person who's made it, and there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions for shipping the product.

The arrangement I have with WAHM's is that I order products, but don't have a deadline on when I need them. So it doesn't matter if the kids get sick, the maker needs to move house, their fabric supplier is late, or any of the other things that can cause delays when you're a WAHM.

When I can't source a good product from a WAHM, I buy from sweatfree commercial manufacturers. These are manufacturers whose workplaces are independently inspected, are part of a certification program, or are able to answer detailed questions about working conditions. For all the products that I currently stock from commercial manufacturers, I have also seen photos of the workers in the factory. If the product description doesn't provide enough information on its manufacture, contact me as I am happy to answer any questions you might have.

You might also be interested in our Meet the Maker interview series, with five quick questions for some of my favourite work-at-home parents.

"The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty" - I didn't say that, Colin Powell said that... In these disturbing and distressing times, surely it's cheaper, and smarter, to make friends out of potential enemies than it is to defend yourself against them. Africa is not the frontline of the war against terror. But it could be soon. Justice is the surest way to get peace."