MORE than 100 people got a lesson in the fashion of fair trade in Flackwell Heath as three different organisations turned up to promote clothes that could help equalise the third-world textile industry.

Christ Church in Chapel Road, hosted the event at on Saturday, April 23, which saw several catwalk displays by children and adults, as well as video presentations of the work carried out by fair trade companies who provided the clothes and items.

There was also an opportunity for curious shoppers to find out how fair trade clothing could be purchased locally.

The companies, Traidcraft, Toybox Charity, and the Nepal Leprosy Trust, all staged their own catwalk collections and while models changed for the following collection, a video was shown of their work with third world producers.

Organiser Malcom Wiles, who worked with the church to stage the event, said: "The objective was education and awareness and to make people realise that this stuff exists and what further things they can do about it."

Not even refreshments were allowed without the fair trade mark at the event, as crowds were treated to a complimentary glass of fair trade wine.

Indian sarees were also provided by the local post office for women to wear.

Christ Church is a fair trade church and hopes to stage the event again.

Rev Christopher Bull, said: "We see fair trade as a very practical way of expressing our Christian concern for justice."