Fair Do’s

This is a fab little shop. Quite inconspicuous nestled just off the busy hustle and bustle of Cowbridge Road.
It was always the place I’d pop to get a small gift or a card, and with a large, free car park behind it was really quite handy. They have all sorts of little trinkets and exotic gifts, pretty much your average ‘hippy shop’ fare. But they do have a fair few extras as well.
They have quite a wide selection of foods and foodstuffs. I mean, it’s not like it’ll replace your supermarket, but for chocolate and coffee and other luxury goods they do a good range of fair trade stuff. They also have quite a wide selection of clothes — in fact my favourite buy seems to be fair trade, funky little baby grows to give to new mums.
But today I went in and discovered a new line. Very exciting. I really had no idea! They have a selection of Converse type pumps — in a variety of colours, high tops and just shoes. They look good, trendy, and to the untrained eye you wouldn’t know they weren’t converse. However, upon closer inspection they can be seen to be ‘Ethletic’ fair trade shoes. FSC rubber, no sweat shops, natural stuff. And no more expensive that the leading brands. So for this reason alone I feel I should encourage all pump/​converse wearers to pop in a have a look.

Now the Fair trade ‘stuff’ sort of bypassed my ignorant self, I’m ashamed to say. My head well and truly stuck up my… well…backside, I was slightly un-​aware of the seriousness of the whole system. (story of my life really.)
And then one day I came across Fair do’s and boy am I glad I did.
Filled to the brim with reeting cards, jewellery, toys, clothing and food, this place is really something to behold.
Just a fifteen minute walk from the city centre when entering Fair Do’s its like entering another world, a nice world, a world that makes one happy.
As an independent business its obvious the passion behind the staff/​owner is massive. Brimming with advice and educational chit chat fair do’s makes you want to change the world as soon as you shut the door.
I absoultley adore the jewellry on offer her. Bright and quirky and you never feel guilty about spending your money on something you dont actually need.
Fair Do’s being slightly oiut of the way in the Canton area may make you think twice about visiting but seriously go, you’ll leave with a buzz thats unexplainable. Please Visit :)

For eco-​friendly, Fair Trade gifts, snacks and other knick knacks, this is the place to shop in Canton. Located near Chapter Arts Centre on Llandaff Road (look out for their green canopy over the shop window), you can enjoy some guilt-​free shopping for cards and arty notepads, clothing, incense sticks and perfumed oil, chocolate, other food and drinks, and little gifts and trinkets.
It’s like a cross between Shared Earth in the city centre, and those Oxfam shops that sell Divine chocolate, books, arty greetings cards and Fair Trade coffee. You always expect to pay a little more for green and Fair Trade items, but this shop isn’t too expensive considering the high quality of the goods they stock. I just wish there were more shops like this in Canton!

It is good to be green, and I’m not talking Shrek. It is even better to be full of Fair Trade Niceness. You can feel all warm and fuzzy despite being slightly more out of pocket, knowing you’ve been kind to the planet and its people, the nice people, not Hitler. Fair Do’s (great name) sell fair-​trade products and is a great place for picking up gifts, nicknacks and notebooks with a low level of consumer guilt.
Set up as an indie shop by Jan Tucker, Fair Do’s moved to its current location round the corner from Chapter in 1998 and now sells Fair Trade gifts, clothing, greetings cards, foods, snacks, beverages, and just about anything else you can think of. They also have an array of educational materials available to members of the public and they frequently open the shop for groups in the evenings.
Fair Do’s Ltd T/​A Siopa Teg are full members of BAFTS, Cynefin Y Werin (Common Ground), and Fair Trade Cardiff. We also work closely with the Wales Fair Trade Forum

Fair Do’s is probably my favourite shop in Canton for buying gifts for my friends or even my own home. It’s a lovely shop, well stocked with environmentally sound products that have all been sourced from fair trade companies. I set up projects in India, when I was in my twenties, for Trade Not Aid, the non exploitive trading arm of The Body Shop International, and so I am keenly supportive of all who operate with the same ethos. But, even if I wasn’t, I would still shop here. They have a great kids section as well as plenty of affordable high quality gifts for adults. The cards are pretty good too.
The people who run the shop are lovely too. It’s always really peaceful, and you are allowed to browse for as long as you like without interference, but help is on hand if you need it.

This is a wonderful little shop on Llandaff Road, very near to Chapter Arts Centre, and not too far away from the main Cowbridge Road which heads straight through Canton. It’s an easy place to find, but sadly can be easily missed if you don’t know that it’s there.
This shop sells a great range of Fairtrade and worldly items. From incense to clothes, bags to gift items. If you’ve ever been to a folk festival and wandered longingly around the stalls wanting buy everything, then this is the place to come. The busy displays and bright colours capture something of the market stall atmosphere, even when it’s raining outside.
They even manage to have the right smell: far away places mixed with a slight musky aroma.
For yourself or for gifts, this is a truly charming shop where you’ll not be likely to go too far wrong. It’s a very friendly space, and a joy to pop into regularly, or at least stare longingly through the window. Unique. Ish.