Everyone is talking about fair trade.

Whether it's fair-trade coffee, tea or chocolate, people are buying goods from companies that pay their producers a fair wage.

The other hot-button issue at the moment is environmentally sustainable goods.

But the words `fair trade', `sustainable' and `fashion' are rarely used in the same sentence.

Cheap overseas labour and environmentally destructive but

cost-saving production methods have meant much of the fashion industry is far from socially conscious and sustainable.

But the organisers of last month's Fashion Fights Fair, the coming Fair Trade fashion show presented by Fair Trade Australia and New Zealand, hope to change that.

The parade is a showcase of ethical and sustainable fashion, and features labels and companies that are employing environmentally friendly materials and processes in their manufacturing. The concept of fair trade fashion is in its early stages. With only a small number of labels adopting socially conscious practices, the movement is just starting to gather momentum.

Event co-ordinator Leeyong Soo hopes the parade will raise the profile of ethical and ecologically friendly fashion.

``At the risk of sounding preachy, it's to make people aware that there are some great labels out there that are really making an effort to change manufacturing processes and materials and, in some cases, improve the lives of marginalised farmers and workers in developing nations,'' Leeyong says.

In the fashion industry, if you are buying a Fair Trade-certified garment, you are assured that whoever made it has a steady and fair income and works fair hours in good labour conditions.

The workers are not exposed to harmful chemicals or made to perform dangerous tasks, and are paid enough to support their families.