Alaffia is one of the most well-known fair trade organizations in the natural body care industry. Founded by couple Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde, they work to empower West African communities and foster gender equality through the fair trade production and distribution of natural body, skin, and hair care products. Their offerings include deodorants, shampoos and conditioners, lotions, balms, oils, body wash, bar soaps, bubble baths, hair styling gels, moisturizers, serums, scrubs, and more. These items are produced using unrefined shea butter, virgin coconut oil, and other natural products that protect hair and skin against sun and wind damage.
By following fair trade practices, Alaffia ensures their producers are paid a fair wage and provided with fair working conditions and equal employment opportunities. This also ensures environmental stewardship as well as cultural and economic sustainability for local West African communities. Additionally, a price premium above the minimum fair trade cost for products is set aside for development projects in Alaffia’s producer communities.
By investing profits directly in their communities, they are able to work toward improving people’s quality of life, increase educational opportunities, and reduce occurrences of poverty.
Their Empowerment Projects include:
Maternal Health – providing prenatal care to reduce maternal death rates
Education-Based Projects – building schools and benches, distributing bicycles, and donating school supplies to Togolese youth
Reforestation Project – planting trees and conducting educational trainings to combat the harmful environmental effects of climate change
Eyeglasses Project – donating eyeglasses to those who are visually impaired since it is extremely difficult and cost prohibitive to obtain them in Togo
FGM Eradication – educating women about the health dangers of female genital mutilation
We carry a wide selection of Alaffia’s high-quality products at all three of our store locations, including their recently updated child-friendly Babies & Up line of lotions, bubble baths, and shampoos. Teach your children about the fair trade movement while having fun with their recently released free coloring and activity book!
We are happy to expand on one of our favorite lines and have also started carrying their new travel size items, a great option for those on-the-go. Available in-store, you’ll now have the ability to bring along 2oz Alaffia shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion wherever your next adventure takes you.