# People Tree

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{{Short description|Anglo-Japanese apparel company}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{For|the Expo 67 pavilion|Canadian Pavilion#People Tree}}
{{Infobox company
| name = People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd.
| type = [Limited](/source/Limited_liability_company)
| industry = Clothing, home wares and food design, distribution and retailing; holding company
| products = Clothing, fashion
| website = {{URL|peopletree.com}}
| founded = 2007
| founders = [Safia Minney](/source/Safia_Minney), James Minney<ref name=WWLPT/><ref name=PTJTOTB/><ref name=CSCSPT/><ref name=PTJ/><ref name=TEDBFF/>
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|James Minney (CEO)|CJ Wilson (director)|Richard Minney (director)|Hana Sim (trademark owner)}}
| hq_location = [London](/source/London), United Kingdom
| area_served = {{Unbulleted list|United Kingdom|Europe|United States|Japan|Australia|New Zealand|Scandinavia}}
}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Fair Trade Company KK
| type = [Limited](/source/Limited_liability_company)
| industry = Clothing, home wares and food design, distribution and retailing
| products = Clothing, fashion
| founded = 1991
| founders = [Safia Minney](/source/Safia_Minney), James Minney<ref name=WWLPT>{{cite web |title=Why We Love People Tree |url=https://sanchosshop.com/blogs/news/why-we-love-people-tree |website=Sanchos |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=PTJTOTB>{{cite web |title=People Tree joins the OTB |url=https://www.organictradeboard.co.uk/news/2022/4/21/people-tree-joins-the-otb/ |website=Organic Trade Board |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=CSCSPT>{{cite web |title=Corporate Strategy Case Study – 'People Tree' |url=https://soraethicalfashion.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/blog-post-title-2/ |website=Ethical & Sustainable Fashion |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=PTJ>{{cite news |title=People Tree Jiyugaoka |url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/people-tree-jiyugaoka |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Time Out}}</ref><ref name=TEDBFF>{{cite news |title=This Earth Day, Boycott Fast Fashion And Try These Sustainable Brands Instead |url=https://plantbasednews.org/news/boycott-fast-fashion-sustainable-brands/ |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Plant Based News}}</ref>
| key_people = James Minney (CEO), Hana Sim (trademark owner)
| hq_location = [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo), Japan
| area_served = Japan
| website = {{URL|peopletree.co.jp}}
}}
{{Infobox company
| name = People Tree Ltd.
| type = [Private](/source/Privately_held_company)
| industry = Clothing, and home wares design, distribution and retailing
| products = Clothing, fashion
| owner = People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd (100%)
| website = {{Unbulleted list|{{URL|peopletree.co.uk}}|{{URL|peopletree.eu}}|{{URL|peopletree.de}}|{{URL|peopletree.fr}}}}
| founded = 1994
| founders = [Safia Minney](/source/Safia_Minney), James Minney<ref name=WWLPT/><ref name=PTJTOTB/><ref name=CSCSPT/><ref name=PTJ/><ref name=TEDBFF/>
| defunct = {{End date|2023|10|18}}
| key_people = James Minney (CEO)
| fate = Entered liquidation due to bankruptcy
| hq_location = [London](/source/London), United Kingdom
| area_served = {{Unbulleted list|United Kingdom|Europe|United States|Japan|Australia|New Zealand|Scandinavia}}
}}

'''People Tree''' is the trading or legal name of a number of current and former [fair trade](/source/fair_trade) apparel, home wares and food businesses, starting with Fair Trade Company [KK](/source/Kabushiki_gaisha) founded in Japan in 1991,<ref name=SAESITCI/> (trading in Japan under the name People Tree or ピープルツリー in Japanese) and People Tree Ltd founded in the UK in 1994.

In 2007, the businesses were organised into a group under People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd, United Kingdom (UK). The group formerly also included People Tree International Ltd (UK), People Tree Foundation (a [UK charity](/source/Charitable_organization)), and People Tree Enterprises BV (Netherlands).

People Tree was one of the early proponents of fair trade and ethical fashion<ref>{{Cite web |last=Europe |first=WFTO |date=16 November 2015 |title=Our Members – People Tree |url=https://wfto-europe.org/our-members-people-tree/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=WFTO Europe }}</ref> and was the first fashion company to be awarded the [World Fair Trade Organization](/source/World_Fair_Trade_Organization) (WFTO) Fair Trade product label.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WFTO Inside View: People Tree |url=https://www.commonobjective.co/article/wfto-inside-view-people-tree |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Common Objective }}</ref> People Tree Ltd was, prior to bankruptcy, a WFTO member.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GUARANTEED FAIR TRADE ORGANISATIONS |url=http://wfto.com/guaranteed-fair-trade-organisations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316181248/http://wfto.com/guaranteed-fair-trade-organisations |archive-date=16 March 2015 |access-date=25 February 2026 |website=World Fair Trade Organisation}}</ref> Fair Trade Company KK remains a member.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People Tree Japan |url=https://wfto.com/members/people-tree-japan/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=World Fair Trade Organization |language=en}}</ref>

The group laid off all UK and European staff in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu |first=Zoe |date=7 September 2023 |title=People Tree cuts jobs amid restructuring |url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/people-tree-cuts-jobs-amid-restructuring |access-date=12 September 2023 |website=Drapers }}</ref> amid financial trouble,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=12 September 2023 |title=Peopletree is rated "Poor" with 1.9 / 5 on Trustpilot |url=https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.peopletree.co.uk |access-date=12 September 2023 |website=Trustpilot }}</ref> and continued its founding company in Tokyo. People Tree Ltd, the UK trading business, went into liquidation in September 2023, with debts of £8.5 million,<ref name="EFBPT8.5M">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=27 September 2023 |title=Ethical fashion brand People Tree puts UK arm into liquidation, owing £8.5m |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/27/ethical-fashion-brand-people-tree-uk-liquidation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230927103120/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/27/ethical-fashion-brand-people-tree-uk-liquidation |archive-date=27 September 2023 |access-date=27 September 2023 |website=theguardian.com |publisher=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> of which £4.8M were debts to directors and to other group companies, whilst £1.9M were debts to trade creditors including Fair Trade producers in developing countries.<ref name=":3">People Tree Ltd Directors' Statement of Affairs October 2023</ref><ref name="EFBPT8.5M"/>

People Tree businesses no longer own the trademarks to the name "People Tree" - see {{Section link||Trademarks}}

In March 2025, Fair Trade Company KK transferred its profitable People Tree food business into a new entity, People Seed Co, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AiiA Corporation<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=食品部門の資本・事業提携に関するお知らせ |url=https://peopletree.co.jp/pages/food-250630 |access-date=24 February 2026 |website=ピープルツリー公式オンラインショップ |language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250805050716/https://peopletree.co.jp/pages/food-250630|archive-date=5 August 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=会社概要 {{!}} AiiA Corporation アイア株式会社 |url=https://aiia.co.jp/company |access-date=24 February 2026 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=31 July 2025 |title=フェアトレードチョコレートの輸入販売等を手がけるグループ新会社「株式会社People Seed」設立のお知らせ |url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000250.000118144.html |access-date=24 February 2026 |website=プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES |language=ja-JP}}</ref> without any ownership remaining within the People Tree businesses. Fair Trade Company KK stated they had granted permission to People Seed for the use of the People Tree trademark<ref name=":7" />, despite the People Tree Japanese trademark no longer belonging to Fair Trade Company KK or any People Tree business as of October 2024.<ref name=":8" />

People Tree businesses have been funded primarily by commercial lenders including {{ill|Johnan Shinkin Bank|ja|城南信用金庫}},<ref name=":4">Fair Trade Co KK annual Accounts Report</ref>, [Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation](/source/Sumitomo_Mitsui_Banking_Corporation),<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=会社概要 |url=https://peopletree.co.jp/pages/about |access-date=24 February 2026 |website=ピープルツリー公式オンラインショップ |language=ja}}</ref> [Shoko Chukin Bank](/source/List_of_banks_in_Japan),<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /> {{ill|Kansai Mirai Bank|ja|関西みらい銀行}},<ref name=":4" /> [Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group](/source/MUFG),<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /> [Oikocredit Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society](/source/Oikocredit),<ref name=":3" /><ref name="EFBPT8.5M" /> [Shared Interest Society](/source/Shared_Interest)<ref name=":3" /><ref name="EFBPT8.5M" /> together with non-bank lenders such as [Stella Bernrain](/source/Stella_Bernrain)<ref name=":3" /> and a variety of corporate and individual bondholders - many of whom lost their investments in 2023.<ref name=":3" />

==History==

===Early years===
The People Tree business developed from Global Village, an environmental campaigning [non-governmental organization](/source/non-governmental_organization) (NGO) founded by British born [Safia Minney](/source/Safia_Minney) in Tokyo in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People Tree takes root in Japan |url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/executive-impact/people-tree-takes-root-in-japan |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Japan Today }}</ref><ref name=SAESITCI>{{Cite journal |last=Goworek |first=Helen |date=1 January 2011 |title=Social and environmental sustainability in the clothing industry: a case study of a fair trade retailer |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/17471111111114558 |journal=Social Responsibility Journal |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=74–86 |doi=10.1108/17471111111114558 |issn=1747-1117|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wakabayashi |first=Liane |date=2 February 2015 |title=Going the extra mile for fair-trade fashion |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2015/02/02/issues/going-the-extra-mile-for-fair-trade-fashion/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=The Japan Times }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Awardees |url=https://www.schwabfound.org/awardees/safia-l-minney/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Safia L. Minney |url=https://www.weforum.org/people/safia-l-minney/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=World Economic Forum }}</ref> It began as a clothing catalogue which featured hand woven and natural dyed hand bags, clothing, and clogs made by women from [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh).<ref name=FTMDEC>{{Cite book|title=Fair Trade: Market-Driven Ethical Consumption|last=Alex Nicholls and Charlotte Opal|year=2005}}</ref> Because it was difficult to find fair trade apparel products of a high enough quality for the Japanese market, Global Village started to do its own design in house.<ref name=":0"/> Safia Minney said, "When I started out [...] we were investing in labour-intensive process while the industry was going in the other direction: mass-manufactured fashion, using synthetics instead of natural materials. We were dealing with very disadvantaged people in remote places."<ref>{{Cite book|title=More to Life Than Shoes: How to Kick-Start Your Career and Change Your Life.|last=Finer|first=Nadia and Emily|year=2011}}</ref>

Initially the Global Village business was run from the home of Safia Minney, and her then-husband James Minney, also her business partner in founding People Tree.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I whispered in Prince Charles's ear, as I had with the Dalai Lama, 'you really should be wearing organic cotton' |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-simple-things/20140103/282355447680577 |access-date=21 April 2022 |via=PressReader}}</ref> In 1995, Fair Trade Company KK was formed as a limited company in Japan by transferring the fair trading activity of Global Village, and a shop was opened in the fashionable [Jiyūgaoka](/source/Jiy%C5%ABgaoka) district, in [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peopletree.co.uk/content/43/a-brief-history-of-people-tree|title=People Tree - OUR STORY}}</ref> In 1997, Safia Minney added a Fair Trade Fashion Collection, using [eco-textiles](/source/Green_textile), including [organic cotton](/source/organic_cotton), to the products sold by Fair Trade Company.<ref name=EESM>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2012 |title=Ethical Entrepreneurship: Safia Minney |url=https://ivycity.wordpress.com/achievement/ethical-entrepreneurship-safia-minney/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=Ivy City Tribune }}</ref> People Tree was working closely with textile artisan groups to help them meet environmental standards and develop their market potential, with two full-time designers.<ref name=EESM/>

In 2005, People Tree Japan launched its first 'prototype franchise' store in Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People Tree |url=https://www.fashionabc.org/wiki/people-tree/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=fashionabc }}</ref>

===British Expansion===
In 2000, People Tree's business expanded to the UK<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awardees |url=https://www.schwabfound.org/awardees/safia-l-minney/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship }}</ref> where the brand formed a partnership with [The Co-operative Group](/source/The_Co-operative_Group).{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} In 2006, then-[chief executive officer](/source/chief_executive_officer) (CEO), [Safia Minney](/source/Safia_Minney) persuaded [Topshop](/source/Topshop) executives to take People Tree into Topshop as a concession.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-safia-minney--jane-shepherdson-1788494.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-safia-minney--jane-shepherdson-1788494.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=How We Met: Safia Minney & Jane Shepherdson|website=[Independent.co.uk](/source/Independent.co.uk) |date=22 October 2011}}</ref>

=== Recent History ===
By 2004, the UK company was selling to 20 different countries and turned over $1.79 million.<ref name=FTMDEC/>

In 2015, founder and CEO, Safia Minney, left the business and separated from her husband James Minney, who was the [chief financial officer](/source/chief_financial_officer) (CFO).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=McGregor |first=Kirsty |date=21 April 2022 |title=Power from the people: Safia Minney's sustainable fashion mission |url=https://www.drapersonline.com/insight/analysis/safia-minneys-mission-to-make-fashion-more-sustainable |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Drapers }}</ref>

In 2021 an [e-commerce](/source/e-commerce) was launched as 'the new home of People Tree in Europe'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People Tree EU - the new European home of the ethical fashion pioneer |url=https://peopletree.eu/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230920195505/https://peopletree.eu/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 September 2023 |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=People Tree }}</ref> Since 2023, it has not had staff in the European Union (EU).{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}

{{As of|2021}}, James Minney was CEO of People Tree.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fair Trade's Hall of Fame |url=https://wfto.com/fairtradeday2021/Hall-of-Fame.html |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=wfto.com}}</ref>

In August 2023, People Tree Ltd laid off the majority of UK staff. CEO James Minney set out the problem in stark form:<blockquote>"We are figuring out what is the right way to go forward and how we can build up from this minimal base to restart"</blockquote>In September 2023, People Tree Ltd entered liquidation<ref name=":1" /><ref name="EFBPT8.5M" />. People Tree Foundation Ltd and People Tree International Ltd were dissolved.

In March 2025, Fair Trade Company KK transferred its profitable food business to People Seed Co, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AiiA Corporation.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" />

{{As of|2025|08|14}}, People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd has applied to be struck-off from [Companies House](/source/Companies_House), the UK [company register](/source/company_register), the application signed by the companies three directors: James Minney, Richard Minney, and CJ Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PEOPLE TREE FAIR TRADE GROUP LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06092687/filing-history |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strike-off Application showing signatures of Directors of People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd |url=https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6ntj4qnybj26oqcju5hiw/Strike-Off-06092687_ds01_2025-08-29.pdf?rlkey=bihtf22xdi2igk9457sr8jo5f&dl=0 |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=Dropbox}}</ref>

=== Trademarks ===
In 2024-25, People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd transferred its Japan, UK, Chinese, European, United States, South Korean and Taiwanese trademarks into the personal ownership of Hana Sim,<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Japan Platform for Patent Information |url=https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/?uri=/c1801/TR/JP-1999-075389/40/en |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=People Tree {{!}} UK Intellectual Property Office |url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/History/1/UK00003733270 |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=trademarks.ipo.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcaria Chinese trademark search for People Tree trademark |url=https://trademark-search.marcaria.com/en/result?trademark=people%20tree&country=CN&classes=&status=1&mode=1&searchby=1 |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=Marcaria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EUIPO record for People Tree trademark |url=https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/002178218 |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=euipo.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=USPTO record for People Tree trademark |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77983119&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=KIPRIS Trademark Record for People Tree trademark in South Korea |url=https://doi.org/10.8080/4020120015099 |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=doi.org/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Intellectual Property Bureau Trademark Search System |url=https://cloud.tipo.gov.tw/S282/S282WV1/#/tmark-detailed-report?docid=dYJUK+KkA88WrP03WDbMbfHELxa8OOlnLCHY |access-date=18 February 2026 |website=cloud.tipo.gov.tw}}</ref> CEO James Minney's current wife. People Tree Fair Trade Group Ltd allowed its Hong Kong and Australian trademarks to lapse due to non-payment of fees in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Trademark Search |url=https://esearch.ipd.gov.hk/nis-pos-view/#/tm/details/view/115934_300229635/0/0/1/10/1/1/0/null_null/KCggIV4hKCAhXiEodG1UZXh0OigvcGVvcGxlIHRyZWUuKihbXmEtekEtWl0qKShbIFxuXS4qKT8vKSkhXiEgIE9SICAhXiEodG1UZXh0X3NpbmdsZTooL3Blb3BsZSB0cmVlLiooW15hLXpBLVpdKikoWyBcbl0uKik_LykpIV4hICkhXiEgKSkgQU5EIHRtUmVjb3JkU2VxOjE=?lang=en |access-date=18 February 2026 |website=esearch.ipd.gov.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Trade Mark 1005750 {{!}} IP Australia {{!}} Trade Mark Search |url=https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/view/1005750?q=1005750 |access-date=18 February 2026 |website=search.ipaustralia.gov.au}}</ref>

== Products ==
People Tree designs, manufactures, and markets its own label. It implemented the first supply chain for [organic cotton](/source/organic_cotton) and was the first organization in the world to achieve [Global Organic Textile Standard](/source/Global_Organic_Textile_Standard) (GOTS) certification for a supply chain located in the developing world.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} In the past it has worked in collaboration with designers like [Orla Kiely](/source/Orla_Kiely) and [Bora Aksu](/source/Bora_Aksu),<ref name=SMMBE>{{Cite web |title=Safia Minney MBE - People Tree Founder &#124; Gordon Poole Agency |url=https://www.gordonpoole.com/talent/Safia-Minney-MBE/}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}</ref> as well as London's [Victoria and Albert Museum](/source/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum).<ref>{{cite web |title=People Tree x V&A Collaboration |url=https://www.peopletree.co.uk/edits/va-collection |access-date=8 September 2021 |website=People Tree |publisher=People Tree Ltd}}</ref> People Tree is sold in 500 stores around the world including [ASOS.com](/source/ASOS_(retailer)).{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} The company also runs its own e-commerce business.<ref name=SMMBE/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Clothing retailers of the United Kingdom
Category:Retail companies established in 1991
Category:Fair trade brands
Category:1991 establishments in Japan

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [People Tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Tree) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Tree?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.