An eight-year-old boy ‘socked’ it to 6,000 other youngsters in a design contest with an ethical twist.
Gabriel Muramatsu, who attends St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Birkby, made the top 10 of a nationwide sock design competition.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first Fairtrade products sold in the UK, the Catholic aid agency CAFOD – a founding member of the Fairtrade Foundation – teamed up with SockShop to launch the special competition for 7-11 year olds to design an exclusive Fairtrade-themed sock.
Designs were submitted by more than 6,000 pupils from 142 schools but Gabriel was selected as one of nine runners-up thanks to his creative design and understanding of Fairtrade.
The panel of judges impressed by Gabriel’s design included former EastEnders actress Jo Joyner and a senior designer from SockShop.
As a prize Gabriel will receive a £25 SockShop voucher.
Gabriel said he was “shocked” to make the top 10 and said his design told a story.
“It’s a farmer in his field in South America taking care of his cocoa bean crops,” he said.
“He wants to get the best price so the Fairtrade people take his crops and bring them to the shops in England.
“The farmer is called Carlos and he’s happy because he is paid for the crops and people really like his cocoa beans.
“It’s really important to buy Fairtrade products. I help my family choose them in the supermarket.
“Sometimes we buy dark chocolate from Peru or other places in South America and the farmers’ stories are on the back of the packet.”
CAFOD’s regional manager for the Huddersfield area, Ben Oldham, said: “I’m personally very proud that a pupil from West Yorkshire did so well.
“It’s clear that the children have loved learning about the important issues surrounding Fairtrade.
“This has been the perfect way to celebrate 20 years of Fairtrade products in the UK.”
The overall winner will see their sock go into production. It will be made of Fairtrade cotton.
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