Mr MacPherson, 25, was working for a company that was involved in the sale of Fairtrade clothing in 2008.

A book by a leading Christian sociologist had previously sparked a passion in Mr MacPherson for a business model that would protect people and the environment.

Fairtrade, the certification arm of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand, was created to offer farmers and workers in the developing world better prices, decent working conditions, sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers.

"The company went out of business and I knew I could do better,'' Mr MacPherson said.

So he created The Organic Clothing Co, a Sutherland Shire-based company that reflects his deep commitment to ethical business and production practices and standards.

Sitting in his Caringbah home surrounded by boxes of T-shirts, he is excited about the company's prospects and what it could mean for thousands of workers around the world.

"It's about social justice,'' he said. "These T-shirts from India are made from organic cotton, the quality, feel and softness of the fabric is just fantastic,'' he said.

"Every year, more than three million farmers in the developing world are poisoned by poor farming practices, with many dying.

"With Fairtrade products you know all sections of the production process are ethical, from the cotton growers through to the manufacturers.''

Mr MacPherson said his company specialised in quantity corporate orders at this stage but hoped to branch out into a fashion line and bedding in the near future.

"In the case of where we manufacture in Australia, we make sure that not only are the factory workers properly paid, but the source material, such as the cotton, comes from an ethical and sustainable source,'' he said.

"People need to understand that Fairtrade isn't just about getting rid of sweatshops, you have to ensure the whole supply chain acts ethically.''

Details: Organic Clothing