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Fair Trade Producers
Here is a selection of producers from the developing world involved in the production of our Fair Trade gifts.
They are listed in alphabetical order, telling their unique stories, with images and links to the products they make. Find out how your purchase with us helps.
Please scroll right down to the bottom of the page to see all the producers concerned.
Why not subscribe to our You Tube Channel to see videos about Fair Trade producers?
Allpa, Peru.
Established in 1986, Allpa is a private company owned by a development NGO, set up to market Fair Trade crafts for producers in various parts of Peru, now especially around Lima and the Cuzco area. They give advances, loans and design advice. There are about 700 producers in 100 groups, almost all are workshops run by extended families.
Allpa means 'earth' in Ayacuchan Quechua, reminding them that the objects which surround them and work with come from the earth, such as stone, wood, clay and metal. Allpa`s mission is to make the production of handicrafts a source of sustained employment for a major sector of the Peruvian population.
Silver jewellery workshop at Allpa, Peru
Arum Dalu, Bali, Indonesia.
Arum Dalu is a small-scale marketing organisation, set up by Tommy Fredrickson and Sarie, an Indonesian Fair Trade handicraft expert. They work closely with 25-30 small producer groups to help develop interesting and unique new products, but also to provide Fair Trade outlets for the goods. Arum Dalu has some local social involvement, including assisting in tsunami relief programmes.
Their policy is to work directly with the producers, produce good quality products, paying fair prices, support local handicraft traditions and to try to raise awareness about environmental issues connected to handicraft production. They are also concerned about young people moving away from their villages in search of work and to give them local working possibilities instead. A huge part of the population in Bali, Lombok & other eastern parts of Indonesia are involved in and dependent on handicraft production as their main source of income.
They have manage to build up a wide selection of producers over the years, covering many different kinds of handicrafts from several Indonesian islands, such as : Bali, Java. Lombok, Sulawesi, and Borneo (Kalimantan). However, these days, due to the increasing price of transportation they focus on the artisans in the Bali area.
They supply products such as textiles, batik, natural fibre products, woodcarving, musical instruments, jewellery, Bali ceramics, bags, accessories and clothing.
Our beautiful Lontar Palm Shopping Bag with Matching Purse was made by Arum Dalu.
Asha Handicrafts Association, Mumbai, India.
Established in 1975 as a Fair Trade christian organisation to provide a marketing outlet to individual craftsman. In Sanskrit, Asha means “hope”.
India, which is one of the largest handcraft-producing countries in the world, offers an almost unlimited range of crafts and products. However, these beautiful items can be produced in conditions of abject poverty, with craft workers in bondage to moneylenders.
Asha gives marketing support and technical assistance to groups of small producers and craftsmen and women. By purchasing directly from the workers and giving generous advances, they increase income levels and help groups become self-sufficient.
A team of christian welfare workers are employed to help producers with business concerns and issues.
Asha welfare workers are stationed at different producer groups and co-operatives, sharing skills and extending medical help and education to the workers and their families. Technical training is also provided to increase efficiency and to encourage the growth and development of cottage industries.
Asha Handicrafts produce our beautiful Silver Metal Box with Elephant Designs.
Silversmiths at Asha Handicrafts, India
Aspiration International, India.
Established in 1993 and based in New Delhi, India with 14 employees, Aspiration International are a relatively small manufacturing and export organisation looking to promote the work and welfare of artisans and families all over India, including Jaipur and Sarangapur.
The aim is to help them develop cottage industries, improving economic and social welfare and providing fair wages, which hopefully will lead to them becoming independent artisans.
Aspiration specialise in manufacturing wood products, such as jewellery boxes and jewellery items, including our best selling wood bangle with zebra pattern.
Specialist wood work artisan from Aspiration, India
The Association for Craft Producers (ACP), Nepal.
ACP is based in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal and is a truly inspiring organisation, whose focus is to support women in rural communities. It provides professional services in technology, design, marketing and managerial skill for over 1,200 low income, primarily female, craft producers.
ACP are also committed to undertake precautionary measures to prevent industrial pollution for the preservation of Nepal's fragile environment. They are a member of WFTO, Fair Trade Group Nepal (FTGN), Federation of Handicraft Association (FHAN).
You can read more about this wonderful group of producers in our Blog post - Secret Diary of the Fair Trade Bags from Nepal
Our amazing Buffalo Leather Shopping Bag was handmade by ACP artisans.
Bombolulu, Mombasa, Kenya.
Founded in 1969 as a rehabilitation centre, Bombolulu`s disabled workshops for the handicapped employ 160 people from all over Kenya and were largely supported by the Kenya Association for the Disabled. Now,they are working towards social and financial independence. Many of the workers were victims of polio in childhood and would otherwise find it very difficult to find work.
Bombolulu assists in developing the skills and abilities of its workforce and is now one of the largest rehabilitation centres in Kenya.
Working in wood and bone, the craftspeople then handpaint their products to decorate them with colours and patterns that reflect the local environment. Their Fair Trade jewellery is of mixed materials - bead, soapstone, bone, brass, silver or gold plate. Beads come from Masai and Turkana traditions.
Bombolulu have supplied our Batik Bone Bracelet which is decorated by hand with tribal patterns.
Craft Aid, Rose-Hill, Mauritius.
Was founded in 1982 with the main aim of providing employment for disabled people. About 40% of current employees are disabled, deaf, or have learning difficulties. It is a member of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRD).
Craft Aid also employs many women who are the sole breadwinner or who are in particular difficulty, for example, women whose husbands are alcoholics. All profits made from their beautiful Fair Trade recycled greetings cards are shared with the employees, or reinvested. The worshops were started with 5 disabled employees and today employ 175 people, of which around 50 are disabled, working in different departments of the company.
Card being handmade at Craft Aid, Mauritius
CT Philip, India.
Based in Madras, C T Philip began in 1971 as a father and son partnership marketing Indian handicrafts.
India is a major country for the production of craft goods, but the business climate often means that the craft workers receive very little for their work and become dependent on moneylenders. Through CT Philip, producer groups, otherwise too small to consider exporting, are given access to overseas markets.
Workers are paid a fair price and get support with the complications of shipping and additional paperwork.
Equitable Marketing Association (EMA), Kolkata, India.
Equitable Marketing Association is one of the oldest Fair Trade organisations in India - its founder worked with Gandhi. They run a community 10 miles from Kolkata, where disabled people from nearby villages live during the week and make leather products enabling them to contribute to their family`s income. All EMA employees receive a provident fund, pension, medical insurance and a yearly bonus.
The charity Ekta Trust was set up by EMA and provides scholarships for widows and unemployed people living in Kamarhati, donates text books to numerous students through its text book grant scheme and is developing a centre for single mothers, widows and troubled wives. They also have an aim of planting 10,000 trees per year with the help of youth clubs in South Kolkata.
Our Brown Leather Purse with Stitching was handmade by EMA artisans.
Leather workshop at EMA, India
The Federation of Tibetan Co-operatives in India (FTCI), India.
Based in Delhi, FTCI is a non-profit charitable society run by The Tibetan Government in exile, with the help of The Indian Government and aid from other organisations.
A Tibetan settlement was formed in 1959 after 100,000 Tibetan refugees fled Tibet when the Chinese forces invaded. There are currently 60,000 Tibetan Federation farmers living and working in India. FTCI now also works with local Indian artists.
Our stylish Light Brown Oval Bone Beads Necklace was made by these artisans.
Friends Handicraft, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Friends Handicrafts is a nonprofit organisation based in Kathmandu, Nepal with the mission of fighting urban poverty, run by two Nepali women, Shanti and Nirjala.
This small organisation supports skills training and income generation programs for eighty women heads of household and single mothers living in and around the capital, Kathmandu, many of whom are survivors of human trafficking. This support fosters a sense of independence and confidence in an otherwise marginalized population.
The organization also provides books and school supplies for the children of participating women artisans and medical benefits including regular health checks. Should anyone need a loan, then this is provided with no interest added.
Friends Handicraft are dedicated to promoting women`s rights in a country where women are considered second class citizens. Over the last few years the number of employees has grown from 6 to now over 100 young women. By buying their Fair Trade gifts you are helping women in the developing world to start a new life.
Our cute Sweet Strawberry Felt Shoulder Bag was handmade by Friends Handicraft.
Fundacion Solidaridad, Chile.
Fundacion Solidaridad began more than 30 years ago as part of the Cooperation Committee for Peace in Chile (Copachi), supporting the production and sale of handicrafts made by political prisoners detained in prisons and detention camps during Pinochet`s regime in the 1970s. Its mission is to help those who are marginalised or in poverty.
Based in Santiago, its small team of designers and sales staff now work with women's groups, family micro-enterprises and groups of handicapped people. Each group / business has its own specialism, which Fundacion Solidaridad tries to market nationally and internationally.
Our beautiful Silver Andalusite stone ring was made by these artisans in Chile.
Get Paper Industries, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Get Paper Industries is a handmade paper products co-operative, using waste materials such as cotton rags, waste paper and agricultural waste. The production process is environmentally friendly with the paper being dried in sunlight and a waste water treatment plant in operation.
Get Paper’s mission is to support traditional hand made paper crafts of Nepal in a commercial way and thereby provide employment opportunity, mainly for women. It empowers producers by involving them in the decision-making process.
40% of their profit is allocated to its sister organisation, which supports five schools, helping girls` education. It is also active in promoting AIDS awareness, tree plantation and agriculture based income generating programmes.
Our Recycled Jewellery Gift Boxes are made by Get Paper.
Handmade paper in the process at Get Paper, Nepal
Godavari Woman’s Cooperative, India.
A woman`s producer group, based in Narsapur on the banks of the Godavari Delta. It supports around 1,000 lace artisans in 40 villages in Andhra Pradesh where the co-operative have members. Their specialism is lace making and they are adapting their traditional craft to more modern designs to support the women and children who rely on this co-operative to earn a living. Mrs Hemalatha started the group as she was so frustrated with being exploited by middle men and through her hard work she persuaded women in 30 villages to form a society, even going on hunger strike to gain recognition for independent status.This was achieved on May 19th 1979.
The Godavari region is plagued with frequent natural disasters: cyclones, gales, floods, heavy rains and also occasional tidal waves.
Infrastructure is minimal. They do not have email and their next project is to raise funds to build a shelter for the women to work together in whilst sheltering from the elements.
Our Brown Cotton Lace Crochet Purse was produced by Godavari artisans.
Hatti Production PVT Ltd, Nepal.
In June 2007 an independent private, but not for profit, company called Hatti Production Pvt Ltd was set up. It provides training and jobs for young women rescued from trafficking by the charity The Esther Benjamins Trust, who are always close at hand to look out for the girls’ welfare.
The transition for the women who work at Hatti Production has been immense - from being ‘charity cases’ to independent professional young women working for a foreign (UK) organisation. Their self esteem has rocketed. Finally, they could hold their head up high when asked what they do and by working in a new location the locals have no knowledge of what they had come from and the girls could at last truly move on from their past.
The project started with 8 girls and has grown to 17, plus Ritu, the Production Centre Manager, Shanti, the House Mother and two security guards. Some girls are now living with relatives locally. The main difference now is that the girls are empowered to make their own choices and have the confidence to do so.
Our Brown Leather Passport Bag has been handmade at Hatti Production.
Heed Handicrafts, Bangladesh.
Wars and international disputes always bring suffering to ordinary people. After the Bangladesh war of Independence in 1971, thousands of Bihari people living as refugees in Dhaka were not allowed to return to Pakistan. Social exclusion and lack of formal citizenship in Bangladesh made it impossible for them to get work.
Heed was inspired to create employment opportunities for the Bihari people in handicrafts production using locally available resources. More than 30 years on, an estimated 10,000 people have had access to training and employment as a result of Heed’s activities. But it is not really about big statistics – it is about the changed lives of individuals.
Jungle Berry.
Recognised by BAFTS as a Fair Trade importer, Jungle Berry is an enterprise specialising in design-led Fair Trade jewellery made with natural materials sustainably sourced from the Amazon rainforest, in Brazil.
Their products are designed in the UK, but actually handmade by artisans and cooperatives in the Amazon rainforest.
Production has minimal environmental impact, whilst being genuinely beneficial to the indiginous people who make the jewellery. The craftspeople use the rainforest’s naturally occuring seeds, berries, wood and natural fibre to create stunning, contemporary eco-friendly jewellery.
Check out our wide range of beautiful Silver Rainforest Rings.
The Amazon rainforest is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America.
This river basin is a source of one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth. Its rain forests are the planet's largest and most luxuriant, and amazingly, home to one in ten known species on Earth. The Amazon`s tropical rainforest makes up over half of the planet's remaining rainforests.
This basin encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), of which five and a half million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres) are covered by the rainforest. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations. The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, and with minor amounts in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
In the last decades, scientific research has established a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the integrity of the global environment, but still only a fraction of its biological richness has been revealed. Today, rapid deforestation threatens the Amazon. At current rates, 55 percent of its rain forests could be gone by 2030—a looming disaster not only for the region’s plants and animals, but for the world.
Kuapa Kokoo, Kumasi, Ghana.
Divine Chocolate was born in 1993 with the birth of Kuapa Kokoo, a pioneering cocoa farmers’ co-operative, dedicated to producing high quality cocoa and running a democratic organisation with the farmer`s interests at heart. In 1997 they entered into the UK market with The Day Chocolate Company, who launched the Divine range in 1998. Kuapa Kokoo farmers own 33% of The Day Chocolate Company, which means they influence how the company is run and get a share of the profits.
Making chocolate this way means children now have better access to clean water, healthcare and education.
Today, The Kuapa Kokoo cooperative has 45,000 members in 1,200 villages producing 6% of Ghana`s cocoa and is backed by UKaid from the Department for International Development.
Our delicious Divine Whole Brazil Nuts Covered in Dark Chocolate are part of our range produced by Kuapa Kokoo and carries The Fairtrade Mark.
Madhya Kalikata Shilpangan (MKS), Kolkata, India.
This organisation work by the motto: "to promote quality products, provide good working conditions for artisans, encourage environment friendly technology and develop community based production".
MKS rejuvenate the dying Indian handicrafts by helping the artisans to develop their skills through workshops, educational and medical facilities, financial aid for new equipment and long term interest free loans. In addition, they have introduced dust free equipment in their stone production unit to provide a more environmentally friendly atmosphere.
The preference of MKS for Fair Trade over the traditional commercial market is shown by transparency in its activities, the protection of traditional Indian handcrafts and a sense of social responsibility towards the artisans.
Our high quality Dark Brown Leather Shoulder Bag was handmade by MKS artisans.
Man making leather accessories at MKS, India
Mahaguthi, Nepal.
Based in Kathmandu, this organisation is the founder member of Fair Trade Group Nepal and has been established for over 22 years. Mahaguti is a non-profit NGO and produces, exports and markets crafts from Nepal. Over a thousand individual producers are supported, many of whom are from remote and mountainous areas. Over 90% of their workforce are women. 40% of their generated income provides women and children of the Tulsi Mehar Mahila Ashram Centre with food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education.
Their founder, Tulsi Mehar Shrestha, spent time with Mahatma Gandhi and, as a devotee of his principles, started working with untouchables and low caste women to help them earn a living. The Ashram he founded is truly inspirational as it provides skills training in spinning, weaving, dressmaking and blockprinting as well as having a lovely nursery for the workers’ children.
Our delicate solid silver prayer wheel pendant was crafted by artisans from Mahaguthi.
Lady weaving at Mahaguthi, Nepal
Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
This organisation aims to find work for neglected families by selling Vietnamese Fair Trade handicraft products to both local and export markets, to customers that care about a fair wage and working conditions.It also provides training and promotes self reliance to the disadvantaged women, children and ethnic families of Southern Vietnam.
The project allows women to supplement their income with flexible work at home with payment rates far higher than they would get from normal commercial employers. Sales profits are used for funding various social work activities.
Our Water Hyacinth Shopping Bag was handmade by producers at Mai Vietnamese.
Lady making silk bags at Mai Vietnamese, Vietnam
Mitra Bali, Indonesia.
The Mitra Bali Foundation was established in 1993 and is based in Bali, Indonesia. As a member of WFTO and a non-governmental and non-profit organisation they act as a market and export facilitator for small craft producers.
Mitra Bali work within a framework of approx 100 producer groups employing over 1,000 artisans with access to a free design centre facility for producers which provides a library of books, current magazines and consultations with product designers. They also hold monthly workshops focusing on new trends, technical aspects of production, health & safety and the use of environmentally sustainable resources.
They have a tree-planting scheme to replenish stocks of all Albesia wood used in its handicrafts. This is also part of the organisation`s efforts to promote reforestation to protect the livlihoods of indiginous people and to ensure they don`t become landless.
Around 20 artisans and their families are supported by production of these products.
Our beautiful Round Shell Necklace on Coconut Beads was handmade by Mitra Bali artisans.
Bali Leaf products in the making at Mitra Bali, Indonesia
Motif, Bangladesh.
Motif was established in 1998 and is based in Bangladesh. It is an ethical trading, private ltd company and works with a number of small, family owned businesses as well as disadvantaged women artisans.
Motif looks to employ women experiencing discrimination for reasons more than poverty - some are former prostitutes, whilst others have been affected by leprosy or some may have been divorced or abandoned. Each situation stigmatises the women and reduces their chance of decent employment. With their employments at Motif comes a ‘safe place’ where they can share with other women and be earning at the same time.
Motif specialise in using recycled materials in their work such as cement bags, food and crisp packets. Traditional techniques are kept alive in hand-weaving, hand-loom weaving and basket weaving.
Our Recycled Food Packets Shopping Bag has been made by artisans at Motif.
New Overseas Traders.
New Overseas Traders is a UK-based wholesaler/ importer and has been trading with family firms and co-operatives according to Fair Trade principles in India for over 23 years.
All workers involved in making and packing products are treated with respect in reasonable working conditions and are paid fair wages. The goods and production techniques are environmentally friendly, using recycled packaging and newspapers. No child is exploited.
They support ideas for improving social medical and education conditions for worker families involved in the production of their goods.
Our Chunky Wood Bracelet was handmade by Indian artisans working under these Fair Trade conditions.
Newspaper Bag Project, New Delhi, India.
Started in 2004, this small project is run by a Non Government Organisation (NGO) whose mission is to shelter, feed and educate street children, usually boys, who have been living rough on the railway station at New Delhi, India.
The project also involves over 80 women, who help construct bags by recycling newspaper collected locally by the boys.
The project generates income by making newspaper bags and jute items. This allows the NGO to take care of thirteen street children who live in a house in a village about an hour`s journey from the city.
As well as helping the local economy, the project has helped the boys to integrate into the wider community by attending school and playing, rather than pulling rickshaws, shoe polishing, rag picking or worse......
We stock a range of different sized Recycled Indian Newspaper Bags.
Noah’s Ark, India.
Their mission statement has been "to change lives of grass root artisans through education and capacity building so that they may stand on their own feet & become more aware of fair working conditions and environment in order to prove the value & beauty of their hand made products".
Noah`s Ark was set up in response to the exploitation of poor artisans, by Samuel Masih in 1986, in one room in his house as an alternative way of trading with local crafts people around his hometown of Moradabad, northern India. From the beginning he was determined to ensure that artisans would be provided with the best rates of pay available and with the support to enable them to be freed from the grip of exploitation.
With Samuel’s resourcefulness the business has prospered: now there are more than 500 artisans are working for Noah`s Ark choosing Fair Trade employment to create better opportunities for their families and their communities.
And it is about more than just fair wages. Noah's Ark provides education classes for 50 local children who do not have the opportunity to go to school in Moradabad. Each worker is given provision for school expenses, loans for house repairs and healthcare insurance. A social worker is also employed to support the wider needs of the employees and their families and communities.
Our beautiful embroidered cross body bag was hand crafted by Noah`s Ark artisans.
Intricate metalwork at Noah’s Ark, India
Papeterie, New Delhi, India.
"At Papeterie we handcraft paper that`s eco-friendly and organic."
Papeterie was started in 1995 with the objective to promote handmade recycled paper and products, which have the unique advantage of being both eco-friendly as well as giving a boost to the rural industrial sector. They started off as a small project with the aim of helping smaller paper producers. In the last few years, however, they have grown enough to commission two small units of papermaking to manufacture paper just for their own purposes.
The elephant dung used is collected from Rajasthan. A small amount of recycled cotton rags are added and nothing is wasted - once the fibre has been extracted for the paper, the leftover dung is used as fertiliser.
Papeterie produce our best selling Recycled Elephant Dung Coaster Set.
Making handmade paper at Papeterie, India
Rubbish Bags! Cebu in the Philippines.
This co-operative was founded in 2007 and is made up of 10 part time studio workers and about 70 home workers, mainly women who are all paid the national minimum wage or above, allowing them to support their families.
The workers get a bonus every Christmas, equivalent to one month`s wage. Their healthcare is also supported. These workers are from the Cebu mountain regions where work is difficult to gain.
The project supports both local jobs and helps to keep the surrounding environment clean as the materials used by the artisans is waste packaging that was heading for landfill. The co-operative has been funded by the UK and a French partner to purchase the sewing machines and cleaning facilities.
"Salamat" (Thank you)
Our fantastic Rubbish Bags! Shoulder Bag is just one of the many bags made by the team in Cebu.
Salay Handmade Paper Industries Inc (SHAPII), the Philippines.
Shapii started as a family business in 1987 in the Philippines, but has grown to employ over 200 people making handmade paper, cards and stationery items. The employment it creates has brought real stability to the small seaside town of Salay. The production areas are light, airy and spacious and benefits include free medical consultation, dental health and eye glasses. Workers participate in decision-making and have the option of becoming a shareholder.
The paper is made from grasses and leaves which are gathered from the streets and gardens nearby and production helps free the village of the weed cogon grass.
Shapii make a number of our unique Recycled Greetings Cards.
Women making the handmade cards at Salay, Philippines
Tara Projects (Trade Alternative Reform Action), Delhi, India.
Founded in 1973 to help poorly organised artisans in Delhi. By creating markets for these struggling craftsmen, Tara helps to generate steady work and income.
Their mission statement is well thought through and quite moving....
"Poverty is not only about shortage of money. It is about rights and relationships. About how people are treated and how they regard themselves. About powerlessness, exclusion and loss of dignity. Yet the lack of an adequate income is at its heart...."
They have now been able to expand their work to a 120 - mile area around Delhi. Tara Projects fund informal and vocational schools as well as literacy centres for adults and campaign and educate people about Fair Trade in order to end injustice and manipulation in the world mass trade system.
Tara have spear-headed campaigns against bonded labour, child labour, illiteracy, unfair trade practices and for ecological, environmental and female educational issues.
Our gorgeous Brass Bangle White with Wooden Beads was handmade by artisans from Tara.
Skilled beadwork in process at Tara, India
ThaiCraft, Thailand.
ThaiCraft is a non-profit organisation that was established in 1992 to work with artisan groups, help them gain self-reliance and preserve Thailand's indigenous crafts. Although originally assisting these groups to sell their Fair Trade crafts to local markets only, ThaiCraft has been keen to expand into export markets as well.
In the beginning, they partnered with 25 artisan groups from villages in Central, North and Northeast Thailand. Some Southern groups later joined in 1995. Over the years, more than 80 groups have been involved, from remote hilltribe minorities in the North to Muslim fishing communities in the deep South; from city slum dwellers to remote rice-paddy farmers. Today, ThaiCraft's 70 partner groups come from all regions of Thailand. Their representatives meet staff and volunteers of ThaiCraft at regular fairs held in Bangkok.
It is the spirit of equality and of common goals within ThaiCraft's artisan "family" that will stimulate the organisation to develop and flourish even more effectively in the future. The added ingredients of supportive customers and committed volunteers will sustain hope, value and strength to the many artisan communities, which represent the diverse ethnic cultures of this enchanting Kingdom.
Take a look at these beautiful Sterling Silver Cross Earrings made by ThaiCraft artisans
Touch of India, New Delhi, India.
Founded in 1998, this organisation carries out most of it`s work with Muslim minorities. They pride themselves on preserving traditional embroidery techniques such as Kantha embroidery, Zardozi and Aari work and use recycleable materials where possible.
There are 150 employees who benefit from provident funds, paid maternity leave and insurance.
Touch of India have also adopted 4 children and now provide for their education and upbringing.
Our Embroidered Sari Patchwork Drawstring Shoulder Bag was handmade by Touch of India artisans.
Skilled embroidery work at Touch of India, India
WEAN, Nepal.
The Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is a not-for-profit organisation aiming at representing the collective efforts of women entrepreneurs and is based in the capital, Kathmandu. It works to overcome gender inequality in the country.
WEAN itself, is a woman producers' marketing cooperative supports women to come to the forefront of economic activity through entrepreneurship development. The cooperative has been assisting enterprises owned or run by woman entrepreneurs in area of marketing, productivity and quality improvement since 1992. It has been marketing handicrafts and food products locally as well as exporting internationally.
Our amazing Felt Bag with Multi Coloured Balls has been handmade by artisans belonging to WEAN.
Women`s Skills Development Project (WSDP), Nepal.
The Women's Skills Development Project located in
It is a non-profit and non-government supported organization that is completely self-sufficient. Their primary objective is to provide handicraft-related skills training to poor, misfortunate Nepalese women, so that they may become self-supportive. The women being trained come from a wide variety of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. Many of them come from the rural villages and have been widowed, divorced, handicapped, abused, or are treated as "untouchable caste" women.
After arriving at the Women's Skills Development Project, the women are provided training in the following disciplines: material cutting, sewing, weaving, dying, business management, and various other skills related to handicraft production.
The Project has been able to provide hundreds of women with the vocational skills necessary to become self-reliant.
Currently, there are approximately 200 women employees many of whom participate in classes in health awareness and English language which are provided by local and foreign volunteers. To help with family committments, the women are able to take away ready-dyed materials in order to be able to work from home.
Our striking Brown Cotton Shoulder Bag with Dark Pink and Cream Stripes was hand woven by artisans at The Women`s Skills Development Project.
Lady weaving fabric at WSDP, Nepal
Wongwiang Handicrafts, Thailand.
Employs 80 craftspeople across 15 villages in the Chiang Mai area of northern Thailand, most of whom are ex-leprosy patients or those who have been refused work elsewhere and are in danger of being excluded from their communities. Some workers are based in workshops while others work from home.
Wongwiang Handicraft was established in 1987 by Mr. Oun Wongwiang and his friends, who were leprosy patients at the McKean Rehabilitation Centre in Chiang Mai. The centre was founded by Dr. James McKean (1860 - 1949), a Presbyterian missionary from the United States and a handful of western physicians working in Chiang Mai to help and develop western medical clinics in this region.
After recovering from leprosy illness, Mr. Oun Wongwiang realised the hardship and poorness of former leprosy patients and started to generate ideas to implement a handicrafts business. It was aimed at improving the life quality and living standards of ex-leprosy patients and their families by providing vital and sustainable incomes through the sales of handcrafted woodcarving products.
Today, with the experience of more than 20 years, 20 families of former leprosy patients who are living in villages around Chiang Mai, Lampoon and Lampang Provinces are involving in the Wongwiang Handicraft projects.
This beautiful mango wood swirl pot was made by Wongwiang craftspeople.
Zoe Project, Lima, Peru.
Our importer has been recognised by the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) and is the exclusive partner with the Zoe project in Peru, which was established in 2000. They guarantee a minimum order every month to ensure that the project is sustainable and the people involved have regular work.
The women who work for the Zoe project live in the shanty towns of Tablada on the outskirts of Lima and have varying degrees of skill. Each new collection is designed collaboratively with the women, taking into consideration availability of materials and building on existing techniques. They make the products in their own homes enabling them to earn a living wage without having to leave their children. They are paid to train others what they have learnt, so the project is enabling increasing numbers of Peru's poorest women and young people to have the opportunity of fairly paid employment.
This partnership gives the Zoe project valuable business and design advice ensuring that their products will appeal to the western market.
The project produces several different ranges of jewellery - their collections include the popular 'Semilla' seed range, made from seeds and nuts sourced from the Amazon jungle.
Zuri Design, Kenya.
Zuri Design is a UK based importer which has set up and works closely with a number of projects in Kenya.
For instance, one project is called Xcel Concepts and specialises in cow bone bead making. It was started in 2005 and has recently moved into a new premises in Kibera slum, on the outskirts of Nairobi. The aim of the project now is for it to become self sustainable. It has plans to be co-owned by 4 of the orginal young street boys who were trained on project start-up programmes and who have remained comitted to their work. They are now producing top quality beads that are used by a number of other producer groups including our beautiful animal themed range of jewellery.
This project involves bringing change to the cow bone jewellery industry in Kibera slum, Nairobi. This craft industry has been around since the late 70’s and employs over 500 people in Nairobi. These workers are almost always underpaid and work with dangerous machinery and in dirty and unsafe workshops. Most of these workshops are based in the slums, including the workshop this project helped to start. The work is highly skilled, yet the workers of this industry are often exploited, with middle men taking advantage of the fact many buyers are too scared to visit workshops in the slum. The idea of this project is to set up and run an example workshop so that others locally can see the benefits of adhering to Fair Trade principles.
A second project is Luckysama Women`s Group, named after the area in Nairobi where the ladies live. The 7 employees here work from home, buying cow bone beads from the project above and finishing them off into the stylish jewellery items you can see in our range.
Our Kisii Soapstone range is produced by Art Safi Self Help Group, based in Kisii and Nairobi, Kenya, who are paid between 25% and 50% above the local market wholesale price in Kenya. Additionally, the workers are paid 50% of order value upfront and the balance is paid on time. This helps members of the self help group which include carvers, artists and those who sand, wax and pack the items support their families better.
