Fair Trade is not about charity.
It is about providing people with the opportunity to help themselves.
Many of our suppliers are members of the Fair Trade Federation and some additionally are non-profits. This means that our goods come from companies who support artisans by providing them with a fair wage and helping them to become economically stable. Many suppliers are instrumental in helping to introduce the artisans’ work to a larger global market with an emphasis on reinvesting in their local communities and working to preserve the environment.
See how you can support the projects and organizations that help to make a difference in their lives.
INDIA - The Tara Project helps crafts women in India gain awareness, rights and human dignity in order to combat poverty. They are a fair trade non-profit organization based in New Delhi that provides women with economic security through regular work at living wages, craft training and marketing services. They also lobby for the rights of women and children and fund vocational schools and literacy centers for adults. The crafts women are empowered not only by employment, but by the encouragement of continuing their cultural arts and improving their futures.
TIBET (Government in Exile)- Your purchase provides Tibetan refugee artisans new markets for their talents while promoting greater understanding and appreciation in the West for the ancient and endangered culture and people of Tibet.. A portion of every purchase is used to facilitate artisan training programs, to improve production facilities, and to support a wide variety of humanitarian programs administered by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile based in Dharamsala in northern India.
CHILE - All our Chilean artisans work in partnership with a non-profit that works to improve the lives of economically struggling workshops and artisan groups throughout Chile by promoting and exporting the handicrafts. Their efforts help to improve the standards of living for owners and employees of Chilean handicraft workshops through technical and product development assistance programs.
GUATEMALA - Our beautiful and unique pieces are created in small fair trade cooperative workshops in the Guatemalan highlands. Your purchase helps to support the indigenous communities and support the preservation of Mayan handicraft.
CAMBODIA - In beautiful, rural Cambodia, poor but extremely talented artisans create some of the finest handwoven silks. The artisans are mostly subsistence farmers, landmine victims, widowed mothers and women heads-of-household. They are paid a fair wage to improve their standards of living and are provided assistance in promoting their crafts. Please take satisfaction in knowing that your purchase instills hope and pride.
GHANA, UGANDA, BANDGLADESH – The Blessing Basket Project is a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing resources to the world’s poorest nations by investing in artisans and paying them prosperity wages for sharing their heritage through their remarkable talents. By providing sustainable employment and prosperity wages, The Blessing Basket Project offers an opportunity to end the vicious cycle of poverty. Weavers are now able to provide adequate housing, nutritious meals and education for their families.
