Why Fair Trade?
Our shop provides Fair Trade products or made in the U.S. and supports responsible companies. We also support the under-resourced and marginalized of the world through partnerships with Fair Trade co-ops that offer new economic opportunities to artisan communities in Latin America, Africa, and around the globe. We provide education about the co-ops we support and how your purchases impact their communities while also enriching our own culture as U.S.-born and raised Latinas.
Por Qué (Why) Fair Trade?
- Safer Working Conditions
- Fair Trade is better for the Environment
- Fair pay for farmers and artisans
- Community Development Funds
Artisana
The Artisana Collection represents work from multiple artists in the famous Taxco region of Mexico, best known for it’s silver jewelry. The artisans continue to produce traditional jewelry much like their ancestors. The groups who produce jewelry in this collection have formed cooperatives to pool together their talent and resources – the result has been a positive impact for the individual artisans and a bigger impact on the community.
The cooperative is made up of 26 jewelry makers who work collaboratively to sell a beautiful collection of jewelry; the group uses a wide range of beautiful materials that range from abalone, mother of pearl, sterling silver, Taxco silver, and much more. It achieved stable income for many members of its community and bettered the community through initiatives that include support of local schools and programming geared towards youth. Artisans often work out of their homes and are paid fair wages.
Asha Handicrafts
India has always been renowned for its rich silk fabrics, woodcarvings and carpets. However, many of these products are produced in conditions of abject poverty for the craftsmen, exploited by large producers and moneylenders. Asha Handicrafts is a not-for-profit making body, based in Mumbai, India, working to promote Fair Trade and Fair Trade practices. As a member organisation of The World Fair Trade Organization, Asha Handicrafts ensures that the benefits of handicraft production reach the craftspeople themselves.
Croix Des Bouquets
When you visit Croix des Bouquets, the area of town known for Haitian metal art in the capital of Port-Au-Prince, you are met with a cacophony of tink, tink, tink as ball peen hammers strike sheets of steel. The sheets are cut from steel drums colored by oil and other liquids the drums at one time held. The process of turning sheets of metal into beautiful wall art is all done by hand, from cutting holes that become edges of trees and leaves, to accenting each lizard with a texture of scales, to painting or lacquering the final design. The artists are proud of their work, signing the pieces on the back side, leaving a raised, reversed signature on the front.
dZi
dZi Inc. has been working with artisans in the Tibetan exile community in India since 1990, and with Nepali artisans involved in traditional Tibetan style crafts since 1995. Their products are marketed as part of dZi’s ‘Tibet Collection’ line and Wild Woolies.
This business supports hundreds of people in the local community through it's income generation enterprise, and runs an elementary school providing free and low cost education for local children.
Encantada
There’s no sign to find the small family-owned ceramic workshop in the state of Guanajuato. Behind the large wooden gate, women artisans are hand painting unfired ceramics while men work the kilns, as they have since the late 70’s. Each piece has personality from the dots and swirls to the handpainted logo on the bottom. And each is lead free, microwave and dishwasher safe.
Global Groove Life
Global Groove Life is a Fair Trade company that emerged from a commitment to global lifestyle. GGL designs, develops, produces and sources fairly traded lifestyle products with a pledge to the sustainability of production and the cultural heritage of artisan co-ops in Thailand and Nepal. Inspired by its people, landscapes, colors, flavors, the very scents that we inhale. They exhale to create stimulating products symbolic of their "homes" across the globe. Their business practices stem from a drive to unite global communities that span every culture and geographic boundary through co-creation, education and values based on human rights and dignity. GGL encourages the journey because the knowledge, acceptance and understanding of different ways, people and ideas is the very colorful road to a respectful, safer, and kinder world.
Jedando
Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony." An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations.
SMOLArt
Soapstone is carved by the artists of SMOLArt, a group of artists who live in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya, the heart of soapstone crafts. The name, a shortened version of Small, Medium, and Large Artists, refers to the size of the soapstone products the artisans make, not their stature. Established in 1990, SMOLArt is a member of the WFTO, and as such assures that the artisans are paid a fair price for their work. In addition, the organization supports community development by contributing to projects that improve living conditions, education, and health of their members and the village at large. All of the soapstone products are completely handmade. The tools consist of household items from screwdrivers, hand drills, to switchblades.
Starfish Project
The Starfish Project rescues exploited women and girls in Asia by helping them establish independence and develop careers. Through the Holistic Care Programs, Starfish Project provides vocational training, healthcare, shelter, counseling, and education grants for women and their children. Starfish Project has employed over 130 women and has served thousands through Community Outreach Services. Women create beautiful jewelry and become managers, accountants, graphic designers, and photographers. Starfish Project restores hope to exploited women in Asia.