News

Kenya independent producers find employment in jua kali. (which translates into hot sun in the Swahili language). Creative Alternatives

Creative Alternatives works with marginalized producers in rural and urban areas of Kenya. The producers take pride in the product ideas they are able to develop and market through Creative Alternatives. The producers are self employed men and women, largely young and middle aged, who have failed to get formal employment. They have thus had to seek employment in the jua kali (which translates into hot sun in the Swahili language) sector. They work in groups, small family owned businesses or as individuals.

Artisan communities in rural India create bracelets made of primarily bone beads on wire and accented with metal and glass beads. Community Friendly Movement.

The fantastic flora and fauna of Nicaragua are the basis for stunning vase designs. Esperanza En Accion

Working with the fair trade organization Esperanza en Accion, men and women artisans in Nicaragua produce traditional pottery pieces that are world renowned. Artisans in San Juan de Oriente make the pottery using a manual kick wheel and finish the pieces using natural mineral oxides for the earthen colors. The fantastic flora and fauna of Nicaragua are the basis for stunning vase designs and novel wind instruments. The pottery is fired using a low-temperature technique so the vases are decorative as they do not hold water.

This decorative vase from Nicaragua is 6 inches tall and 6 inches in diameter, featuring a white bird and red flower design. This is low fired and not designed to hold water.

Communities of independent Kenya artisans. Bawa Hope

Bawa Hope is a Fair-Trade company that works with marginalized handicraft artisans in Kenya who produce jewelry, wood products, and handbags. Many of the artisans work in rural and slum communities; they do not want sympathy or charity—but an opportunity to access and compete in global markets.  Bawa seeks to use enterprise as a tool not only for empowering marginalized artisans, but safeguarding the environment .Women artisans, living in informal settlements, see value in many of the things that we throw away! They create bags using sisal, which occurs in abundance, and waste banana fiber to create attractive and functional accessories. Bawa Hope works with a pool of consultants that train on life skills and ensure Fair Trade compliance.  Bawa Hope is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization.

Earrings: Brass Bisected Circles

Tibetan exile community artisans are involved in creating handmade products in traditional Tibetan style. 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.

Authentic cloth prayer flags printed on hand-carved woodblocks are specially made for dZi by The Gu-Chu-Sum (9-10-3) Movement of Tibet, established in 1991 and based in Dharamsala, India. Gu-Chu-Sum was first organized by ex-political prisoners from the Tibetan freedom movement; monks, nuns and lay people who had escaped from Tibet due to political persecution. Its purpose is to provide employment and support to Tibetan refugees needing help in India, and to educate about human rights abuses in Tibet. You can try to visit http://www.tibet.org/Resources/TSG/Groups/guchusum.html, but the Chinese Government regularly sabotage their site!

  dZi’s screen printed prayer flags are made by the Tibetan Nuns Projection (TNP), also based in Dharamsala, India. TNP’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment and education for Tibetan nuns who have fled Tibet for reasons of religious and political persecution. Visit tnp.org to learn more.

  dZi’s Paper Prayer flags and incense are made by Tibetan Handicraft in Kathmandu Nepal, a member of Fair Trade Group Nepal and leader among the handmade paper export community. 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.

This beautiful hand crafted dream catcher is made using natural cane and woven with a long-lasting wax covered thread. Measures 45 inches by 18 inches.

Port-Au-Prince artisans turn sheets of metal into beautiful wall art. 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.

This piece of Haitian metal wall art is 24 inches in diameter. It features two large fish jumping, hand-cut, embossed and painted.

Women in Kenyan village use the usually discarded dried bannana fibers to create unique handcrafted items. Esther Kariuki

Esther Kariuki is an independent artisan who, in her area of Kenya, near Kitui, has organized and trained women in her village to use the dried fiber of the banana plant, which would normally be discarded. The banana fiber is first dried, and then a light varnish applied. Once this process is complete craftspeople cut the fiber into thin strips to make several different items, including boxes, Bao Bab trees and mobiles. The varnish on the banana fiber with its many tones of brown resembles textured tortoise shell. Esther ensures the craftspeople are paid a fair wage for their goods, which has enabled many in her small village to earn a sustainable wage.

This Nativity set is handcrafted out of banana fiber wrapped on wire and includes a 5 1/4 by 7 1/4 inch handmade banana fiber box for storage. The tallest piece is 5 inches high.