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December 10, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


Artisans utilize ancient knowledge and natural, sustainable materials like bamboo, gourds, and seeds to create cool inexpensive instruments. Jamtown

 Jamtown
Jamtown World Instruments

The Jamtown vision sees people in North America creating music with friends and family. Not fancy rock songs or orchestra performances, just a little music. Starting with our motto "Play A Beat You Can Repeat" we make it easy and fun for kids AND adults to join the band. Our instruments are special, authentic, and beautifully crafted. Each is handmade ~ from countries all over the world. Artisans utilize ancient knowledge and natural, sustainable materials like bamboo, gourds, and seeds. For the cost of a single cheap guitar, which no one will use, pass out cool instruments to a group of friends and expect to sound good,and feel good! As a member of the Fair Trade Federation we work with small producer groups from developing countries and provide important support to low-income families through fair wages and other valuable assistance.

 

Frame Drum Gecko - Jamtown World Instruments


Frame Drum Gecko - Jamtown World Instruments

This traditional drum from Java is comprised of a hand batiked goat skin head with a mango wood frame. While traditionally played by hand, the 9-inch diameter drum

December 09, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


Guatemala's artisan groups are making a difference in the lives of Mayan artisans, one purchase at a time. Lucias Imports

Lucias Imports
Lucias Imports

Lucia's Imports LLC partners with Guatemalan families, artisan groups, and cooperatives to maintain a wholesale market for their quality accessories and handicrafts. Lucia's Imports is a members of the Fair Trade Federation and hopes to share the beauty of the Guatemala's art and culture, while making a difference in the lives of Mayan artisans, one purchase at a time.

Working side by side with artisans, we design products rich in tradition and sustainable fashion. Our purses, coin bags and accessories are made from recycled Mayan textiles and our hand-beaded jewelry is made by artisan groups on Lake Atitlan---utilizing traditional weaving skills in modern design.

Beach Ball Beaded Bracelet - Multi - Lucias Imports (J)

Beach Ball Beaded Bracelet - Multi

This rainbow colored bracelet is hand made in Guatemala with pearlescent and glass seed beads. It measures 8 inches unclasped and has an adjustable bead-and-loop closure.

December 08, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


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." Jedando

 Jedando
Jedando Handicrafts Kenya

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. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bone for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns African mud cloth designs.

 

 12 Inch Twig Salad Servers - Jedando Handicrafts

10 Inch Twig Salad Servers.  This olive wood salad serving set is handmade in Kenya and have carved rustic twig design handles. 

 

December 07, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


Artisans in 40 partner communities throughout India create opportunities for women and minorities. Matr Boomie

Matr Boomie
Matr Boomie Fair Trade

MATR BOOMIE is a fair trade collection from India that marries modern design sensibility with inspiring traditional art forms, bringing people and cultures closer together. With the mission of creating opportunities for women and minorities to realize their creative, economic and leadership potential. They have grown to empower 20,000 artisans in 40 partner communities throughout India

.Sustainable Leather Wallet - Black - Matr Boomie (W)

Sustainable Leather Wallet - Black - Matr Boomie (W)

Ethically sourced, vegetable tanned leather wallet in shiny black features two card slots, an open pocket for cash, thick rounded corners, minimal emboss detail, and a strap for secure closure. Measures 4 by 3 inches

December 06, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


Haitian artisans are trained in hancrafting metal geckos, painted metal dragonflies and painted metal frogs. Caribbean Craft

 Caribbean Craft
Caribbean Crafts

Founded in 1990 by a multinational group of young entrepreneurs, Caribbean Craft promotes employment in Haiti by training unskilled craftspeople, and by assisting the independent artisans through the introduction of new designs and new market outlets for painted Haitian metal art.

Caribbean Craft's specialty is the brightly colored, artistically hand-painted Haitian metal art wall hangings. These hand-painted Haitian metal art pieces are truly works of art. Wall art designs include painted metal geckos, painted metal dragonflies and painted metal frogs.

Eight Inch Spotted Metal Gecko - Caribbean Craft

This gecko is handmade in Haiti from recycled oil drums. Each has a small hook to hang the piece and is painted with a bright colorful design inspired by the local Haitian culture. From head to tail, the gecko is 8 inches long.

December 05, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


Chilean fair trade artisans specialize in glass fashion jewelry. Calypso Glass

Calypso Glass
Calypso Glass

Calypso Chile is a family owned business that operates from the family home. Marcela Cofre and her husband supported their family by making women's shoes until 1994 when the market for shoes dropped dramatically as cheaper imports flooded the market.

After dabbling in various types of crafts, Marcela found a particular talent for glass making, building a sustainable business to support her family as well as the families of others who she has trained to help make glass products, specializing in fashion jewelry. As a member of the WFTO, Marcela operates the business under the auspices of fair trade, ensuring that all of the artisans and craftspeople are paid a fair price for their work.

 

Long Rectangle Glass Dangle Earrings, Green Bubbles - Tili Glass

These earrings feature rectangles of colored glass that measure approximately 1.25 inches long and 0.375 inches wide.

December 04, 2020

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Posted in Meet the Artisans


South African artisans creates high quality hand-painted candles, ceramics, and greeting cards. Nobunto

Nobunto
Nobunto Hand-Painted Candles

NOBUNTO is a South African Fair Trade company that creates high quality hand-painted candles, ceramics and handcrafted greeting cards with the utmost attention to detail using mainly African inspired designs. Their mission is, in a region with high unemployment, to alleviate poverty, not only through development of industry but to be socially, ethically, and sustainably responsible.

Based in the small village Napier, about 180 km east of Cape Town, NOBUNTO has provided employment to mostly woman of the disadvantaged community and guarantees an income for over 18 families. The unemployment rate in the area is in the region of 50%. The word NOBUNTO comes from the Sotho language, meaning "For the people".

 

Hand Painted Candles in Uzushi Design (pillar) - Nobunto

Hand Painted Candles in Uzushi Design (pillar) - Nobunto

Bring the culture and beauty of South Africa to your home with these Fair Trade, hand painted candles. UZUSHI signifies “discovery” in Swahili and is portrayed through design and vibrant colors. Candle measures 2” diameter, 4” high with a burn time up to 64 hours.