FAIR TRADE PRODUCERS

Maya Traditions is a small Fair Trade business based in San Francisco, California and in Panajachel, Guatemala. For over ten years, Maya Traditions has worked directly with more than 100 Mayan women who are indigenous weavers in the highlands of Guatemala. Its mission is to support these local women, their weaving groups and small family businesses, by providing consistent income as well as health care and educational assistance. The crafts produced by these women are most predominantly made through the process of backstrap weaving, an ancient traditional craft which women can do at home while caring for their families. An important part of the work done by Maya Traditions is finding and tapping markets for these traditional hand-made crafts and educating consumers about indigenous peoples and their crafts. The second focus of the work is to help improve the quality of life for the weavers. With this in mind, Maya Traditions strives to pay a fair wage in the local context. This commitment to helping the Mayan women obtain quality health care and access to education for their children is at the heart of the efforts at Maya Traditions. Tragically, in October of 2005, Hurricane Stan ripped through much of Central America, destroying land, devastating communities, and wreaking havoc on the lives of the already struggling people of Guatemala. Many communities in Guatemala continue to struggle in the wake of Hurricane Stan's destruction, making Maya Tradition's work essential to helping the people of Guatemala get back on their feet.

Hemp Mania

Background and Organization
HempMania was formed in order to promote hemp by selling high quality hemp accessories. Hemp is gentle to the environment, strong, versatile, and incredibly beautiful. The accessories are made in a small town in the highlands of Guatemala by a small family business.
Why Hemp?:

Hemp is weed-like, and as such can be easily grown without the use of harmful toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Its deep root system prevents soil erosion and maintains soil fertility. This makes hemp an ideal rotation crop.
Hemp is one of the strongest, most insulating, and absorbent of all naturally occurring fibers. Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis and can be used for every quality of paper.
Hemp is also valuable in our diets, the seeds are high in protein and contain a polyunsaturated oil which is rich in the essential fatty acids and amino acids our bodies need but can not manufacture. The oil absorbs well into skin making it ideal for body care products.
Hemp is an environment-friendly plant that can help reduce reliance on forestry, conventionally grown cotton and petrochemicals, which wreak havoc on the environment and are dangerous to human and animal health.

Producers
In the Quichie Highlands of Guatemala in a town called Chichicastenango there is a small family business of 22 sewers. The founders of Hempmania have maintained ties with this group since it's foundation more than 10 years ago. The same 22 people have worked in this group since its inception. The civil war and unrest of the 1980s caused the once large demand for traditional Guatemalan hand woven goods to decline. This forced innovation in the market and the introduction of new styles of hemp products. The sewers have proven resilient and able to handle the new designs and work. The success of Hempmania's products has been felt in the community of Chichicastenango where producers are receiving a fair wage, vacation time, and holiday bonuses.

Hempmania has also given small loans to some of the workers for personal projects. The manager of the family business is in contact with the Hempmania team to ensure that the concerns of the workers are addressed. Over 10 years, the success of Hempmania has served the 22 sewers and their families, allowed these people to stay in their village, and preserved an age-old tradition of beautiful hand weaving.

Juan Pablo Segundo Quilting Cooperative

In 1998 Hurricane Mitch ripped through the Caribbean coast of Honduras, all but destroying many of the rural villages. In response to the losing almost everything, Rosario Lobo started a women's organization in an attempt to spearhead community reconstruction in her small village of El Pital. Since teaching herself and other women in the community to sew in 1999, the co-op has grown steadily.

Launching its own website in 2001, the co-op was able to bring international attention to the importance of microbusinesses like the Juan Pablo Quilting Cooperative, and the vital role they play in changing the lives of families in the developing world. In February of 2005, the Juan Pablo Quilting Cooperative gained membership to the Fair Trade Federation further establishing its position as an organization committed to social, economic, and environmental justice. Through the purchase of quilts and crafts from the Juan Pablo Segundo Cooperative, local artisans and their families are provided with better healthcare, nutrition and education, as well as feelings of self-empowerment, economic freedom, and hope.

Handmade Expressions promotes high quality, fashionable, hand-crafted goods created by artisans in India. Their goods are sourced through fair trade and they partner with grass-root level NGOs/ artisan cooperatives, and help them create products that are tailored for international markets and provide them with sustained employment. The artisans produce art forms native to their regions and use natural dyes and fiber materials wherever possible. Some of the artisan groups live in regions that have been devastated by drought or earthquakes and income from this art is significant for the region's development. The majority of the artisans they work with are women.

Their mission is to create a global community for sharing traditional rural artwork with urban cultures across the world. Their work preserves beautiful art forms and provides a dignified social standing for the artisans. By connecting the artisans with customers, they cultivate respect for their art and talents.

Pacha World

Pacha World is a Fair Trade organization dedicated to working towards economic justice through educating consumers about the importance of purchasing Fair Trade products. They are increasing consumer awareness about corporate exploitation to end the use of sweatshops while building producer relationships worldwide to bring the public Fair Trade products to support people living under the poverty line.

Pacha World works directly with producer group in India, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sanghathan (KMVS), which is a collective of rural women located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Striving for socio-economic and political empowerment, the over 4,000 KMVS members have come together to form self-sustaining producer groups. Thanks to their sustained efforts over the past decade, these women have helped each other, their families and their communities extricate themselves from a vicious downward spiral of commercial exploitation by middlemen and traders, being forced to become daily or piecework laborers--some even abandoning their traditional occupations.

Sevya

"Sevya" means caring through service; caring for humanity and for the environment we live in. Sevya is a not-for-profit company that is dedicated to preserving the indigenous art forms of India by supporting the artisan communities who uphold these traditions.

All Sevya products are hand-made with the finest natural fibers and materials. The revenue earned through marketing these products is used to fund need-based development programs throughout India, under the auspices of the All India Movement for Seva. (www.aimforseva.org)

Sevya works with artisans throughout India to enhance their marketing capacity and preserve the traditional and eco-friendly methods of handicraft production.

The handicrafts marketed through Sevya represent ancient art forms, and some products take several months to produce. These traditions stem from a culture that values inner leisure. Without this inner leisure, it is not possible to create these intricate and exquisite handicrafts. Sevya works to preserve these art forms as well as the culture that creates and sustains them.

WorldFinds

The mission of WorldFinds is to create beautiful, unique, inspired products that sell on their own merit, while simultaneously helping to improve the lives of the artisans involved. WorldFinds imports an eclectic array of women's accessories and gift items from India, Nepal, and Indonesia. We take pleasure in finding and designing a collection of exceptional items for the style-conscious and socially conscious consumer. We work directly with all of our artisan groups, and take the time to educate them about current trends in the US marketplace, partner with them to develop new designs, share knowledge and discuss ongoing issues to continually improve our products.

WorldFinds partners with fair trade organizations, self-help groups, and small families of artisans that strive to make a difference in their communities. These organizations have made a commitment to social welfare and provide many services to their producers including: ongoing education and training, health care services, subsidized meals, day care, schooling, and AIDS awareness.

Market Place India

MarketPlace, Handwork of India, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering low-income women to bring about changes in their own lives by providing them with increasing economic opportunities. MarketPlace works directly with 14 co-operatives, consisting of 480 artisans in India who produce high-quality women's apparel.

MarketPlace India aids women in India to experience independence and self-confidence, enabling them to explore different aspects of their lives. By achieving economic stability the women MarketPlace begin to find the courage to question age-old traditions and beliefs, and to develop their own opinions, values, and dreams.

AIACA

The All India Artisans and Craft Workers Welfare Association (AIACA) objective is to ensure the growth and continued vibrancy of the Indian handloom and handicraft sector. AIACA brings together leading private businesses and non-profit organizations to investigate market-led, commercially sustainable approaches to helping crafts producers. Today AIACA's members, totaling more than 76 organizations from across India, represent approximately 70,000 rural craftsworkers. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of these members, AIACA has had great success in improving the lives of Indian artisans.

Aid Through Trade

For ten years, Aid Through Trade has worked with overseas artisans in the design and import of high quality fashion accessories while upholding the standards of Fair Trade and socially responsible conduct. Aid Through Trade began designing jewelry for skilled, but economically challenged groups of women artisans in Nepal. Members of the group stitch, loom, and braid beads with astonishing skill, producing exquisite, beautifully handcrafted jewelry.

Women have used and worn beads in Nepal for centuries. Even today, buying glass beads at bazaars is a major event. Women bargain for carefully chosen colors and styles before returning to the village to make their own jewelry. The beads come from around the world. Beads are so much a part of Nepali culture that the women's symbol of marriage is a gold ornament called a tilouri worn on a necklace of glass beads. The groom gives the tilouri to his new bride and if poverty prevents the ornament from being gold, the necklace must be of glass beads.

Traditional skill and Western fashion met when Aid Through Trade began designing jewelry with a skilled but poor Nepali women artisan group. The new markets have opened a new world of creation, income, and pride. The artisans delight in coming to the center where they not only work from ten to five, but are able to connect with their colleagues and feel the prestige of going to the office. When necessary, members are able to bring their small children. They are paid well above market rate for their beadwork, giving them much needed income and improved status.

Spiral Foundation

The Spiral Foundation was started in 1997 and is dedicated to sustaining income generation, education, and primary health care programs in Vietnam and Nepal. They work to bring about a consciousness of world equanimity by making an effort to maintain the local culture and traditions. They do this by assisting people in developing their handicraft skills and by providing funds to assist in their educational and healthcare needs. The Spiral Foundation finances two ongoing, income generation projects: The Spiral Workshop in Hanoi, and The Spiral Workshop in Kathmandu, both of which develop handcrafted gift items made from easily renewable local natural and recycled or discarded materials. All proceeds from the sale of the handcrafted items go directly back to the people that created them and to fund humanitarian aid projects.

The Spiral Foundation implements a variety of programs in several different fields. Your purchase will help to sustain the following programs:
Health

Referral of Patients to Kathmandu, specifically: HHC Sherthung and Tipling Village health posts, hospitals in Kathmandu for diagnostic tests, as well as medical and surgical intervention for seriously ill patients. All costs of the medical services in Kathmandu, and travel and food expenses for the patients and their accompanying family members are provided.
Salary for Health Service Providers: Two Auxiliary Health Workers (AHW) with fifteen months of formal medical training (provided by HHC) run the health posts at Sherthung and Tipling Villages (built by HHC). The salary is for one year. The AHW provides primary health care with immunizations and family planning for a population of 3500 and 2200 people of Sherthung and Tipling respectively.

Education

Adult Literacy Classes: Eight adult literacy classes with a total of about 200 students will be launched in the villages of Sherthung and Lapa. More than 80% of the students will be women of childbearing age. The students, who will be attending night classes, will be provided with basic learning tools like books, copybooks, pencils, and kerosene for lamps. Eight trained teachers will be given a basic salary to teach the classes for six to eight months. The syllabus is set by the Ministry of Education, Nepal, and modified by HHC to suit the Tamang people of the villages. The students will be taught to read and write in the national language, Nepali, and will be taught mathematics as well. Classes in health education, nutrition, hygiene, immunization, and family planning will also be a part of the syllabus. The younger students will be encouraged and helped to join regular schools.
Teacher Salary: Two teachers will be provided salary to teach at the Lapa Secondary and Tipling Primary schools. The teachers, who are not residents of the villages, will stay and teach for nine to ten months a year in these schools. This is to supplement the teaching strength of the local schools, which are invariably short of teachers.
Student Sponsorship in Local School: 35 children who have lost their parents and those of the poorest economic backgrounds will be sponsored in schools within one day's walk from their villages.

Income Generation

Angora Rabbits + Feed : To give impetus and continuity to the five-year old Sherthung Angora Project, ten pairs of angora rabbits will be portered to Sherthung and given to five households to raise. Feed and medicine will also be provided for the rabbits. The rabbit hair, which can be plucked with relative ease when mature with no harm to the animal, will be used to make gift items for sale.
Cardamom Plantation: 10,000 new seedlings of the spice, greater cardamom, will be provided to the interested farmers of Tipling, Sherthung, and Lapa villages who have received basic cardamom farming training from HHC. Cardamom, which is an expensive spice, will be harvested in three years to supplement the income of the farmers.

Other

Workshop/ Village Supervisor's Salary: A supervisor will be overseeing the gift item production, which also entails trekking into villages. He/she will be provided with a fair-priced salary to manage and monitor the production of the gift items, quality control and shipping.
Workshop Setup Expenses: A small work place will be rented in Kathmandu, where basic fixtures and furniture for the workshop will be added to facilitate the production of the gift items.

Ganesh Trading

Since 1984, Ganesh Himal Trading has worked with producer groups in Nepal, striving to create mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships with low income and refugee artisan groups. Ganesh has assisted these artisans with product development, purchasing and importing to give the artisans access to the broader global market.

In building long-term relationships with the people of Nepal, Ganesh seeks to provide local artisans with a fair, steady and reliable source of income so that they can begin to experience the benefits of economic independence and stability, and so that they can afford to educate their children to continue the trend of increasing economic prosperity.

Additionally, Ganesh strives not only to assist and educate the people of Nepal, but also to increase awareness throughout North America about the importance of supporting Fair Trade practices. Ganesh's long-term vision is the creation of a network of world trade that, like a chain "links us all together, where each link in the chain is strong, healthy and well cared for so that the chain will not break." By investing in a commitment to Fair Trade practices, Ganesh Trading works to help the people of Nepal acquire vital skills that can assist them in the beginning stages of economic independence.

Aid Through Trade

Spiral Foundation

The Spiral Foundation implements a variety of programs in several different fields. Your purchase will help to sustain the following programs:
Health

Referral of Patients to Kathmandu, specifically: HHC Sherthung and Tipling Village health posts, hospitals in Kathmandu for diagnostic tests, as well as medical and surgical intervention for seriously ill patients. All costs of the medical services in Kathmandu, and travel and food expenses for the patients and their accompanying family members are provided.
Salary for Health Service Providers: Two Auxiliary Health Workers (AHW) with fifteen months of formal medical training (provided by HHC) run the health posts at Sherthung and Tipling Villages (built by HHC). The salary is for one year. The AHW provides primary health care with immunizations and family planning for a population of 3500 and 2200 people of Sherthung and Tipling respectively.

Education

Adult Literacy Classes: Eight adult literacy classes with a total of about 200 students will be launched in the villages of Sherthung and Lapa. More than 80% of the students will be women of childbearing age. The students, who will be attending night classes, will be provided with basic learning tools like books, copybooks, pencils, and kerosene for lamps. Eight trained teachers will be given a basic salary to teach the classes for six to eight months. The syllabus is set by the Ministry of Education, Nepal, and modified by HHC to suit the Tamang people of the villages. The students will be taught to read and write in the national language, Nepali, and will be taught mathematics as well. Classes in health education, nutrition, hygiene, immunization, and family planning will also be a part of the syllabus. The younger students will be encouraged and helped to join regular schools.
Teacher Salary: Two teachers will be provided salary to teach at the Lapa Secondary and Tipling Primary schools. The teachers, who are not residents of the villages, will stay and teach for nine to ten months a year in these schools. This is to supplement the teaching strength of the local schools, which are invariably short of teachers.
Student Sponsorship in Local School: 35 children who have lost their parents and those of the poorest economic backgrounds will be sponsored in schools within one day's walk from their villages.

Income Generation

Angora Rabbits + Feed : To give impetus and continuity to the five-year old Sherthung Angora Project, ten pairs of angora rabbits will be portered to Sherthung and given to five households to raise. Feed and medicine will also be provided for the rabbits. The rabbit hair, which can be plucked with relative ease when mature with no harm to the animal, will be used to make gift items for sale.
Cardamom Plantation: 10,000 new seedlings of the spice, greater cardamom, will be provided to the interested farmers of Tipling, Sherthung, and Lapa villages who have received basic cardamom farming training from HHC. Cardamom, which is an expensive spice, will be harvested in three years to supplement the income of the farmers.

Other

Workshop/ Village Supervisor's Salary: A supervisor will be overseeing the gift item production, which also entails trekking into villages. He/she will be provided with a fair-priced salary to manage and monitor the production of the gift items, quality control and shipping.
Workshop Setup Expenses: A small work place will be rented in Kathmandu, where basic fixtures and furniture for the workshop will be added to facilitate the production of the gift items.

Ganesh Trading

Aid Through Trade

Spiral Foundation

The Spiral Foundation implements a variety of programs in several different fields. Your purchase will help to sustain the following programs:
Health

Referral of Patients to Kathmandu, specifically: HHC Sherthung and Tipling Village health posts, hospitals in Kathmandu for diagnostic tests, as well as medical and surgical intervention for seriously ill patients. All costs of the medical services in Kathmandu, and travel and food expenses for the patients and their accompanying family members are provided.
Salary for Health Service Providers: Two Auxiliary Health Workers (AHW) with fifteen months of formal medical training (provided by HHC) run the health posts at Sherthung and Tipling Villages (built by HHC). The salary is for one year. The AHW provides primary health care with immunizations and family planning for a population of 3500 and 2200 people of Sherthung and Tipling respectively.

Education

Adult Literacy Classes: Eight adult literacy classes with a total of about 200 students will be launched in the villages of Sherthung and Lapa. More than 80% of the students will be women of childbearing age. The students, who will be attending night classes, will be provided with basic learning tools like books, copybooks, pencils, and kerosene for lamps. Eight trained teachers will be given a basic salary to teach the classes for six to eight months. The syllabus is set by the Ministry of Education, Nepal, and modified by HHC to suit the Tamang people of the villages. The students will be taught to read and write in the national language, Nepali, and will be taught mathematics as well. Classes in health education, nutrition, hygiene, immunization, and family planning will also be a part of the syllabus. The younger students will be encouraged and helped to join regular schools.
Teacher Salary: Two teachers will be provided salary to teach at the Lapa Secondary and Tipling Primary schools. The teachers, who are not residents of the villages, will stay and teach for nine to ten months a year in these schools. This is to supplement the teaching strength of the local schools, which are invariably short of teachers.
Student Sponsorship in Local School: 35 children who have lost their parents and those of the poorest economic backgrounds will be sponsored in schools within one day's walk from their villages.

Income Generation

Angora Rabbits + Feed : To give impetus and continuity to the five-year old Sherthung Angora Project, ten pairs of angora rabbits will be portered to Sherthung and given to five households to raise. Feed and medicine will also be provided for the rabbits. The rabbit hair, which can be plucked with relative ease when mature with no harm to the animal, will be used to make gift items for sale.
Cardamom Plantation: 10,000 new seedlings of the spice, greater cardamom, will be provided to the interested farmers of Tipling, Sherthung, and Lapa villages who have received basic cardamom farming training from HHC. Cardamom, which is an expensive spice, will be harvested in three years to supplement the income of the farmers.

Other

Workshop/ Village Supervisor's Salary: A supervisor will be overseeing the gift item production, which also entails trekking into villages. He/she will be provided with a fair-priced salary to manage and monitor the production of the gift items, quality control and shipping.
Workshop Setup Expenses: A small work place will be rented in Kathmandu, where basic fixtures and furniture for the workshop will be added to facilitate the production of the gift items.

Ganesh Trading

La Vida Verde has been importing gifts, home accessories and furniture from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Peru for twelve years. It is a Fair Trade organization, which means that all of the artisans La Vida Verde works with are paid a fair wage for their work. There is no child labor, and the working conditions of the craftspeople are above the norm in their respective region. In fact, several have built new homes or workshops as a result of their relationship with the company. Concern for the cultural heritage, respect for the producers' traditions and the environment, attention to detail, and consistency and quality of fine products are tantamount to the company's mission. They work directly with the individuals, the artisan co-ops, or small factories to minimize the costs for the consumer, which also enables them to pay fair wages to the craftspeople. This results in long-lasting relationships with the various artisans in Latin America.

Silvio Potosme Gallegos is one of the artisans that La Vida Verde works with. Silvio is the son of Digna Gallegos Martinez, who was a potter and molded her ceramics by hand. Silvio was born in San Juan de Oriente, Masaya Nicaragua in 1969. He was previously a shoemaker but liked ceramics. When he had the opportunity, he entered the school of the Cooperativa in San Juan de Oriente, and was trained at the producer cooperative. He graduated as the best student of the cooperative. Known as the best turner in town, in 2004 he won second place in a national turner competition. In 1986, he won second place in a cooperativa Quetzalcoatl contest with a pieced named "Jaguar". He currently teaches turning in Condega, Esteli, and La Paz Centro. He has a wife and three children. His wife also works with ceramics. Their pottery incorporates the technique called scraffito, scratching a design by hand into the glazed surface of the pot after it has been fired.

Poco A Poco

Poco A Poco was started in 1985 by Paul Baumann, and was originally called Markawasi Imports. Paul, who is from Lima, Peru, came to the United States to study archaeology. Markawasi, which means "house with and attic" in Quechua, the native language of Peru , was the name of Paul's grandparents farm in the mountains outside of Cuzco, Peru. When Paul was studying at the University in Arkansas, he began selling sweaters and jewelry to friends and colleagues who would ask him to bring back crafts from his frequent trips to Peru to visit family.

In the years since then, the business has grown to offer more and more decorative gift items and folk art. Paul moved the business to Berkeley CA in 1991, and soon after Robert Allen joined the business and and eventually became a partner. By the mid-1990's they began to design and develop more unique crafts and products with the artisans they had worked with for the past decade. In 1998, as a way to note the changes the business had taken, they changed the name of the business to Poco A Poco, which mean "little by little" in Spanish.

Poco A Poco hope to share with you the amazing experiences they have have had working and traveling in Peru over the last two decades. Little by little, they discover more of the wonders of Peru, its talented artisans and their beautiful artistry. It is their desire to bring you wonderful and unique products from Peru, which reflect their love and excitement for this beautiful country.

The following are artisans that Poco A Poco has worked with throughout the years in order to share with you the beauty of Peru and their crafts.

Mercomujer

Mercomujer is a project of Movimiento Manuela Ramos, a non-governmental organization for women's and family health, in Lima, Peru. Mercomujer develops and markets crafts handmade by women in remote areas of Peru. The project's goal is to create additional sources of income for women, and thereby promote family health and education. Fair Trade vendors, Poco a Poco, works very closely with Ana Victoria Doig, the projects director, to design and produce unique and creative craft and gift items for the American gift market, which highlight the amazing talents of women artisans.

Antonia Manzano

Poco A Poco met Antonia eight years ago at her market stall near the train depot in the town of Puno, Peru, on the northeast shore of Lake Titicaca. She lives in a small village called Chucuito, on the Lake Titicaca, 15 miles south of Puno. Poco A Poco first bought a few animal finger puppets and Christmas ornaments from her, and over the years they have developed several lines of ornaments, puppets and toys with her. Originally, Antonia knitted only a dozen different animal puppets, but that number has grown to over 75 different animals. As well, Poco A Poco have developed with her several wonderful Christmas ornaments and toys. Antonia makes the first samples of a new item, and then will give work for our orders to other women in her village, usually friends of family. These women knit to supplement their family income. They knit in between caring for their children, doing household chores and/or shepherding their llamas and sheep. It is not uncommon to see women knitting while walking in their fields.

Huasaca Family

The Huasaca family consists of four brothers (Magno, Javier, Edwin, Cirilo) and their families who live together in a family compound just south of Lima in the barrio called San Juan de Miraflores. They and their families arrived in Lima in the late 1980s from their hometown of Quinoa, near Ayacucho in the central mountains of Peru. They were escaping the pervasive violence of guerilla conflict in the area at the time. They brought with them to Lima the tradition of terracotta ceramic sculpture, which their town of Quinoa was famous for, and began selling their work in Lima. Their crafts are now exported to Europe and the United States. Their ceramics reflect the town and farm life of Quinoa, with whimsical representations of people, animals and the architecture of churches and houses. Perhaps the most popular theme in their sculptures is nativities. Poco A Poco has been working with Huasaca family for about five years.

Tito Medina

Tito Medina was born on June 16, 1968 in Cochas, Peru, in the Andes east of Lima. He hand carves and pyroengraves (burns) dried gourds, or mates. He inherited his skills from his family. He is the fourth generation in his family to carve gourds. He has been carving gourds since childhood, and opened his first market stall in 1986. Through his work he aims to convey the traditions of his region, as well as to promote gourd carving as a fine art. Tito Medina has participated in several art fairs on three continents and together with his family has received several awards. A book on gourd art which will includes his work will be published in October 2004. Recently he has begun teaching classes at gourd festivals in the United States.

Poco A Poco has been working with Tito for more than 10 years and we have seen his talents and business grow over the years. In October 2002, we invited Tito for the first time to the United States to teach classes at the Caning Shop in Berkeley, CA, owned by Jim Wides, a gourd art book writer. Since those first classes, Tito has returned to the United States several times to teach classes and give demonstrations at the Folsom Gourd Fair, Fallbrook Gourd Fair, National Gourd Society Fair, the San Diego Zoo, and the Santa Fe Museum of Intl Folk Art.

A Different Approach

A Different Approach is a fair trade wholesaler of Nicaraguan crafts. We began working with the artisans in Nicaragua six years ago after spending a bit of time in Central America. Nicaragua has many exceptional artisans, including potters, sculptors, painters and weavers. However, most of these artisans do not have adequate access to markets to provide a decent living for themselves and their families. The number of tourists who visit Nicaragua is low compared to its neighbors, and Nicaragua has not yet developed its international craft market to the level of other Latin American nations. We at A Different Approach decided to help in the expansion of their markets by becoming one outlet dedicated to bringing these beautiful Nicaraguan crafts to the American public.

The pieces we offer come from women's collectives and small family businesses. One small NGO (non-governmental organization) that has been a driving force behind the revival of pottery-making among these groups is Potters for Peace. PFP was founded by US potters out of a desire to show solidarity with the potters of Nicaragua. They sponsor cross-cultural exchanges between potters from others countries and the potters of Nicaragua. In addition, they work to improve the lives of marginalized groups by introducing pottery-making as a microenterprise. They hold workshops to introduce new techniques and skills, provide technical assistance, and help link artisans and buyers.

One community that A Different Approach has a relationship with is San Juan del Oriente. This small community of farmers began experimenting with the wheel several decades ago. Over the last 30 years, the pottery of this community has passed through several phases and has evolved into something quite eclectic. In the last decade many of the potters from this community have received worldwide recognition for their work. The pieces are inspired by traditional pre-Columbian designs, as well as, outside influences from the array of international potters that have participated in Potters for Peace exchanges. The potters use mineral oxides, mainly chrome, cobalt, and iron to color the vases. They fire them at low temperatures in brick kilns. Most the artisans in this village work in small family groups. Once a year San Juan de Oriente holds a pottery competition and the potters work long hours to produce a unique award-winning entry.

One of the potters in San Juan del Oriente is Fanor Lopez Hernandez. Here is his story in his own words:
My name is Fanor Lopez Hernandez and I am married to Candida Rosa Cano. We have 4 children. This is how I began as a potter. When I was younger I would watch a friend of mine making the traditional ceramic jaguars. I would always admire his work but never would try it myself. One morning my friend asked if I would like to help him or learn to throw and I said yes. After learning to throw I learned to paint and decorate the pieces, fire them and do everything else needed to get them ready to sell. After I learned how I taught my wife. She makes beautiful pieces, her specialty being butterflies, frogs, dragonflies, and turtles. We have learned to work in pre-Columbian designs, free style and contemporary designs. It has been 18 years now that I have been working in ceramics and thanks to God we have work.

Tintsaba

Since 1985, Tintsaba Crafts has run a rural development project in the Northern Hhohho region of Swaziland to produce and market quality crafts. The primary material used is the sisal weed, found in the Swazi countryside and woven very finely, then dyed with German eco-friendly dyes, thereby making Tintsaba's products 100% sustainable. Tintsaba provides income to over 600 Swazi women. Tintsaba is not only committed to economic empowerment, but also to the health and education of their crafters children. The crafters are divided into several different groups according to the village they live in. Each group has a group leader, a trainer and a HIV educator.

Gone Rural

Gone Rural is committed to empowering rural Swazi women by creating a regular income through the creation of handicrafts. The artisans produce unique and modern products that are made in their homes, using locally available and sustainable natural materials. Through ongoing design input, active marketing strategies, committed leadership, integrity, compassion and standards of excellence, over 1000 rural women and their families are assisted in achieving their highest potential. Gone Rural also has a non-profit organization BoMak, which pays school fees for their crafters' children.

Swazi Candles

Swazi Candles is situated in the Malkerns Valley, in the Kingdom of Swaziland. They have been producing handmade candles since 1981. Their artists and craftsmen produce unique candle designs, which are renowned throughout the world. They are a long time member of International Federation of Fair Trading (IFAT) and their founder Tony Marshak is a committed environmentalist and conservationist. He started Swazi Candles after spending time in Berkeley with a friend who was a candle maker. During the Apartheid regime in South Africa, he settled in Swaziland and began Swazi Candles to provide sustainable employment for the Swazi people. He pays employees 3 times the national average. In response to increased international food prices, Tony has started a garden for his employees so they can grow their own vegetables.

GobieCo.

Two long-time friends from two continents joined their fifty combined years of business experience, expertise and love of textile and home decors to create GobieCo.
All GobieCo. products are artisan made in SE Asia. GobieCo owners work directly with producers to ensure unique and high quality results. GobieCo prides itself in being a socially responsible company, paying fair prices while sharing business information and respectfully working with our producers.

Shawls and Scarves

A village cooperative in the northwest of Thailand, near the Burmese border, produces these 100% cotton shawls and scarves. The villagers grow their own cotton and natural dye plants, as they have been doing for several generations. The entire process from growing to spinning and weaving is done within the village.

Pieced Cotton Accessories

These exquisite pieces are made in teh a cooprative headed by a retired art teacher. She started the co-op by inviting other retired art and home economic teachers to join her; it is now in its third year. All of the members are women, most of whom are in their 60s. A primary goal is to encourage the younger generation to carry on the art of sewing and handwork despite technological advancement.

Wood Ware

Produced by a husband and wife team, their wood trays, boxes and textile hangers are high quality and limited editions. The teak used in their products is old wood salvaged from buildings: shingles, window frames, doors, stc. No new teak is used, as it is an endangered hardwood. It hsa long been their dream to have their own cottage industry and work together. They lovingly and proudly construct, polish and pack each piece themselves.

ThaiCraft Fair Trade Co., Ltd.

Established in August 1992, The ThaiCraft Association was the successor to the Hilltribe Sales (volunteer-run events organised by the International Church of Bangkok at International School Bangkok's former downtown campus from 1975-1992). For the first year only, small start-up administration grants were received from Dutch (ICCO) and British (ODA/Oxfam) funding agencies, but by retaining a small share of sales revenue, ThaiCraft soon became and has remained financially self-sufficient. By utilising volunteers from local and international communities in Bangkok, and with support from a small full-time staff, most of the first ThaiCraft Sales - a half-day market in Bangkok eight times a year - were held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Since September 1996, The Landmark Hotel in Sukhumvit Road has been its main venue. Smaller events have been held annually at International School Bangkok (ISB) in Nonthaburi and at Bumrungrad Hospital in Soi Nana Nua.

During the past ten years, ThaiCraft has received revenue for artisans at these sales in excess of 120,000,000 Baht (US$3,000,000). ThaiCraft's export sales began in a very small way but more interest in Thai craft products came from importers following a marked devaluation of the Thai Baht, caused by the Asian financial crisis of 1997/8. ThaiCraft underwent a restructuring process in 2000/1 to expand export and domestic sales opportunities by employing an expanded, professional staff team, enlarging the headquarters, and implementing database technology. In 1992, there were just to employed staff but the fulltime staff team has since grown to ten employees.

ThaiCraft's goals are:

Keeping craft traditions alive
Creating income for village artisans

ThaiCraft does this by:

Promoting high-quality crafts
Providing networking, information, and artisan training
Marketing craft products in Thailand and overseas

In the beginning, ThaiCraft 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 rice-paddy farmers far off the beaten track. Small but valued grants came at times from the Ford Foundation and the Canada Fund to help strengthen producer capacity in villages and to provide training opportunities. ThaiCraft's 60+ partner groups now come from all regions of Thailand. Their representatives meet our staff and volunteers and, just as importantly, each other at ThaiCraft Sales and also share experiences and learning at our periodic workshops and seminars.

Contact Information:
The ThaiCraft Association
ThaiCraft Fair Trade Co., Ltd.
242 Soi Akharn Songkroh Road, Sai 15,
Sathorn, Bangkok, 10120
THAILAND
E-mail: info@thaicraft.org
Tel: +66 2 6760636-8
Fax: +66 2 2860675
Website: www.thaicraft.org

Thai Tribal Crafts

Thai Tribal Crafts has been a beacon of light and hope for many hilltribe people living in northern Thailand. The traditional weaving, needlework, basketry, and other craft skills of many tribal people were in danger of dying out as villagers were discovering the convenience of purchasing cheap ready-made clothing, plastic utensils, and other doubtful "blessings" of the 20th century. However, Thai Tribal Crafts, a self-help organisation, has provided a marketing outlet through which the tribal people can sell their superb handicrafts. This not only had the effect of giving the northern villagers a much-needed income, but also helped them to gain a renewed sense of self-worth.

As their beautiful crafts are becoming increasingly popular, the market is growing. Consequently, the hilltribe members have begun to value their skills and gain a greater appreciation of their distinctive clothing and traditional arts. Their crafts range from the Akha peoples' unique indigo-dyed cloth, brightened with embroidery and silver, to the bamboo-made musical instruments of the Lahu tribe, and the extraordinary silver work of the Mien and Lawa people. The effect and significance of Thai Tribal Crafts has been far-reaching, as thousands of mountain-dwelling-people can now provide more adequate nutrition for their families, educate their children, obtain medical care, and in general raise their standard of living.

Thai Tribal Crafts works with seven hilltribes living in about 50 isolated villages in the mountains of Northern Thailand. About 60% of the price of each product goes to the producer. Any financial gain realized beyond our basic needs goes back to the tribal people in the form of benefits.

The products sold by the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store are made by members of three different hilltribe groups: the Lisu, the Lahu, and the Hmong.

The Lisu (lisaw) are an ethnic group living in the mountains of China, Burma, and northern Thailand. There are approximately 22,000 Lisus living in Thailand. For many generations, the main means of livelihood for many of the Lisu has been the cultivation of the opium poppy. Some of these people have given up poppy growing, and are now seeking to supplement their income through the sale of skillfully produced crafts.

The Lisu of northern Thailand make their clothing from brightly-colored cloth stitched into outfits trimmed with row upon row of vari-colored strips of cloth, appliqued patchwork, elaborate tassels, and beadwork. The more affluent wear massive amounts of hand-crafted silver ornaments for festive occasions. Lisu men produce crossbows, musical instruments, bird and animal traps, and other items made of wood, bamboo, and rattan.

The Lahu (musur) people live in the mountains of China, Mynmar, Laos, and northern Thailand. There are approximately 73, 500 Lahus now living in Thailand. Their practice of slash-and-burn agriculture does not provide them with even the basic essentials of life, much less the enrichment to be found in education for their children, adequate medical care, and the simple amenities of modern life. They have found that their skills in producing high-quality handicrafts can be a welcome means of augmenting their meager income.

Lahu women are skilled in weaving cloth both on back-strap and foot-treadle looms, producing delicate patchwork trims, and unusual embroidery work. Lahu weaving is unique in that the pattern appears on only one side of the cloth. Men and women together make some of the finest baskets to be found anywhere in Southeast Asia. Lahu men produce excellent crossbows, musical instruments, and other items made of wood, bamboo, and rattan.

The Hmong (meo or maeo) people live in the mountainous regions of China, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. In Thailand, there are about 124,500 Hmong people settled in villages throughout a wide area of the north. These proud and aristocratic people have supported themselves for the most part by the cultivation of the opium poppy for many generations. Some of the Hmong people are turning from opium growing, and are now seeking to market their exquisite needlework in order to supplement their income.

Hmong women traditionally make clothing for their families from cotton or hemp, which is then woven on unique looms that use both back-strap and foot treadles. Their clothing is richly decorated with magnificent embroidery, applique, cutwork, pom-poms, batik cloth, and silver jewelry.

Hmong men make crossbows, musical instruments, and other items of wood, bamboo, and rattan. Many of the men are also skilled in blacksmithing and gunsmithing.

Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts originally started as a program for street children in Ho Chi Minh City. Started by a small group of social workers, Mai Handicrafts first aimed at poor and neglected children who could not go to school due to the lack of legal papers and the inability to pay tuition. Mai gave them work and encouraged them to attend informal classes. Now that all children are admitted to formal school free, Mai provides work to their mothers and older sisters to improve family income and well-being. In a developing context, it also practices a model of social development in which social service cannot be separated from economic self-reliance.

Small Vietnamese dolls, like those Mrs. Sam works on, are popular items for Mai Handicrafts. Sam, 73, is able to work from her home in Ho Chi Minh City, which provides a safe and quiet environment. Sam's daughter-in-law, Hanh, stuffs cotton into the body of a doll. Hanh works part-time for Mai Handicrafts and as a house cleaner. She works as much as possible in order to send her 10-year-old son to school. Her husband has polio and no longer drives a "cyclo" (bicycle taxi) as he used to.

Circa Asia

At CIRCA ASIA, our goal is to provide you with the highest quality handcrafted items and fashion accessories from across Asia. From Nepal to Vietnam and places in between, we are constantly seeking out new regions to meet the most talented crafts makers and artisans. After having traveled through much of South and Southeast Asia, one cannot help but be truly impressed with the cultures of these countries.

Typically, the village people generate income by living off the land, but by making and selling these crafts and fashion accessories, they are earning money utilizing their creative talents. And, it gives them a sense of security knowing that their families will be able to pay for food, clothing, etc. Finally, it makes CIRCA ASIA feel good (and hopefully you) that together we are able to improve the living conditions of these remote villagers. It is important to understand that we do not outsource large "factories" to produce hundreds of pieces at a time for us. It is all "cottage industry." And each item is made entirely by hand from start to finish.

Playfair Trading Company

Playfair Trading Company strives to offer consumers unique products not found in the mainstream market. The company carries a wide variety of products, ranging from colorful wooden toys for children and adults such as tic-tac-toe games, rattles, and trains, to hand woven bags, scarves, blankets, pillow covers, pot holders, wall hangings and handmade dolls.

An important part of Playfair Trading Company's objective is their commitment to supporting artisans throughout the world by expanding employment opportunities and helping them to more easily access the global market. Their focus is on maintaining long-term, stable relationships with producers and providing them with opportunities for growth in their region. The majority of the artisans are woman, many of whom are supporting their families while living in refugee camps or small villages in Asia. Working together with Playfair Trading Company they are enabled the power to benefit their own families and their communities at large.

Craft Link

Craft Link is the leading not-for-profit organization working in partnership with artisans in Vietnam. Through cooperating with NGOs and INGOs such as CARE and Oxfam Hong Kong, Craft Link works to carry out poverty alleviation programs funded by the sales of hand crafted goods made by Vietnamese artisans.

The Craft Link Associated of Craft Producers is comprised of more than 40 producer groups, most of whom belong to ethnic minorities. Coordinating with local exhibitions and bazaars, the company works to increase awareness of the unique crafts and culture of the people of Vietnam. Through the practice of Fair Trade, Craft Link ensures that all artisans who produce for the company ear fair wages, helping them on their way to economic independence.

The Batsiranai Craft Project is an IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) member and cooperative of mothers with disabled children living in Dzivarasekwa township in Zimbabwe. The word Batsiranai translates from the Shona language to mean helping each other. Helping each other is just what this project is about the women work together to support each other emotionally and help their families economically through their artistry in handicrafts. These strong, hardworking women live under extremely challenging circumstances: most are lodgers, all use public transport or walk, some are widowed, some are single mothers, and many married women's husbands are unemployed. The HIV+ rate is greater than 25%, and the children require complex medical, emotional and educational interventions.

Volunteer advisors assist with the project, but all proceeds go directly back to the cooperative. Batsiranai is a Fair Trade Organization registered through Rokpa Trust. Purchasing Batsiranai handicrafts is the way you can help support and empower these mothers and children. The women support themselves and their families by making a variety of handicrafts. Their artwork is vibrant. Each product is handmade and unique. Handmade embroideries become greeting cards, bags, purses, wall hangings, tee shirts, gift bags and table runners. Using recycled hand painted bottle caps the mothers make African scenes and animals in brilliant colors. This bottle cap art is used on greeting cards, earrings, brooches, and pendants. Recently the women created small soft dolls for toys in their daycare/physical therapy centre. The dolls were such a hit with the advisors and friends that Batsiranai decided to make these cuddly African dolls available to you.

Originals from Africa

Originals from Africa is a company dealing in African art and home decor products from Southern Africa. We are committed to introducing high quality, original products from hard to reach places to an international audience.

Local empowerment, encouragement of the preservation of culture, and alleviation of poverty through the development and marketing of these unusual products and artwork is their mission. Supporting local art and craft will not only give a greater appreciation for art in Southern Africa, but will also provide a much needed income to the artists and their families. They actively encourage the continued production of traditional crafts and the development of new and contemporary items. Originals from Africa is proud to be a member of the Fair Trade Federation and follows fair trade practices.

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