All Across Africa works with rural producer groups and business partners to supply fair trade products including beautifully hand-woven baskets. Artisans in Rwanda use sustainable locally grown sisal and sweetgrass to make these baskets. All Across Africa is a benefit corporation and provides artisans with education, materials, finance, and training programs.
Country: RwandaTechnique: WEAVING
Ajiri is a Kenyan social enterprise that strives to create employment opportunities for women through sustainable farming and to support the education of the country’s orphan children. The social enterprise works with farmworkers to source flavorful, hand-picked tea and coffee, and it supports the artisan women who design its recyclable packaging. Each tea box is completely recyclable, as are its contents — even the tea bags are biodegradable. The labels are made from once-dried paper, dried banana bark, and water hyacinth, an invasive weed found in Lake Victoria.
Country: KenyaTechnique: Farming
Artesania Sorata provides work for families with low income in Bolivia. Artisan women dye the wool by hand using natural dyes made from local ingredients, such as walnut leaves, thola, and cochineal. These dyes are sustainable and soft on the wool. With this yarn, the artisans knit each piece by hand. Each artisan has a unique style and often adds embroidered patterns inspired by traditional weavings, geometric symbols, animals, or birds.
Country: BoliviaTechnique: ALPACA KNITTING
Based out of India, Bloom & Give is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering over 300 artisans, ages 25 to 65, through fair trade and dignified work. The social enterprise develops close, long-term partnerships with cooperatives and is deeply invested in their communities. Several of these textiles are handmade in Kannur, one of the three leading handloom communities within Kerala. The entire production process requires no electricity consumption; the yarn is hand-spun, hand-dyed, and line-dried and then woven on a handloom.
Country: IndiaTechnique: Weaving
Artisans in the Bolgatanga region of Ghana weave beautiful and durable baskets from thick, tough, and sustainable elephant grass. Purchases of these baskets have supported underserved farmworkers in the Bolgatanga region of Ghana. A classic icon of African craftsmanship, Bolga baskets from Ghana are known for their durability, unique patterns, and vibrant colors.
Country: GhanaTechnique: weaving
Located in Morocco, Chabi Chic works with talented artisans with a mission of protecting Moroccan culture, preserving beautiful traditions and techniques, and improving the quality of the artisans’ lives. The glassware is made using recycled glass, and ceramics are made from locally sourced clay.
Country: MoroccoTechnique: Ceramics
CORR - The Jute Works empowers women in rural Bangladeshi communities through handicraft production. Durable and environmentally conscious, our reusable bags are made from canvas and locally sourced jute fabric. Our Product Development and Design Team work together to provide hand-lettering and font styles that are then screen-printed by hand using AZO-free reactive colors at CORR - The Jute Works.
Country: BangladeshTechnique: Sewing
Based out of Jaipur, India, Craft Boat is a social enterprise working with talented artisans who repurpose cotton T-shirts into beautiful paper-based products while following innovative eco-conscious practices. The name “Craft Boat” itself stems from two factors — the artisans practice a traditional papermaking craft, and the paper boat making process is one of the first crafts many of them learn as kids.
Country: IndiaTechnique: Papermaking
Creative Women is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and is working with 300 artisans. The artisans use AZO-free dyes and residue is properly disposed. Production techniques are eco-conscious and require no electricity. Hand-spun cotton is lightweight and versatile, and it becomes more absorbent with each wash and dry cycle.
Country: EthiopiaTechnique: Weaving
As a responsible organization, Divine Chocolate is conscious of its environmental impact, regularly making improvements to reduce it. Divine Chocolate uses limited airfreight within the supply chain and keeps up-to-date with best practices regarding all the materials used. Packaging is reviewed annually with respect to environmental impact. Cocoa grows best in the shade of the rainforest canopy; this humid environment is best for the midges that pollinate the cocoa. This is a major reason the farmworkers of Kuapa Kokoo are actively conserving the tall forest trees.
Country: GhanaTechnique: farming
Artisans and farmworkers working with JusTea in Kenya grow 100 percent natural, fair trade teas and hand-carve olive wood spoons. The farming techniques have been passed down across generations in Nandi Hills for approximately 100 years. To produce most tea flavors, the process includes hand-plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying. It is completely pesticide-free, and chemicals are not sprayed on the leaves at any step of the process. The olive wood spoons are carefully hand-carved by members of the Makweni carving community, and for every 100 spoons that are created, one tree is planted. JusTea is a pioneer tea producer because the team works directly with tea farmworkers to work toward a brighter future. JusTea is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Rainforest Alliance Certified, and Non-GMO Project Verified, and the organization works with an Herbal Tea Co-op to create better opportunities for women.
Country: KenyaTechnique: farming
Kara Weaves is a social enterprise that is based out of Kerala, India and supports artisan weavers who are members of weaving cooperatives and designers of contemporary home textiles. All of the hand-woven products are made from ancient and local fabrics at traditional wooden looms. These textiles are made from pure cotton and with environmentally friendly dyes. Since February of 2013, Kara Weaves has been a member of the Fair Trade Forum of India, which is the country’s network of the World Fair Trade Organization and WFTO-Asia.
Country: IndiaTechnique: Weaving
Women at Kasigau Basket Weavers, a social enterprise in Kenya, handcraft baskets from locally grown materials. They practice a traditional cultural technique that is passed down from women to women. Artisans gather and prepare the sisal leaves, drain the liquid, extract and weave the fibers, and dye the strands using natural dyes to produce vibrant colors. The artisans can feel empowered, use their voices, and participate in essential decision-making processes at home and in the community at-large.
Country: KenyaTechnique: Basket Weaving
Artisans at Kenana Knitters in Kenya create beautiful hand-knit finger and hand puppets while using organic cotton and natural fibers. The cotton is sourced from neighboring Tanzania; the artisans ply and twist the cotton before dyeing it with azo-free dyes. These puppets can be easily washed and are very durable. By working with Kenana Knitters, which is a profit-share group, artisans can earn a sustainable income, create long-term economic plans, and take care of their families with a flexible work schedule. Kenana Knitters provides them with access to regular health check-ups, family planning, HIV treatment and counseling, and educational opportunities.
Country: KenyaTechnique: Knitting
Level Ground Trading works with small-scale farmworkers, who generally own between two and five acres of land in the Global South. The organization partners with underserved farmworkers who lack access to the infrastructure needed to market and export what they harvest from their land. The majority of the coffee and tea is organic, and the packaging is compostable. Level Ground Trading supports sustainable practices, invests in infrastructure development, and grants scholarships for rural youth (more than 1,000 scholarships to date).
Country: Bolivia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Peru, + TanzaniaTechnique: Farming
Artisans at Lula Mena, a microenterprise located in El Salvador, create beautiful handmade pieces while following fair trade and eco-conscious practices. Lula Mena places a significance on using quality, natural, and repurposed materials. Each purchase supports the artisans, their families, and their communities while empowering them and their livelihoods.
Country: El SalvadorTechnique: Weaving
Madécasse Chocolate & Vanilla was founded by two former Peace Corps volunteers in Madagascar. A main goal is making chocolate where the cocoa grows, as this helps to create jobs in some of the underserved communities in the world. Approximately 70 percent of the cocoa in the world comes from Africa, while less than 1 percent of the world’s chocolate is made there. Madécasse’s bean-to-bar model reduces the need for intermediaries and lessens the environmental impact of the chocolate-making process by keeping all production within Madagascar.
Country: MadagascarTechnique: Farming
Based out of Bamako, Mali Chic is an organization that consists of approximately 195 artisans who create a range of products, including home décor and accessories, by hand and with natural dyes. The mudcloth tradition has been passed down across generations of women, and the designs are inspired by everyday objects, proverbs, history, and the artist’s own meanings.
Country: MaliTechnique: MUDCLOTH DYEING
MANAVA (“humankind” in Sanskrit) is a social enterprise empowering women in Cambodia as they rise above poverty and economic hardship. MANAVA places an emphasis on eco-conscious practices and sustainable harvests, limiting what is reaped to promote future growth. Rattan is harvested from local lakes and rivers, rather than in forests and mountains, and it is flexible and thinner, growing back year after year. The raw materials are organic as well as pesticide- and herbicide-free.
Country: CambodiaTechnique: Weaving
Matr Boomie is a sourcing partner for socially and environmentally responsible products. The organization works with underserved individuals in India and strives to improve their economic and social standing by creating self-sustainable employment following fair trade practices. Artisans in India carve ethically sourced bone and mango wood to create home décor pieces including frames and handcrafted boxes, and artisans in Bangladesh use locally sourced seagrass leaves to weave beautiful baskets.
Country: IndiaTechnique: CARVING + WEAVING
Meyelo is committed to empowering artisans with sustainable income through their craft. Several of the handmade jewelry items have been created from upcycled brass, and the leather goods are colored with non-impact dyes. Meyelo works with Maasai villages to provide access to education, water, farming co-ops, and medical needs. By creating sustainable programs, Meyelo empowers artisans, children, and their communities.
Country: KenyaTechnique: JEWELRY MAKING + LEATHERWORKING
Olive & Annie empowers Maasai artisans in Kenya as they work toward financial independence. Much of the beautiful jewelry is handmade of I00 percent recycled brass, so it is good for people and the environment. Through the group, these women have access to essential resources including educational opportunities, community development workshops, and health programs.
Country: KenyaTechnique: JEWELRY MAKING + LEATHERWORKING
Pebble began as a small nonprofit teaching young women how to knit in a spare room. It has since grown into a large-scale place of employment for artisans and is dedicated to providing sustainable work for young women of rural Bangladesh. All of these rattles are handmade with 100 percent cotton and polyester fill. The women of Pebble can work from their rural communities, eliminating the need to migrate in search of employment. This allows families to stay together and support themselves with fair wages.
Country: BangladeshTechnique: CROCHETING + KNITTING
Precious Hands works closely with artisans in Guatemala to help design, produce, market, and sell their handmade goods. Many of the products are made from repurposed clothing including Maya women’s traditional blouses known as “huipils.” Huipils are woven on a backstrap loom and tell a rich cultural story while supporting the talented women who create them. A microloan program also provides long-lasting, sustainable assistance to individuals in the communities where the artisans live and work.
Country: GuatemalaTechnique: weaving
Razafindrabe Collections is a social enterprise in Madagascar. The products reflect Malagasy artisans' skills and techniques passed on from one generation to another. These bags are made from locally sourced raffia. Depending on the color palette of each piece, the raffia strands are dyed using natural powders. The majority of the women have multiple children and previously did not have access to a formal education. Through Razafindrabe Collections, they have access to a sustainable source of income and skill development opportunities. Razafindrabe Collections also supports the local primary school with basic supplies and donates 10 percent of its profits to the lunch program.
Country: MadagascarTechnique: Weaving
Rose Ann Hall Designs employs artisans, many of whom are living with disabilities, to produce this elegantly etched glassware made from recycled glass. By promoting traditional Mexican arts, Rose Ann Hall Designs provides income as well as an outlet for artistic expression to individuals with few other income opportunities. Rose Ann Hall Designs takes great pride in the uniqueness of its artisans and products.
Country: MexicoTechnique: glass etching
SAFFY provides employment opportunities to skilled artisans in the Philippines regardless of age; the artisans range in age from 18 to 60 years of age. The artisans implement eco-conscious practices in the creation of each wooden piece. SAFFY works with licensed tree farmworkers within the Philippines, and the wood is harvested in a sustainable manner. Artisans have access to skill development opportunities, product development insights, and financial management training.
Country: PhilippinesTechnique: Wood Carving
Sustainable Threads is a fair trade enterprise that works with more than 10 artisan groups located in India. Artisans at Sustainable Threads use natural dyes and implement eco-conscious practices. They dye their yarn with ingredients including turmeric, indigo, and harda to create décor and linens. Sustainable Threads is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and is committed to promoting rural development, entrepreneurship, and social justice in the communities where the artisans live and work.
Country: IndiaTechnique: Weaving
Artisan collaborators at TENSIRA in the Republic of Guinea preserve a time-honored indigo dyeing technique to create this collection. The textiles are hand-spun and hand-woven on traditional looms using 100 percent cotton. The vibrant blue dye is derived from the leaves of the indigotier plant, which grows in the mountainous region of Guinea. To prepare the dye, leaves are hand-picked, dried, ground, and compressed. The cushions are filled with 100 percent natural, non-treated kapok, which is a hypoallergenic tree fiber known for its lightweight and buoyant properties. Kapok is harvested from shells that fall from the tree at maturity. These raw materials are collected by a women’s trade association in the Kindia region.
Country: REPUBLIC OF GUINEATechnique: Weaving
Tribal Textiles is a Zambia-based social enterprise that works with more than 100 artisans. All of the raw materials are sourced locally; the cotton is grown through non-GMO practices in Zimbabwe. All paints come from South Africa and are water-based, non-hazardous, and non-toxic; they are safe for the people and for the environment. The artisans only use wood from trees that have naturally fallen or are licensed by the Community Resources Board; the use of hardwoods is avoided when possible.
Country: ZambiaTechnique: STARCH RESIST TEXTILE PAINTING
Vikapu Bomba is based out of Tanzania and works with artisan women in rural communities. The social enterprise strives to help artisans in the southern highlands of Tanzania to revive their artisanal traditions. The artisans weave durable baskets from sustainable materials. These baskets are hand-woven using a locally harvested reed grass called milulu, which grows along rivers and streams in the Iringa region of the Tanzanian southern highlands.
Country: TanzaniaTechnique: Basket Weaving
The women of Wolof Weavers of Senegal are proud to preserve the coil style of basket weaving by passing the technique from generation to generation. Using thick local grasses and strips of recycled plastic in the traditional technique, the artisans craft baskets and hampers that generate income critical to sustaining their families. Wolof Weavers is a cooperative effort of over 100 highly skilled women weaving in nine villages.
Country: SenegalTechnique: Basket Weaving
WomenCraft is a social enterprise working with more than 300 artisans from Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. To produce these baskets, artisans masterfully use locally harvested grasses and recycled grain sacks. The artisans can increase their crop yield while having a work-family life balance, sending their children to school, and providing better nutrition and healthcare.
Country: TanzaniaTechnique: weaving
Kenyan wood carvers are recognized worldwide for expertly sculpting art from native woods while using sustainable practices. The olive wood tree is sacred to Kenyans and appreciated worldwide for its beautiful grain patterns and durability. Artisans practice craft forms handed down through generations or learned in response to an environmental surplus.
Country: KenyaTechnique: Wood Carving
For centuries, Ethiopian artisans have been spinning cotton and weaving it into beautiful fabrics. Every step of creating these cotton products is done by hand. The thread is dyed with organic plant dyes made from berries, roots, flowers, and bark. Woven Promises exists on a foundation of deep appreciation of the cultural heritage of the artisans and provides assistance to improve their overall quality of life.
Country: EthiopiaTechnique: weaving