Herringbone Frame

Matr Boomie

Matr Boomie, formally Handmade Expressions is a sourcing partner for socially and environmentally responsible products. They work with underprivileged and disadvantaged artisans in India and strive to improve their economic and social standing by creating self-sustainable employment following fair trade practices. They partner with grass-root level NGOs and artisan cooperatives and help them create high quality handmade goods. They empower the artisans with market and fashion information that allow them to create functional products. At the same time, they encourage them to use natural fibers and recycled material wherever possible.
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THE TECHNIQUE

Artisans working with Matr Boomie in India carve bone and mangowood to create beautiful home décor pieces including frames and handcrafted boxes. Approximately 10 to 15 artisans work together to create each batch of products while preserving traditional techniques that are local to the community. The artisans use locally sourced bone materials from animals that have died naturally. They then carve the bone pieces into the desired shape, polish them, and assemble them onto a wood base to create picture frames or boxes. This process can take approximately three to four weeks to complete. By working with Matr Boomie, skilled artisans have access to job security, fair wages, and safe working conditions.

After the papier mache has been formed, the painting process begins. An artisan first applies a base color, setting the backdrop for a beautiful decorative design. Talented painters create complex designs using non-toxic paint, without the use of stencils or decals. Traditional Indian designs typically feature natural motifs, such as birds, flowers, and animals. The beautiful motifs make each box a treasure that reflects the rich historical narrative of Indian papier mache.
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India

Its combination of spiritual depth, unmatched physical beauty, and cultural diversity makes India one of the most fascinating destinations in the world. A very diverse country, India is symbolized by the plurality of its culture, which reaches back about 5,000 years, making it one of the world's oldest cultures. With 1.237 billion people in 2012, India is the world’s largest democracy and fourth largest economy. In spite of the impressive economic growth it has seen in the last decade, for more than 400 million of India’s people (one-third of the world’s poor), crushing poverty and malnutrition are still harsh realities, and 29.8 percent of the total population fall below the international poverty line of US $1.25 per day. Moreover, in 2012, India ranked in the 136th place out of 187 countries in the 2013 Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which assesses long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.
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Fair Trade Products

Fair Trade is an approach to international trade centered around equitable partnerships, transparency and respect. It seeks to empower marginalized producers by providing them safe working conditions, fair pay, and a means to establish a sustainable business free from exploitation. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, we are committed to the Fair Trade principles.
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