Reusable Shopping Bag

Corr Jute

Corr Jute empowers destitute, rural women in Bangladesh through handicraft production. The women artisans, who are mostly illiterate, make beautiful handicrafts with local materials during free time between household activities. Corr Jute not only creates market access, but also provides job training and develops leadership skills. The women are able to supplement their marginal family income, contributing towards better living conditions.
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THE TECHNIQUE

Female artisans at Corr Jute in Bangladesh use a braiding technique to create handmade goods such as the reusable and versatile bags that we carry. The women use a jute fiber, which is a golden, silky, and natural fiber. They braid the fiber and then wrap and sew the rope in order to give it a form. Jute grows well in Bangladesh because of the low land and monsoon weather. The jute material is planted and harvested, and it is a natural regenerator for soil through the nitrogen bulbs in the plant’s roots. The production process varies based on the size of the goods the artisans are creating as well as the complexity. This traditional technique has been followed for thousands of years while being passed down through different generations of women, and it’s unique to the community. The women working with Corr Jute are in cooperative groups in rural Bangladesh. The jute craft has positively impacted these women’s lives and has provided them with job opportunities.
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Bangladesh

Sitting on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares its borders with India, Nepal and Burma. With a population of 152 million, Bangladesh is the world’s 8th most populated country. It is also a very densely populated country, with a poverty rate of 31.5%. After 15 years under military rule, democracy was restored in Bangladesh in 1990, however the political scene remains volatile. Girls now outnumber boys in primary schools because of effective education policy that has been implemented. Yet, Bangladesh has the highest rate of marriage in the world for girls under 15. In 2013, thousands of workers were killed when the Rana Plaza building collapsed, which has led to some progress in ensuring better safety regulations in garment factories.
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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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