Ganesh Himal Trading

www.ganeshhimaltrading.com

Denise Attwood with husband, Rick,
and son , Cameron, in Nepal.

Since 1984, we have been supplying shops and retail customers in North America with high quality, handcrafted clothing, jewelry, textiles, and paper. We import directly from small cottage industries in Nepal, including development projects working to improve the lives of Tibetan refugees and women. We have worked with many of our producer groups for over 20 years.

Our goal has always been to support work that enhances people’s lives and traditions. We work directly with the producers as a team, expanding each others’ talents and ideas. It is rewarding to work with such skilled artisans who enjoy what they do and to know that they realize a fair return for their work.

We are a member of the Fair Trade Federation, an organization dedicated to promoting respect and fair interaction, at all levels, between producers and consumers. We are also a part of the Green America Business Network with a listing in the National Green Pages. Denise is a past board member of the Fair Trade Resource Network working to educate North American’s about the benefits of fair trade. We are also co-founders, with Sita Gurung, of the Baseri Health Clinic in Baseri, Nepal.   It has been very rewarding to be involved with the growing interest in the support and promotion of fair trade and with enhancing the lives of our producer partners in Nepal.

Please see our website for retail locations that carry our products throughout the US and Canada.

Fair Trade Weaving in Nepal

Mission:  For those of you who are new to Ganesh Himal Trading we would like to give you a brief introduction to who we are and how we practice fair trade. We have worked with producer groups in Nepal since 1984. By assisting in product development, purchasing and importing these artisans’ products our goal has been to create mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships with low income, refugee and fair trade artisan groups in Nepal. The principles of fair trade are central to our philosophy and the way we do business. In 1998, four key international organizations created a widely accepted definition of Fair Trade:

“a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions, and securing the rights of disadvantaged producers and workers-especially in the South” (FINE, 1998)

As we look back over the past 25 years we are thrilled to see that the concepts of “fair trade” do work to bring economic, spiritual and cultural health to all of those involved. We have watched with humility as the producers we work with have done well and then reached out to others in need.

We have watched a country go from peace to civil war and seen the strength and resolve of our friends as they deal with even more adversity and again reach out to those who have been so tragically affected by this war. As we look to the future we hope to provide the producers we work with in Nepal with a more just and stable future, through fair trade and to educate more consumers about the need to support this movement for economic justice.

Finally, we hope to help more fair trade retailers in North America gain access to items that are practical and useful in our every day lives so that more fair trade outlets can become available to North American consumers. It is our retail customers who are the visible presence of fair trade. Without you none of this would be possible! Our dream is to work together with you in partnership toward an economically more just world.


Location:  Spokane, Washington, USA
Online shop:  Ganesh Himal Trading  (Wholesale only)
Blog:  Fair Trade News Blog
Memberships:
   Fair Trade Federation 
   Green America 
   Fair Trade Resource Network 
Languages spoken:  English, some French

Hand Knit Accessories by Ganesh Himal Trading
Fair Trade in Nepal

Tags:  Fair trade, Nepal, kitchen, potholders, placemats, tablerunners, housewares, clothing, felt

Tilonia

www.tilonia.com

Tilonia is a mission-driven, social enterprise developing the entrepreneurial skills and business capacity of artisan enterprises managed and owned by rural artisans in India.

The Tilonia artisan collections feature home textiles, women’s accessories and gifts suitable for contemporary decorative styles while still reflective of Indian craft traditions. Bring the color and spice of India to your home!



Mission:  Tilonia, takes its name from Tilonia, the small village in Rajasthan that is the home of the Barefoot College. Since 1972, the College has worked to improve the quality of life of the poorest of the poor, who make less than $1 a day. The Barefoot College trains the poorest of the poor to become “Barefoot” professionals who develop their own communities. These semi-literate women and men from poor rural communities become Barefoot solar engineers, water engineers, architects, teachers, midwives and paramedics creating their own solutions to meet basic needs for water, electricity, housing, health, education and income.

Working in conjunction with the Barefoot College, Friends of Tilonia, Inc. has developed Tilonia.com for the sale of handcrafted bedding, accessories and gift items produced by nearly 800 artisans in villages where the College and its affiliates operate. We are replicating this “Barefoot” model by developing Barefoot e-commerce managers who operate the web-based platform and online store, manage and sustain the enterprise, and enjoy the economic benefit of a successful business operation.

Location:  India
Online shop:  Tilonia
Memberships:  
   Avani Kumaon
   Barefoot College
   Designing Hope
Languages spoken:  English, Hindi

Textiles from Tilonia

Tags:  Natural Dyes, Blockprint, Woven, Wild Silk, Peace Silk, Weaving, Bag, Scarf, Tablecloth, Bedding

Las Rancheritas

 

http://www.charlottebell.com/rugs/

Las Rancheritas is a rug hooking cooperative in a rural village high in the mountains of central Mexico.  Their folk art designs are of the life around them: chickens, pigs, mountains, cactus, farming and whatever their imagination creates. The wool used to make their rugs is donated from rug hooking groups throughout the USA and Canada. Sales from the rugs are contributing to a higher standard of living in this subsistence farming community.

Las Rancheritas, a rug-hooking cooperative from Central Mexico.

Mission:  To provide funds to a financially disadvantaged community and promote self esteem through development of a craft.



Location:  Agustin Gonzales, Guanajuato, Mexico
Online shop:  Las Rancheritas
Blog:  http://lasrancheritas.posterous.com/
Memberships: Association of Traditional Hooking Artists
Languages spoken:  English, Spanish 

Hooked Rug by Las Rancheritas
"The Mending is Very Heavy"

Tags:  hooked rugs, primitive hooked rugs, rural Mexican craft cooperative, folk art, economic development, fair trade, recycled, eco

Threads of Peru

www.threadsofperu.com

Ariana Svenson with a Quechua Weaver

Threads of Peru is a not-for-profit, social enterprise registered in Cusco, Peru. The founding members, Fely Callanaupa Gonzales, Ariana Svenson, Angie Hodder and Adam Collins represent the countries of Peru, Australia, and Canada respectively.

We sell fairly traded, authentic, traditional Andean Textiles. These hand-woven fabrics are made using ancient traditional methods practiced by the indigenous Quechua people of the Peruvian Andes.

Traditional Andean weaving in Peru involves the shearing of organic fiber from herds of free range alpaca and sheep; the washing and dyeing of the fiber using natural dyes (from insects, plants, and minerals of the region) and local plant-based soaps; hand-spinning of the fiber into thread using the drop spindle; and the weaving of cloth using the ancient back-strap and four post looms. Woven items feature superb iconography specific to the mountain communities in the Sacred Valley region of Peru.

Threads of Peru funds and conducts weaving workshops in three rural Andean communities, which develop a better understanding of production for an international market, and broaden the use of traditional methods. We also administer a nutrition program for the Reach Out Children's Fund, as part of our mandate is to collaborate with other organizations to improve the effectiveness of development efforts in the region.

Threads of Peru also offers a 14 day tour of Peru, which offers a panoramic view of the past, present and future of traditional Andean textiles. From the museums of Lima and the islands of Lake Titicaca, to the indigenous communities of the Sacred Valley and the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, this textile-focused tour reveals how important woven threads are to the fabric of Peruvian culture.  Click for Tour Info.

Peru, its people and their traditions are a vast and beautiful part of our world. They are connected to us - as we all are connected - through the common threads of fabric and fibre art. None of us can know it all, and we are happy to be included in this community; to learn and share in its collective strength.

Mission:  Threads of Peru supports Quechua weavers of Peru and their ancient textile traditions. By connecting weavers to an international market for their craft, we help to preserve their ancient culture and provide communities with important economic opportunity.

Threads of Peru offers high quality clothing, accessories and home decor which fit contemporary lives and fashions. Our products are created using traditional methods of hand production, which are environmentally sustainable, and serve to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the descendants of the Inca.


Location:  Peru
Online shops:  Threads of Peru on eBay
Blog: Threads of Peru
Other Social Media:  Twitter, Squidoo
Languages spoken:  English, Spanish

Threads of Peru

Authentic Andean Textiles from Threads of Peru - Angie Hodder on Vimeo.

Tags:  Peruvian textiles, alpaca scarf, wool belt, table runner, shawl, woven handbag, native clothes, indigenous decor, andean art, handicrafts Peru 

Fabric of Life

www.fabricoflife.com.au

My name is Mary Jose and I have been a textile conservator serving museums, galleries and private collectors for the past 25 years.  My passion is the preservation of material culture as expressed through traditional textile practice.

I have pursued this through my work as a conservator but just on 8 years ago I established my business,  Fabric of Life.  I am privileged to be able to travel throughout the world visiting textile artisans to learn about their work and to buy for my business. 

As all textile lovers will know there is always something more to learn about textiles  and more beautiful textiles to discover.  I am hoping to connect with people with similar interests through TAFA and also to source materials for my conservation work.

Mission:  Fabric of Life specialises in handmade contemporary and antique textiles individually selected from around the world.  We are proud to offer original handmade textiles that are finely crafted, distinctive and beautiful for use in interior design, fashion or as gifts.

We follow Fair Trade principles by buying from individual makers or projects that help to promote community development, self-sufficiency and sustainability. Each year we visit villages that still  practice traditional textile arts and select exquisite handmade pieces for Fabric of Life customers directly from the maker.

We are also proud to present a range of Australian Aboriginal textiles and fibre works from communities throughout Australia.

Fabric of Life also provides textile conservation services for the care and preservation  of a wide variety of antique and contemporary textiles.  Professional conservation enables objects of beauty, interest, sentimental value and cultural significance to be enjoyed by present and future generations. Whether you have a unique item yourself, or are responsible for the care of a museum collection, Fabric of Life has the expertise to preserve and care for your special textile piece.

Our expert team can provide advice on the right textile for your home and prepare the perfect display system to suit. The Fabric of Life textile collection is diverse in culture and style. We travel the world, sourcing textiles of the highest quality from artists across Asia, Africa, South America and Central Australia. Most works are new but we also stock vintage textiles for the collector. This is what makes Fabric of Life’s textiles truly unique, a collection you won’t find anywhere else.

Our extensive range is on display in our Melbourne Street store in Adelaide and online at Fabric of Life.

Location:  North Adelaide, South Australia

Online shop:  Fabric of Life

Brick and Mortar:

   Fabric Of Life
   Handmade and Fair Trade Textiles, Gifts and Conservation
   141 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide, South Australia, 5006
   email

Memberships:  

   Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM)
   The Asian Arts Society of Australia (TAASA)
   The Fair Trade federation of Australia and New Zealand (FAANZ)

Languages spoken:  English

Fabric of Life in Australia

Crossroads Trade

http://www.crossroadstrade.com

I started Crossroads Trade as an outgrowth of my love for ethnic textiles, joining it to my commitment to fair trade. After running a brick-and-mortar store in two locations for 11 years, my business is now all on-line.

As a retailer and wholesaler, I'm always looking for uncommon works by ethnic artists. Most items you will see on my websites are not available in stores or online. I showcase work from producer groups whose traditions are little known in the United States. Each year I scout new locales to identify new artisans and traditions.

I'm dedicated to ensuring fair trade. I purchase directly from artisans, cooperatives, refugee communities, economic development initiatives and a limited number of wholesalers who subscribe to fair trade principles. Artisans are paid promptly, receive a fair wage by local standards and set the price for their work. Working conditions are clean, safe and accessible. Children who are learning traditional crafts are doing so after school; many mothers are working to pay school fees for their daughters and sons. I'm an active member of the Fair Trade Federation.

-Kate Harris

Mission:  Crossroads Trade is dedicated to ensuring the survival of indigenous craft traditions around the world. These traditions may express themselves in such timeless works as Kuna Indian molas and Palestinian cushion covers, or in new forms. Ghanaian batiks are fashioned into messenger bags. Shangaan artisans from South Africa have expanded their embroidered works from ostrich-leather bags to spectacular cushion covers and wall hangings. These artisans deserve a fair price for their labor and the opportunity to work in safe surroundings.


Location:  Arlington, Massachusetts, USA
Online shops:  crossroadstrade,  worldofgood
Blog:  crossroadstrade
Other social media:  Twitter
Memberships:  Fair Trade Federation, World Fair Trade Organization
Languages spoken:  English, French, Spanish, some Japanese and Russian

Kuna Mola from Crossroads Trade

Tags:  Inuit, Africa, Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America, Mexico, South America, human trafficking

MarketPlace: Handwork of India

www.marketplaceindia.com

MarketPlace: Handwork of India is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing economic opportunities for women artisans in India, and empowering them to bring about changes in their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities.

Our clothes are rooted in a long tradition of artisan work, rather than based on fleeting trends. Reflecting classic styling, our designs are fresh and versatile.

“Leadership By Design” sums up our strategy. Planning and controlling every aspect of production has given women basis skills that they use in planning other aspects of their lives and taking initiatives in community actions, their children’s schools, and changing relationships between them and their husbands and children, especially their daughters.

Women are involved in design workshops, executing plans for production, the entire quality control, and managing the transfer of skills. MarketPlace is currently working with 14 cooperatives, representing over 480 artisans, most of who are women. The clothing and textile products made by these groups are marketed in the U.S. through an attractive catalog, website and a number of specialty and clothing stores. Sales in the U.S. in 2008 was almost $1 million.

Location: Evanston, Illinois, USA
Online shop: marketplaceindia
Blog: marketplacehandworkofindia
Memberships: MarketPlace is well recognized in the Fair Trade Movement and was one of the founding members of the Fair Trade Federation and is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization.
Social Media: Twitter, YouTube
Languages spoken: English

Reversible jackets by MarketPlace: Handwork of India

Tags: fair trade, veggie dyes, embroidered clothing, cotton clothing, Indian clothing, economic development, Mumbai, SHARE

Botanical Colors, LLC

Botanical Colors: your source for natural dyes.

www.botanicalcolors.com

I am a textile craftswoman with 25 years experience in creating beautiful color from plants and other natural materials. I sell premium natural dyes and supplies through my online store, Botanical Colors. I have traveled to Africa, Turkey, Southeast Asia, India, Central America and Europe in search of the historic and traditional colorants of these cultures.

I love color.  I am happy every day that I have my hands in a dye pot and never tire of the magic of  indigo.  I abandoned a corporate position in Silicon Valley to relocate to Seattle and follow my dream of a life in the textile arts.  I worked for over 6 years at Earthues in Seattle and honed my skills in color, design and production dyeing in one of the most beautiful and inspirational textile arts studios and the epicenter of natural dyeing in North America.  In addition to dyeing, I spin, weave, knit and felt and am busily making sample swatch books of the hundreds of colors that I have dyed over the years.

I live in a small cottage in Seattle with a huge organic vegetable garden and share life's adventures with my heart's delight, Richard, and our sweet rough collie, Rio. We support community endeavors including the Coalition of Refugees from Burma and share our bounty by providing fresh, organic food to our local food banks.

Artist's statement:  I strive to provide natural dyes that are beautiful, sustainable, environmentally friendly and support farming communities and small producers.  I have personally visited a number of my major suppliers to ensure that their working environments and processing methods are humane and economically and socially responsible.  All of the dyes that I sell are personally tested for quality, light and washfastness and are the historic dyes that have been used for centuries by textile artisans all over the world.

I hope someday to create a sustainable enterprise that leverages the textile skills of my Burmese friends so that they can thrive and prosper in their new home.  I am optimistic that the success of Botanical Colors will help establish this new enterprise in the near future.

Location:  Seattle, Washington, USA

Online shop:  botanicalcolors

Blog:  botanicalcolors

Memberships:

   Natural Dyes International
   Coalition of Refugees from Burma

Languages spoken:  English, Spanish, Japanese

Naturally dyed yarns with Botanical Colors extracts.

Tags:  Color and Culture, Fair Trade, Textile arts, weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, dyeing, printing, quilting

Unique Batik

www.uniquebatik.us

Unique Batik Artisans in Pakistan

We are a small business that makes a big impact.  We work with artisans in the developing world  (many of whom have perfected the traditional crafts of their ancestors) to bring these unique pieces of art to open markets.  Unique Batik is a Fair Trade wholesaler of clothes, bags, jewelry and accessories.  In business since 1991, we now have partnerships with artisans in Guatemala, Ghana, Thailand and Pakistan.  Fair Trade means our artisans are guaranteed fair wages, sustainable relationships and safe working conditions that are free from discrimination and forced child labor.  What makes Unique Batik different is its commitment to working alongside artisans to design beautiful products that meet demand in the developed world. 

Location:  Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Memberships:  Fair Trade Federation

Languages spoken:  English and Spanish

Fair Trade Products from Around the World

Tags:  Fair Trade, recycled, hand-dyed, batik, woven, bead work, comalapa, corte,  ikat, traditional crafts, embroidery.

Lilou

 

www.liloultd.com

I have always been fascinated by colours and I am often surprised by how little colour there is in the world of every day fashion.

On the other hand, I am all too aware of the disposable mass consumption the world indulges in, along with all it's vices.

So at 36, I decided it was time for a change:

I am determined to create a fashion company that  focuses on creating colourful fashion accessories that are 100% hand-made, timeless designs and made to last. No more cheap throwaways!

The other big part of the equation is the social impact: Why just run a business for profit, when you can do so much more?

The driving force behind my creativity is the knowledge that I can provide employment and fair wages to rural artisans, re-invest in their communities and educate them about business.

I am very passionate about what I do. I enjoy sharing ideas and meeting other social entrepreneurs, the more the merrier! 

-Ingrid Vercruyssen

Mission:  Lilou is all about Slow Fashion.

We are devoted to making colourful, long-lasting accessories that will brighten your world. We are passionate about every piece that we create.

We believe in craftsmanship and the value of handmade. We believe in style over fashion. Every piece must be beautiful, elegant and functional.

We live for making beautiful things, but we are careful to ensure they are beautiful all-around.

We work closely with our artisan communities, providing training, ensuring fair wages and fair work rules. We share our profits with our artisans, who take enormous pride in their work and help us be who we are.

Location:  United Kingdom and Cambodia

Online Shops:  

   Lilou Ltd.

   LilouColours
   LilouInteriors

Blog:  liloultd
Other social media:  Twitter 

Languages spoken:  English and French

Fair trade handmade accessories from Cambodia.
By Lilou.

Tags:  handwoven, hand dyed, colorful, fair wages, scarves, handbags, Cambodia, merino, silk, accessories

Floating Stone Silks

www.FloatingStoneSilks.com

Floating Stone is my impossible dream in action.  My name is Lynda Drury and I work with artisan enterprises in Cambodia to produce stunning contemporary silk accessories. The silks are unique pieces that embellish and style up a wardrobe. They come in spectacular luminous colours with the defining properties of hand woven, handcrafted works of art. They embody traditional artisan techniques that have jumped right out of the box! We strive towards highly marketable designer silks and a sustainable enterprise. Our designs are co-creations, using ancient Cambodian skills, their amazing fashion savvy and our design and market knowledge.

Floating Stone’s designer product line includes wraps, scarves, stoles, bags (hand bags, shoulder bags, knitting bags…), purses (evening, day, wallets, wristlets…), along with totes for everything and for specifics, like jewelry. We create everything silk, from wedding accessories to products made specifically to utilize silk scraps.

Most importantly, Floating Stone puts people before profits. We only work with those committed to a better way of life for Cambodians. We work business to business and share our lives, families, hopes and dreams. Currently, we are partnering with one of our producers in a sustainable agriculture project. The project is designed to create small vegetable gardens for food and income production as well as to develop capacity for advocacy for social justice within the community’s leadership. Our dream is to work up to producing our own silk supply, and to invite artists to travel to Cambodia to share creative embellishment techniques with our producer groups. They are hungry for new ideas and short on resources for explorations. 

We are proud to tell you that many of our products are available  through the  Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. We hope to add more galleries to this list. Floating Stone Silks are also available through a  variety of Unique Retail Outlets, including Fashion and Gift Shops, Hotels, Spas and Galleries on Vancouver Island, surrounding Islands and Lower Mainland. Email for outlets close to you.  For anyone in the Courtenay area, you are welcome to visit my studio. Email me for the address.

Mission:  People before Profit

Location:  Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada

Online shop:  Floating Stone Silks

Blog:  floatingstonesilks.com
Other social media:  Twitter

Memberships:

   World Fair Trade Organization
   Fair Trade Federation
   TransFair Canada

Languages spoken:  English

 Fairly Traded Cambodian Silk Accessories

from Floating Stone Silks

Tags:  Silk, Fair Trade, unusual scarves, shawls, Cambodia, fashion, handbags, accessories

MayaMam Weavers

www.mayamamweavers.etsy.com

Maya Mam Weavers

We are a group of Maya Mam women from the town of Cajolá in Guatemala. (Mam is one of the 21 different ethnic Maya groups in Guatemala.) For us Maya, weaving has been a way for thousands of years to express our identity, our love of beauty and to relay the wisdom of our ancestors. Our ancestors left an extraordinary legacy to us and to all of humanity -- a vision of the universe that allows us to know our place in that universe and that guides our lives in harmony with every other person’s purpose in life so that we all develop to our full potential.

Our group began when several of us came together to talk about common problems. We identified lack of income as our major need, and began to learn to weave (on a foot loom – many of us already weave on our traditional backstrap loom) and to sew on pedal sewing machines. Our goal is to create products inspired by our traditions --  weaving our ancient wisdom into our textiles, but now designed to share with the people of the U.S.

Mission:  Inspired by our traditional weaving and cosmovision, we are creating products designed for the U.S. market. Each product includes a small teaching from our cosmovision. In this way we can continue the traditions of our ancestors as well as share their wisdom with others. 

Location:  Cajola, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Online shop:  mayamamweavers
Blog:  handmade with maya wisdom
Social media:  Facebook group 

Languages spoken: Spanish, English, Mam

 Celebration Basket Liner, Handwoven by MayaMam Weavers

Tags:  hand woven, handwoven, hand embroidered, backstrap loom, Fair Trade products, Mayan textiles,  embroidered pillows

Original Women

 

www.original-women.com

Original women is a women-owned social enterprise dedicated to celebrating the artistry of women from around the world! 

We strive to make the world more harmonious, happy and beautiful.

-Gwendy and Anelle, Co-Founders

Mission:  We celebrate the artistry of women from around the world.  We embrace the passion they have for their culture and heritage.  We are inspired by their achievements.  We showcase a unique collection of their creations - wearable, decorative and functional.

We celebrate tradition and innovation, intuition and intention, creativity and skill.  We follow Fair Trade principles and showcase ethically produced products.  We support women expressing their creativity and using their skills to make their lives, their families' lives, their communities and our world a better place.

Nature is our original inspiration. We respect and care for the environment and our planet. We encourage rethinking, recycling and innovation in using and reusing materials.  We believe in relationships, partnerships and cooperation.  We strive to make the world more harmonious, happy and beautiful.

Location: New York City, New York, USA

Online shop: Original Women

Blog: Original Women
Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Textile

  Hand woven cotton, silk and silver metallic sheer shawl-

available at Original Women

Tags:  handwoven, embroidery, textiles, India, artisan

TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles

 www.tammachat.com

handwoven beauty ~ fairly traded

TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles is a fair trade social enterprise based in Nova Scotia, Canada. The co-founders, Ellen Agger (photo) and Alleson Kase, are passionate about handwoven, naturally dyed textiles and about supporting the women in rural Thailand and Laos who create them. These skills - passed down from mother to daughter for generations - are now at risk of being lost, especially the skills of creating hand-reeled silk yarns. We support this small-scale, village-based sericulture and the organic production of these silk yarns by accessing markets for this work in North America and beyond. Each year, we travel extensively in Thailand and Laos, meeting with women's weaving groups and development projects that work with village groups, collaborating on new designs, learning from each other. The work is rewarding, the women sericulturists, dyers and weavers are highly skilled artisans and the textiles -- truly "slow fashion" -- are beautiful.

We organize fair trade eco-textile events.
We wholesale to select shops that value fair trade and art quality, handcrafted textiles.

Mission:  TAMMACHAT’s naturally dyed silks and cottons combine contemporary styling with traditional skills to bring you timeless fashion accessories and home décor. Each piece is exquisitely handwoven in limited editions. Each purchase helps a woman artisan in rural Thailand or Laos celebrate and sustain her culture, family and community.

What's most important to us is:

• to support women artisans through fair trade (including building long-term relationships and ongoing commitments)
• to support their efforts to use sustainable practices that protect their environments and their health, and
• to help preserve these cultural traditions.

Location:  Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Online stores:    
   TAMMACHAT 
   Etsy 
   BLURB photo books 
   Ethical Ocean
   Source 4 Style  

Blog:  TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles

Other Social Media:  
   Twitter

   YouTube
   LinkedIn 
   Ethical Fashion Forum

Memberships: 

  SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates)
  Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council
  BALLE-Nova Scotia (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies)
  Ethical Fashion Forum
Languages spoken: English, a little Thai, Italiano, Français

Eri silk scarf from central Thailand. Handspun silk, natural dyes.

From TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles. 

TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles on Facebook

Tags:  weaving, handwoven, naturally dyed, social enterprise, fair trade, organic, silk, cotton, Thailand, Laos