Our range of pearl jewellery is supplied by a partner called Jersey Pearl, a nationally-renowned jeweler of some 24 years’ standing. They’ve come up with a plan to inform the public about pearls and their relationship to the environment. The plan to help clear up some common misconceptions about pearls comes in the form of the World Pearl Assurance which, when given to pearls, guarantees that they’re real, they’re never dyed and, very importantly, they’re carbon neutral. You can learn more about the WPA on our partner website by clicking here.
JP make the jewellery by using cultured pearls, which means that the irritant that entered the mollusk shell was put there by a person, rather than entering it randomly. The pearl grows as a result of the mollusk’s defence mechanism to the irritant, thus by using cultured pearls JP ensures that 99% of mollusks produce at least one pearl. Cultured pearl farming in this way not only produces beautiful pearls, but has stopped the proliferation of over-fishing that was destroying pearl beds across the globe.
Further to this, Jersey Pearl ensure that all the Chinese workers who culture, dive for and sort their pearls are paid some of the best wages in the area, and have superb working conditions.

 

 

Our range of men's leather goods is made by Khola, a project run in Nepal by the Nepal Leprosy Trust (NLT). The Trust has been empowering communities around Kathmandu affected by this debilitating disease for over 35 years. Overcoming impairment, rejection and economic marginalisation are the most pressing concerns for those affected by leprosy, and shunned by mainstream society they find it hard to provide for their families. By providing training, workshops, equipment, materials and designs, Khola gives these highly-skilled artisans the chance to earn a fair wage for their expertise, and grow the confidence needed to return to their communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Latin American fashion and handicrafts we have sourced directly ourselves directly from the producer under the trading name Latin Colours. We visit the artisans whom we know personally and approve their working conditions. We then pay a good price for their goods and ensure immediate payment. The workers are visited several times annually to ensure humane working conditions are being upheld and no exploitation or child labour takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our selection of children’s toys are made by Lanka Kade in Sri Lanka. All the products are handmade by one of seven family-based enterprises with whom Lanka Kade has long term working commitments. The aim is to provide continual employment throughout the year for each supplier, their families and their employees. A representative is employed full time in Sri Lanka to coordinate shipments, liaise with the UK on behalf of the suppliers and to arrange prompt payment for all goods. No middlemen are used and no commissions paid, thus enabling the suppliers to receive a fair and full price for their products. Regular contact is maintained with all suppliers by phone, fax, email and onsite visits throughout the year both direct from UK and weekly by the Sri Lankan co-ordinator. In return, the suppliers are expected to maintain a safe and pleasant working environment, equal opportunities, good rates of pay, prompt payment for both employees and in country suppliers, and a quality product at a fair price. Children are not involved at any stage of the production of items for. Lanka Kade have been approved by BAFTS (British Association of Fair Trade Shops) since 2001 as a fair trade supplier. Additionally, many of the products are made from rubberwood sourced from exhausted rubber plantations that are replanted every 10–15 years. The majority of outer packing boxes have already been used and the packing materials are either shredded paper or materials supplied by local retail outlets from their own deliveries.

 

Our two ranges of soft toys are made in the US by eco-friendly company Mary Meyer.

In the 'Fuzz That Wuzz' range, the outer fabric and the stuffing are both high-quality polyester fibre made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Did you know that two million plastic bottles are used in the US every 10 minutes, and 51 billion go into landfills annually? It will take 700 years before plastic bottles in landfills start to decompose - and less that 30% of plastic bottles in the US are recycled. Each one of these soft toys keeps over 10 bottles out of a landfill.

The other range is made from bamboo, which is a truly sustainable resource. What's more, it's soft and easy to clean, which makes it the perfect baby gift. Each toy's outer shell is 80% bamboo and 20% polyester. This creates a soft, natural toy with all the durability and washability needed to survive as a child's companion. Made with fabrics that do not deplete our earth's resources, our four bamboo friends will be at home in any home!

 

 

 

Many of our our items for the bathroom are made by The Natural Sea Sponge Co, an established company that prides itself on supplying environmentally-friendly products of extremely high quality, at very competitive prices. All the sea sponges are taken from sustainable areas of the seabed in full concordance with the law, and all divers are registered and closely monitered to ensure the environment is not exploited. Sisal is an organically grown fibre; loofah is related to the cucumber and is 100& biodegradable and sustainable; and bamboo is a fast-growing grass that is similarly organic and biodegradable. The wood used is endorsed by either the Forest Stewardship Council or the Programme for the Endorsment of Forest Certification. In short, all products from our Natural Sea Sponge Co. range are designed and produced with the environment at the very forefront of the mind.

 

 

 

 

 

A lot of our clothing and some of our jewellery is supplied by BAFTS-accredited importer Nomads. They buy from established manufacturers in India, accept the price requested and pay in advance to enable suppliers to buy their materials without having debts and to ensure wages for workers are paid on time. They work with the suppliers throughout the design and production processes, making regular orders with the same companies throughout the year. As the products are bought direct from the producers themselves, the profit goes directly to the primary source and is not gained by middle men or contractors. The factories are personally inspect on a regular basis to ensure that the workers are treated fairly and with respect. In India it is illegal to employ children under 16 years old and this law is upheld by the suppliers. Workers are paid a good hourly rate; wages are fixed by the Indian Government according to unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled, and all employees’ wages either meet or go above these levels of pay. There are also equal opportunities for men and women who are paid the same wage for the same work - which is very important to ethical trade principles. Pension schemes are in place which employees may join and the companies make contributions. From an environmental perspective, waste fabric from the manufacture of the garments is recycled to make bags and rugs. Some garments are also made from recycled sari fabric and AZO-free or natural based dyes are now being used.

 

Our stationery range is made by Paper High, who know personally the producers in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and ensure they get a fair price for their craftsmanship and are not exploited in any way. The Indian range is produced by a friendly family business in Rajasthan, Western India, who use no wood in the making of the paper, but instead make it from “Khadda”; unbleached, hard-spun, cotton rags left over from the massive garment industry. The elephant dung paper is made from exactly what it says! All handmade paper is made using a fibreous material, and is boiled and beaten to make the fibre pulp. With elephant dung paper, the elephant has done the pulping for us, so the workers collect the dung, clean it by boiling and steaming so all bacteria are killed, then putting the pulp in a shallow mould as usual. Profits from the making of our elephant dung paper goes back into the Maximus Conservation Trust that looks after elephants adversely affected by the tourism industry.’

 

 

 

 

 PlayMais is the ultimate in environmentally-friendly fun for kids. It's is a natural craft material made from non-Genetically Modified maize grown and manufactured in Germany using biofuel. Food, animal and organic waste is used to power the manufacturing plant and office premises through the eco-friendly systems on site. The highest standards of cleanliness are observed within the manufacturing plant. PlayMais has been acclaimed by "spiel gut" and has been tested with positive results by children and experts all over the world; it promotes creativity, motor functions, colour recognition and can also be used for therapeutic purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Our World Music CDs are provided by record company Putomayo. The company’s commitment to helping communities in the countries where the music originates has led to the label contributing more than a million dollars to worthwhile non-profit organizations around the world. After Hurricane Katrina, Putumayo embarked on a campaign to raise funds and awareness for musicians and others affected by the hurricane. Putumayo has contributed more than $250,000 of the proceeds from New Orleans and its other New Orleans-themed CDs to charities working in New Orleans and New Orleans musicians. Other charitable recipients include Coffee Kids, Oxfam, Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Much of our jewellery, gifts, handicrafts, frames and ornaments are supplied by Shared Earth; a BAFTS-accredited member of WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation). Through this partner we promote products made by the following artisans and organisations:

 

 Asha Handicrafts have been practicing Fair Trade since 1975, even before the concepts of Fair Trade became popular abroad. Asha in Sanskrit means 'hope' and Asha have brought hope by providing a marketing outlet to the individual craftsmen. Based in Mumbai, India, Asha is an association of voluntary businessmen dedicated to helping craftsmen, financially, ecologically and spiritually though its welfare centre and interrelated programs. The team of Asha welfare workers are stationed at different producer groups and cooperatives and move closely with them and their family sharing skills, extending medical help and education. Technical training is also provided to increase efficiency and productivity to encourage the growth and development of cottage industries.

 

 

Aspiration are based in Delhi, India and are a fairly small Fair Trading organisation in comparison to others in India. Aspriation believe in sincere work for the welfare of artisans and families which are located all over India including Jaipur and Sarangapur by promoting and developing cottage industries, improving economic and social welfare and proving fair wages. Aspiration organise groups of semi skilled and skilled artisans and help bring them up from poverty to being able to stand on their own. Some groups have even become self-independent artisans in their own community.

 

 

 

Auromira exports is the only artisans group in Pondicherry, South India, dedicated to promoting a craft that takes us back to a simple and natural way of living.  They aim to promote handweaving, readymade garments, and related crafts (hand-dying, hand-embellishment of textiles, needlework etc.) to create simple and beautiful textiles, of a high quality, as a sustainable approach to generate self-employment in their rural villages. They also aim to train unskilled youths belonging to the most backward, rural communities and establish them as independent producers in any of the weaving related areas, supporting them through our project with marketing and design input.

 

 

 

Earth Bags is based in Kolkata, India and specialises in bags made from jute, a sustainable material which is becoming increasingly popular as people search for alternatives to plastic bags. It is not a recognised Fair Trade organisation, but goes out of its way to ensure that its wages and working conditions are excellent.

 

 

 

 

 

The Equitable Marketing Association is one of the oldest fair trade organisations in India - its founder worked with Gandhi! They run a community 10 miles from Kolkata in India where disabled people from nearby villages live during the week and make leather products, candles and musical instruments enabling them to contribute to their family’s income. All EMA employees receive a provident fund, pension, medical insurance and a yearly bonus. The charity Ekta Trust was set up by EMA which provide scholarships for widows and unemployed people living in Kamarhati, donates text books to numerous students through its text book grant scheme and develop a centre for single mothers, widows and troubled wives. They also have an aim of planting 10,000 trees per year with the help of youth clubs in South Kolkata.

 

Karm Marg literally means the 'path of action' and begun with a handful of children living on the New Delhi railway station. With the help of a social worker, they took to bring about a change in their lives by starting a small kitchen on a street-side to prepare free food for children there. The kitchen was run on the money contributed daily by the older children. In the last seven years with the help of a small group of dedicated people, Karm Marg has grown to become a home for about 60 children, based on a 1.5 acres of farm land in Faridabad, outside New Delhi. At the heart of Karm Marg's functioning has always been the idea to provide these children with a strong support system and to enable them with skills that allow them to be self reliant and sufficient. It is not only a home where children get love and care, but also a place where the children are exposed to various learning experiences.

 

 

Madhya Kalikata Shilpangan work by the following motto: to promote quality products, provide good working conditions for artisans, encourage environment friendly technology and develop community based production. MKS rejuvenate the dying Indian handicrafts to helping artisans develop their skills through training workshops, educational and medical facilities, financial aid for new equipment and long term interest free loans. In addition they have introduced dust free equipment in their stone production unit to provide a more environmentally friendly working atmosphere.

 

 

 

Mahaguthi produces, exports and markets crafts from Nepal. Over a thousand individual producers are supported, many of whom are from remote and mountainous areas. Forty percent of their generated income provides women and children of the Tulsi Mehar Mahila Ashram with food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education. The centre (Ashram) was founded by the late Tulsi Mehar Mahila, who implemented many programmes for the empowerment of women in Nepalese society. Originally Mahaguthi produced and sold only Khadi cloth. Now they produce a wide range of handicrafts.

 

 

 

Mail Vietnamese is based in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, and provides employment, training and promotes self-reliance to disadvantaged women, children and ethnic minority families. The project allows women to supplement their income with flexible work at home with rates far higher than they would get from normal commercial employers. Sales profits are used for funding various social work activities.

 

 

 

 

The Mitra Bali Foundation was established in 1993 and is based in Bali, Indonesia. As a member of IFAT and a non-governmental and non-profit organisation they act as a market and export facilitator for small craft producers.  Mitra Bali work within a framework of approx 100 producer groups employing over 1,000 artisans with access to a free Design Centre facility for producers which provides a library of books, current magazines and consultations with product designers. They also hold monthly workshops focusing on new trends, technical aspects of production, health & safety and the use of environmentally sustainable resources.

 

 

 

Salay Handmade Paper Inductries Inc. are located in the Philippines and started in 1987 as a family business and have grown to employing over 200 people, making handmade paper, cards and stationery items. The Philippines government regard this project as a mode for creating rural employment without large investment. The employment it creates has brought real stability to the small seaside town of Salay. The production areas are light, airy and spacious and benefits include free medical consultation, dental health and eyeglasses. Workers participate in decision-making and have the option of becoming shareholders. The paper is made from grasses and leaves which are gathered from the streets and gardens nearby and production helps free the village of the weed cogon grass.

 

 

 

TARA Projects (Trade Alternative Reform Action) were founded in 1973 to help poorly organised and struggling artisans in Delhi, find markets for their goods. By creating opportunities for these home-based craftsmen market and sell their goods, TARA projects helps to generate steady work and income. Based on the early success of this program, they have been able to expand to a 120-mile area surrounding Delhi. TARA projects fund non-formal and vocational schools as well as literacy centres for adults and constantly campaigning and educating people about fair trade. Their goal is to end injustice and manipulation in the world mass trade system.

 

 

 

Touch of India was founded in April 1998 and is ISO certified. They produce a wide range including bags, photo albums, jewellery, scarves, boxes and homeware. They pride themselves on using old traditions of hand embroidery techniques and use recyclable materials. There are 150 employees who benefit from provident funds, paid maternity leave and insurance. Touch of India have also adopted 4 children and now provide for their education and upbringing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of our wooden models and puzzles are made by BAFTS-accredited Siiren, who only ever use wood from their own funded plantations & other proven sustainable sources; all trees and wood must have a license before it can be cut. This is policed with a required unique stamp and serial number which acts as proof that the wood is under legal and enviromental control. For every tree that is taken from our plantation a futher six are planted in its place. One of the main woods used in our products is Raintree wood, otherwise known as Samanea Saman or known to the locals as Suar or Suwar. Raintree is native to South America but has been dispersed throughout Asia and Africa for the last 100 years. Because of its fast growing properties, Raintree wood is easily replaceable which makes it the favoured wood for craftsman and importers. On every trip overseas to visit their artisans, Siiren spends a large amount of time replanting trees and working in their planations. "It gives us great satisfaction to know that we are doing our bit for future generations of wood carvers as we are safe in the knowledge they will always have a reliable income from the fantastic work they do."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our aprons, ovengloves, tea cosies and other kitchen items are made by Sterck & Co. in India. Their factory is SA8000 accredited, which is an independently audited certification that guarantees, among other things, that there is no child or indentured labour involved in the manufacture of the products. The manufacture of these items also helps support the local SOS Children’s Village in Kerala, paying for the care and upkeep of at least a dozen orphaned and abused children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our candles and accessories are made on a farm in a village called St Eval in Cornwall. There they have always believed in trying to impact as little as possible on the local environment, and any impact they may have is deemed to be a positive one. They manufacture in a very rural community with high unemployment and are vital to the local economy. They endeavour to produce as little waste as possible and all the packaging is sourced from recycled materials.