Meenal is married with three daughters. She has worked as an Artisan in this workshop in her small village in northern India for the past two years. Her family is very supportive of her, as she continues to inspire more women in her area to begin working as Artisans and helping their families overcome poverty. During the holidays, Meenal often teaches weaving classes for women in her community.

Artisans in Haiti overcome the continual challenges and threats of extreme poverty, political unrest, and gang violence to travel to this workshop where they create ethically made jewelry, accessories, and home decor, because the opportunity to earn dignified income and provide for their children is so vital to their families. 

Haiti is home to almost 500,000 orphans. The majority of Haiti’s orphans have not been orphaned by parental deaths, but instead have parents, grandparents, and relatives who love them, but surrendered them to orphanages, because they could not feed them. This Artisan community is helping with Haiti’s orphan crisis by providing parents with local business opportunities as Artisans. Through fashion as a force for good, parents in areas of extreme poverty in Haiti can earn sustainable income that empowers them to keep and provide for their children.   

Mamoune, Edert, and Jocelyne have been continually challenged by threats of extreme poverty, political unrest, robberies, kidnappings, and gang violence in Haiti. Recent events in the area surrounding their workshop have escalated these threats and created the need for a safer location. Every purchase of their holiday ornaments and decor supports these Artisans and so many other families in their community, as they move all of their supplies, tools, furnishings, and inventory to a new workshop away from gang violence. Thank you for spreading hope for a brighter future for our Artisan partners in Haiti through Fashion as a Force for Good.

The poverty cycle in India continues primarily because of the lack of education and essential resources that are often not available or affordable for children in India’s slums. Many of these children never learn to read or write and grow up with limited opportunities. Many families in India’s slums have limited or no access to health care or clean water. Your purchase helps provide Artisans in areas of extreme poverty and their children with access to education, health care, and clean water programs. Every purchase gives hope to families in India’s slums.    

Shaheen lives and works alongside her father and other members of their family in their small family workshop in India. The men of Shaheen’s family are experienced welders who weld together the wire letters the women bend to spell “N-O-E-L”! Their family used to work in the open, under a canvas. Now, the income they’ve earned through this Artisan community has made it possible for Shaheen’s father to renovate their home and transform their workshop into an ideal fair-trade workshop with fair wages and Artisan benefits.    

As a college student with a very active social life, Shaheen works part-time in her family’s workshop, bending wire and carefully checking the spelling of the words of each bowl. She hopes to one day teach the children in her village! 

There are so many Peruvians who don’t have a job. I’m very thankful that I work in an area that I love. I was given the opportunity to work in ceramics and it was something I always loved to do since I was in school. Painting and developing craft pieces were my hobbies when I was a young girl. I love the small details, because every new piece is a challenge and I never give up.

Working with Trades of Hope has been joyful! I can solve my expenses and send money to my mom who lives in the highlands. My dad passed away when I was 10 years old. My mom is my motivation, and I work hard because I know she depends on me. I dream of having my own house. It’s a challenge. But I’ve been saving money in the bank, and I know that if I continue working hard, I’ll achieve it.

Before I became an Artisan, I worked in many different jobs. Last year was a critical year, because my family’s situation was really bad. I lost my job before the pandemic, and I had to work with my brother in his small restaurant. Unfortunately, his restaurant had to close too. I was offered the opportunity to work with this Artisan community and I accepted.   

Without my work, my life would be a mess for sure. All of the people who buy our products, even if they buy a small piece, are a huge help to us! I dream of giving my daughters the education I wasn’t given. My work is definitely helping me achieve my dream. I can save money to achieve it in the future. 

When I was a small kid, I did not have a chance to go to school. My beloved mother taught me crocheting. I really admire her and want to become an Artisan like her. In my community, there are not many jobs for the housewives like us. Trades of Hope and my Artisan community helped me get a financially stable job to support my family.   

This work is my only income, helping me to make ends meet for my whole family. I do not have to worry much about my children’s school fees anymore. Furthermore, if my children love something, I can buy it for them instead of just looking regretfully. Now, I’m more confident in my life and have many more friends. Every day, to work is a joy!     

I wasn’t able to finish my studies, and it’s very difficult to get hired for a good paying job in the Philippines due to the number of displaced workers. I used to wake up very early in the morning because it would take two hours to commute to work. Then, I’d get home very late. Now as an Artisan, I can do other things during the hours I used to commute.

I’m able to help our grandparents take care of their other grandchildren who are very young and help with household chores. It means a lot to me that I’m able to work at home because my partner’s grandfather, who owns this capiz workshop and taught me my Artisan skills, just passed away. I’m thankful that I was at home when he got sick, because I was able to assist his wife and look after him, whom I treat as my own grandparents. I dream of being financially stable and being able to support my family and live a comfortable life.