Tierra Canela work with a number of producer groups in South America and Asia. They are all approved of by the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), or else have been chosen because they comply with the criteria that IFAT recommend.
Tierra Canela is totally indebted to the hard work and ingenuity of the men and women that make these products. It gives us a special feeling to know that everything we sell has been bought at a fair price and no exploitation has taken place.
Arte Papel Arte Papel is a small women's cooperative in the town of Bahia de Caraquez, on the coast of Ecuador.
After the town was destroyed by the El Niño hurricane and an earthquake in 1998, some of the women in the town began working together recycling waste paper and creating paper products decorated with local flowers.
Sana Hastakala Sana Hastakala is a non-profit making organisation that works to generate income for under privileged craft producers, these are mostly women working from their homes.
The artists at Sana Hastakala skilfully blend traditional techniques with modern styles and, amongst other things, are responsible for the chunky, brightly coloured knit wares and beautiful felt items that we sell.
Thai Tribal Thai Tribal represents the artisans of the hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Thai Tribal is doing much to keep the traditional crafts of the tribes alive, which are blended with integrity into modern items.
Thai Tribal provide us with bags and cushion covers.
Camari Camari represents groups of artisans from all parts of Ecuador. It assists producer groups with their production methods and commercialisation of their wares and acts as an intermediary between artisan and external clients.
Sabelambay Sabalambay is a non-governmental organisation that works to improve life in the areas of health, education and employment for the people of Bangladesh.
Their products are made by teenage girls who are part of the 'Adolescent Empowerment Project'. The project teaches the girls craft skills to ensure their self-sufficiency at a vulnerable time in their lives.
The women at Sabalambay are the makers of the block printed shopping bags that we sell.
Preda The Preda Foundation is a charitable organization working for the human rights of the people of the Philippines, especially the women and children. Amongst many others they have run campaigns against child labour, sexual exploitation of children and AIDS education.
Preda provide us with bags made of recycled juice cartons and jewellery.
The Jute Works is a Trust Organisation working with the disadvantaged and neglected people of Bangladeshi society, especially women. The ownership is shared by the members and decisions are made jointly.
The men and women working through the Jute Works provide us with Christmas decorations and candle holders.
Minka
Minka is an Fair Trade organisation that allows artisans all over Peru to produce and sell traditional handicrafts without being exploited by conventional trade routes. We buy a lot of the alpaca on this site from Minka, which is all hand spun and organic. They also work to save the coloured alpacas which are being threatened with extinction due to the high demand for white alpaca wool.
Bags
