Fair trade artisans create many different types of products, for all different tastes. But one thing they have a lot in common is sometimes using materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
Color Splash Photo Frames by Handmade Expressions
These gorgeously embellished frames, along with many other products, are made out of recycled sari materials. The women who create these beautiful products are from India. Handmade Expressions provides direct financial help to support a school that nurtures many of the art forms used to create the products. They provide artisans with information necessary to create more fashionable and marketable products, so they have a better chance to compete against big factories.
Have a Hoot Coin Purse by Ten Thousand Villages
This owl coin purse is just too cute. They are handmade by Egyptian women artisans, and is stitched by new cotton fabric remnants. MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Egypt is the group of artisans who create other adorable items like this. They work with a number of Egyptian groups to export handicrafts for Ten Thousand Villages. They are a relief, development and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Churches, with programs in more than 50 countries.