Sustainable livelihoods of Kantha Artisans and Environmental Safety - Fair Trade Initiative and Mission of Jaipur Handloom

In our world today, handcraft production is the second largest form of employment behind agriculture. Jaipur Handloom fair trade mission is dedicated not only to paying our kantha quilts artisans fair wages and ensuring safe working conditions, but to creating opportunity for individuals, communities, and environments to thrive and grow. More than a business philosophy, fair trade is the development of relationships built on respect, honesty, freedom, and dignity.

Our Values

Jaipur Handloom is committed to a code of practice based upon these fair trade values:

Security

We pay fair wages up front, guaranteeing long-term, sustainable livelihoods for artisans and their families, and assuming all business risk associated with the sale of their products.

Education

We invest in literacy, life skills, and vocation training for our artisans—and in access to education for their families—to grow businesses, self-sufficiency, and the opportunity for a brighter future.

Responsibility

We are accountable to artisans and farmers, their communities, cultures, and environments—and seek to build relationships based on respect, compassion, integrity, and transparency.

Rights

We are committed to men, women, and children achieving basic human rights, including safe working conditions, fair wages for their work, education, and freedom from exploitation.

Value

We honor the creativity and craftsmanship of our artisans’ work and tradition
 

Our Commitment to the Environment:

Environmental degradation is linked directly to poverty in much of the world. Jaipur Handloom mission to fight poverty cannot happen without a thriving environment and healthy, sustainable practices.

We work with our artisans to ensure that our products are made responsibly, with sustainable materials—including recycled and remnant materials—and production techniques. Many of our artisans are active in environmental projects within their communities, including sustainable harvesting of materials, waste water treatment, reforestation initiatives, and environmental education programs.

We believe in:

Creating employment: 

Jaipur Handloom works to provide employment opportunities to all artisans, regardless of gender, race, or religion. We also work to prevent child labor, instead making sure artisans' children stay in school and have brighter futures.

Paying fair wages:

Artisans working with Jaipur Handloom are paid fair wages in advance, to ensure they can support themselves and their families while they work.

Encouraging sustainable practices:

Jaipur Handloom cares about the planet, and encourages artisans to use sustainable crafting methods and recycled materials in their handcrafts. Here at home, we also use recycled cardboard shreds to pack our products for safe shipping.

Supporting community development:

Jaipur Handloom provides loans and donations to help build workshops, fund healthcare and education initiatives, recover from natural disasters, and additional community improvement projects as needed.

Preserving traditional crafting techniques:

Jaipur Handloom employs artisans who utilize traditional crafting methods, patterns, and materials to create their handcrafts.

With your support, we can continue to combat global poverty and work to help artisans and farmers build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.