Our products and suppliers

All our suppliers share and adhere to common guiding principles that underpin and sit at the core of their operations. The ten principles and standards prescribed by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) must be strictly adhered to by all the participants. 

All our suppliers are passionate about and share common guiding principles and standards prescribed by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). These ten standards underpin and sit at the core of their operations and are strictly adhered to. 

Our suppliers buy high quality, ethically sourced & environmentally friendly products ONLY from disadvantaged producers to help artisans trade out of poverty. Over the years they have cultivated personal relationships with their suppliers and in many cases working in exclusive partnerships to develop the products that we sell. Regular visits to the small family run businesses and their families also ensures fair trade standards are maintained. They operate a fair buying policy with funds advanced to primary producers and artisans avoiding the need for borrowing to purchase raw materials to complete the orders. This fundamentally helps support them and their families even before products are made. In addition to making sure payments go directly to crafts people payments for orders are made once they are ready in their country of origin. Continuity of demand for their products also allows small businesses to flourish, employing a network of home workers in local villages. This provides an additional and vital wage while they care for their homes and families.

Partnerships with charitable organisations

Developing partnerships with local charities and other WFTO accredited organisations helps communities to become self sufficient:

• By providing education and support to empower grass roots crafts people. The provision of services directly to artisans enables production of handicrafts
• Creating opportunities and marketing support for economically disadvantaged home based artisans
• Dedicated to eradicating poverty by fighting against exploitation and illiteracy. 
• Encouraging traditional methods of manufacture, offering a marketplace for local expertise thereby stopping the decline in traditional trades.
• Support and empower women to transform themselves and reach their full potential through education, skills and social development, ensuring their well being and that of their communities
• Provide self-reliant solutions for village communities through solar energy which acts as a catalyst to employment and income while reducing carbon emissions.
• Strengthening local economies through healthcare programmes that increase health awareness in local communities, generating employment and reducing migration.
• Make clean water accessible to millions of people in need by combining traditional harnessing practices with new technologies.

Environmental policy

Our products are supplied to us from the original country of manufacture by sea rather than air thereby minimising our carbon footprint. Most products are handmade without machinery and the additional energy cost associated with modern production techniques.

Sustainable recycled products and packaging

Our range of wooden products are made from non rain forrest regions of the world and from sustainable sources that are grown and replanted regularly for their fruit (Olive and Mango). Some wooden products are made from species that are not indigenous to the continent which results in widespread destruction of other vegetation. We consider our range of products to impact positively on the environment due to the re-used, recycled and natural elements of the raw materials used in production (recycled aluminium and soapstone have a less than 1% environmental impact when compared to resin or plastic based products).

The reused cardboard boxes and packaging that we receive our deliveries in are recycled further at home so that the impact to the environment is minimal.