Songa Designs Launches Accessories Club!

We were delighted to learn of our friends Songa Designs recent launch of their Accessories Club. What a creative way to create a steady source of income and develop a steady following at the same time! Based around a monthly subscription, Songa Designs offers three options: Annual $44.95/month; Quarterly $48.95/month; Bi-Annual $46.95/month. Every member receives […]

Opportunities and challenges of e-commerce platform

By Guest Blogger Rumi Takama (Founder, Jalak Bali) Originally from Japan I have spent half of my life overseas and have always been inspired by people, culture, traditions and food in different regions of the world and what nature has to offer to us. I currently live in Bali, Indonesia and have launched Jalak Bali, […]

Artesan Profile: Child’s Cup Full, West Bank

Founded on the principle that when you invest in a woman, you invest the larger community, Child’s Cup Full (CCF) is a non-profit social enterprise that creates sustainable economic opportunities for Palestinian refugee and impoverished women artisans in the West Bank. By providing career-relevant artisanship training programs and sustainable employment to low-income women artisans who […]

Artesan profile: Darzah, West Bank – These shoes are made for showing off!

Darzah, an initiative of Child’s Cup Full, a non-profit social enterprise based in the West Bank, is a collection of tatreez embroidered products, hand-stitched by talented women artisans.  By creating sustainable economic opportunities for refugee and low-income women, Darzah is building a consortium of artisan centers to not only have a long term economic impact […]

Artesan profile: Basha, Bangladesh

By Guest Blogger Robin Seyfert (Founder, Basha) Mila* had worked in the garments factory for 3 months without being paid when she turned in desperation to a woman offering to help. This woman instead sold her to a brothel. Farhana’s* husband left her alone with their son and large loans. She could just eke out […]

Tips for exhibiting at Trade Shows!

While at the NY NOW show this past summer, I stumbled across a booth called Stitchwallah. I was immediately drawn into the booth for two reasons: the name, which seemed to pay homage to Mumbai’s Parsi community; and the beautiful Orrisi Ikat and Rajasthani block prints on display! Hilary Niederer, founder of Stitchwallah, was most […]

Artesan Profile: Songa Designs, Rwanda

Based in Kigali, Rwanda, and San Diego, California, USA, Songa Designs works with artisan cooperatives throughout the country and creates jobs for skilled women to enable them to earn economic independence. The Artesan Gateway spoke with country Director Gilbert Kubwimana to learn more. AG: Tell us about Songa Designs. GK: We currently employ close to […]

Higher Ground Nepal receives inaugural IIX-N-Peace Innovation Challenge

The Artesan Gateway was thrilled to learn news that Higher Ground Nepal, was one of six organizations to receive the inaugural IIX-N-Peace Innovation Challenge.   Focused on organizations based in Asia, the challenge identifies and supports organizations that are deemed “Impact Enterprises” who “work to empower women, engage youth and catalyze innovation and technology” and support […]

Artesan profile: Higher Ground Crafts, Nepal

Higher Ground Crafts (HGC), a part of Higher Ground Nepal, is a social enterprise that was formed in 2008. Established to provide skills, training and a source of income for low income women, Higher Ground employs single mothers, orphans and widows including several from the sex-tourism industry. The Artesan Gateway recently caught up with Oliin […]