Case Study: Recycled Sari Book
Reflections on craft product development from the eyes of an industrial (product) designer. While living in Bangladesh, one of the social businesses that I worked with was Sacred Mark Enterprise (SME), which works to provide alternative employment to former sex workers through handicraft production. My support centered around graduating this business from being incubated under […]
Artesan Profile: Ankur Handicrafts
Based in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, Ankur Handicrafts comprises of women artisan producers each of whom are women with disabilities. At the moment the group comprises of 47 individuals, most of whom come from poor and neglected communities and must work in order to survive. Originally an income generating project within the Protibondhi Community Center (PCC) , […]
Friends of Basha – Supporting the women behind Basha Enterprises.
Social businesses that work within the artisan sector, often establish a separate nonprofit to support the socio-economic needs of the producers whom they employ. We recently caught up with founder, Robin Seyfert to learn more about Friends of Basha, and how it supports many of the women who work at Basha Enterprises. Basha Enterprises is […]
Artesan profile: Nokshi Crafts
We are thrilled to share a recent conversation with founder of Nokshi Crafts, Maisha Samiha, about vision for the organization and the sector. Background – how it all began The Rana Plaza incident was a horrible tragedy that really put into context the complexities of fast fashion and social responsibility, and personally, it motivated me to find […]
Providing a platform for local networks
On 15th October, we had the privilege of hosting the inaugural Fair Play Forum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Convening social businesses, NGOs, artisan producers and fashion students involved in the craft and artisan sector, the Forum provided a platform for each of the stakeholders to engage with each other in meaningful conversation. Leaders from Arayana, DEW, […]
Inaugural ‘Fair Play Forum’ launch!
The Artesan Gateway is thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Fair Play Forum in Dhaka, Bangladesh this Saturday, 15th October! We have teamed up with the Fiber Resource Center, Dhaka and Fashion Revolution Bangladesh, the to convene social businesses, producer groups and consumers involved in the artisan made sector in Bangladesh. Through the […]
Designer profile: Shefaly, The Carpet Workshop
Last month we featured the Carpet Workshop, a income generating project that trains women on carpet and Kilim weaving. We we were eager to learn more about their designer and supervisor Shefaly and caught up with her recently. I have been working with the Carpet Workshop over the last 12 years and started here in […]
Reflections on product development: developing a recycled sari skirt line
Product development takes place in different way, including suggestions from consumers. Meg Gerbrandt-Weibe,Member of the Board of the Fraser Valley Mennonite Central Committee – Canada, recently shared with us her experience of developing a line of recycled sari skits with Sacred Mark Enterprise. I grew up in a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) family in Manitoba. […]
Artesan Profile: Sacred Mark Enterprise, Bangladesh
Guest blogger Ishrat Jahan Deepa, Unit Manager – Sacred Mark Enterprise Established in March 2009, by the Mennonite Central Committee in Bangladesh (MCCB) Sacred Mark Enterprise provides alternative employment for former sex workers. The stories of these women involve abuse, victimization, trauma, and pain. A widow, an orphan, a rape victim, a mother with no […]
Artesan Profile: The Carpet Workshop, Bangladesh
Established in 1997, Protibondhi Community Center (PCC) was set-up to work with people with disabilities and their families. Founded by Taize brothers in Mymensingh, a city 125km north of Dhaka, Bangladesh, PCC provides health, education, medical and skills training through self-help groups and income generating projects, including the Mohila Women’s Club under which the Carpet […]