I’m totally on board with the idea of teaching a man to fish rather than simply giving him one, so we love that the women of West Bengal, India have taken that theory even further, crafting gorgeous bags to help support their families.
Creating jobs is a more effective – and empowering – way to create a sustainable economy than simply relying on donations. With this philosophy in mind, Virginia Dooley and Nicole Jones founded a fair trade women’s cooperative in India, gathering artisans through the Fair Trade Federation, and selling their one-of-a-kind wares through Rising Tide Fair Trade.
Using a delicate embroidery technique called “kantha,” the talented women sew each weekender, hobo bag and coin purse by hand from vintage quilts which offer both a unique history and a promise for the future.
On top of providing fair wages, using cruelty-free leather and creating a high quality product, Dooley and Jones donate a percentage of profits to charitable organizations which equip young women with the skills to get a job or start their own business.
Because of them, sisters all around the world are doing it for themselves.
This post originally appeared on my former blog, StyleSubstanceSoul.
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