Artisan Alliance

Daphne is the founder of Sapelle, an artisan business that works closely with artisan producers throughout Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa and Kenya. 90% of the artisan producers in Sapelle’s network are women who are “guardians” of their culture, protecting the artisanal and creative skills that they have inherited from older generations.

A loan of $8,000 would enable Daphne to increase Sapelle’s impact, increase employment among African craftsmen and women, and to open the African ethical fashion market to consumers around the world. Through this loan, Daphne will be able to offer sustainable and stable income to 25-30 more artisans in Malawi. In addition, this $8,000 will also allow Daphne to invest in raw materials, product development, and the skills training of more artisan workers.

Click here to invest in Daphne and to support her artisan business:

A loan to Daphne A loan of $8,000 helps to invest in high quality raw materials and design support for artisans in Malawi.

Zhypara is looking for lenders to support her growing artisan business in Kyrgyzstan. Through this Kiva loan, Zhypara will be able to increase her sales and production, and she will be able to create a community for young women in Kyrgyzstan.

Support Zhypara and invest in the future of artisan enterprise today:

A loan to Zhypara A loan of $10,000 helps to invest in high quality wool to make felt and a new felt-making machine for her growing business.

Among sculpture and woodworking, weaving is one of the most prominent artisan traditions in Laos. Each region and ethnic group has their own traditional weaving techniques. For example, natural indigo dyes and diamond patterns that represent the protective scales of the mythical naga are traditional to the Mekong River region in Laos.

On a boat trip along the Mekong River with Forest Trends, Artisan Alliance director Peggy Clark met with Ock Pop Tok, one of Southeast Asia’s preeminent textile institutions created by women, run by women, and supporting more than 500 local women weavers. This women’s cooperative began as a small team of five weavers. Now, 17 years later, they are working toward their mission to elevate the profile of Lao textiles and artisans, increase economic opportunities, and facilitate creative and educational collaboration in Laos and worldwide, with more than 500 artisans throughout Laos.

Weaving, which is still done primarily by village women, is often considered domestic work that is not representative of progress or economic advancement. By deciding to operate on fair trade principles, specifically by providing competitive wages, opportunities for continued learning and professional development, Ock Pop Tok gives village weavers the ability to earn a sustainable livelihood for their families and communities. Their network of weavers produce silk, h**p, and cotton weavings in addition to other traditional Lao handicrafts.

By supporting artisan entrepreneurs, you are also creating an impact that extends beyond a single artisan.

A loan of $8,000 will allow Scott from Ornaments 4 Orphans to purchase the raw materials needed to fulfill a large purchase order of Nativity-themed ornaments. The income that the artisans make from this purchase order will provide them with the food, housing, clothing and medications that they need. Lend to Scott here:

A loan to Scott A loan of $8,000 helps to purchase raw materials to fulfill a large purchase order of Nativity-themed ornaments.

Artisan Alliance member Nathalie Cervantes Guzman of Atellier organic. Joyas de autor is conducting research on the online buying intentions of consumers in SMEs led by entrepreneurial women. She is looking for individuals and organizations to participate in this important study, which will provide insight as to why SMEs have such low success rates, even though they constitute 95% of established businesses in the developing world.

Use the link below to fill out the questionnaire and to participate in this study:

Research Questionnaire Please provide the following information that will be used for the purpose of this study, all participants remain anonymous in the publication

The arts often times are left out of the conversation for driving communities in new, beneficial initiatives. How does the creative economy fit into the world of social good? Laura Callanan of Upstart Co-Lab and Pree Walia of Preemadonna join Emma Green of to discuss.

Supporting the creative economy The arts often times are left out of the conversation for driving communities in new, beneficial initiatives. How does the creative economy fit into the worl...

Today, there is an increased demand for lower cost, high volume production of artisan products. How can artisan designers scale to meet production needs?

In Somaiya Kala Vidya's latest seminar, they unpacked the theme "Who are the Workers?" to discuss who does the work to meet the production needs of artisan designers.

See the skit a group of artisan designers performed on the subject here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srr-qzYoKC4

And watch the post-skit discussion here:
https://youtu.be/JuMFUDjtVR0

WHO ARE THE WORKERS? A Drama by SKV Artisan Designers Today artisans can no longer meet production demands if they do craft by themselves. Systems and relationships are changing. A group of Kutchi artisan design...

On this , we celebrate women artisans across the world. In this blog, TreadRight describes the impact of women artisans in the creative economy and why they :

Celebrating International Women's Day 2019 - TreadRight Mar 07 Celebrating International Women’s Day 2019 Empowering women in the developing world to participate fully in economic life is critical in the creation of strong, sustainable economies and the travel and tourism industry is perhaps better positioned to create access to economic participation ...

Weave A Real Peace's mission is to foster a global network of enthusiasts who value the importance of textiles to grassroots economies. Their purpose is to exchange information, raise awareness of the importance of textile traditions to grassroots economies, mobilize textile enthusiasts and create conversations that result in action.

Weave A Real Peace's 2019 Annual Meeting will focus on the theme "Women & Textiles: A Path to Peace," and it will be held in Washington, DC.

Artisans will have the opportunity to showcase and sell their work during the International Marketplace. Visit the website below or contact [email protected] for more information.

Weave a Real Peace - Creating a Connected Textile Community - 2019 Annual Meeting - Washington, DC June 20 - 23 Weave a Real Peace (WARP) is a networking organization of weavers, academics, and interested supporters who value the importance of textiles to communities around the world.

In this Tedx talk, Fairouz Taqi-Eddin of Jordan River Foundation (JRF) talks about the importance of forming partnerships and their power in putting forward innovative solutions that tackle large scale development and humanitarian challenges of our time.

Partnerships for change | Fairuz Taqi-Eddin | TEDxArarStreetWomen In her talk , Fairuz shares with us what she learned are the three key factors to building partnerships that last and are successful in bringing positive cha...

Artisans who work from home or in small businesses face issues such as not being paid a salary and being uncompensated for the work they share with a spouse. Nest is working towards creating an ethical standard for artisan workers experiencing these issues around the world.

This month, Nest launched a seal that acknowledges compliance to these ethical standards on rugs at West Elm.

For more information, read the article below in Architectural Digest:

Nonprofit Nest and West Elm Hope This Simple Seal Can Protect Craft Artisans Working From Home | Architectural Digest The new Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft aims to help designers source craft responsibly

Starting in October, LISC New York City launched the NYC Inclusive Creative Economy Fund, an opportunity for accredited investors to finance affordable, inclusive creative workspaces, fostering quality, 21st-century jobs for low- and middle-income New Yorkers. The NYC Inclusive Creative Economy Fund demonstrates how a Creativity Lens helps impact investors to see new, high-quality opportunities in the creative economy that meet their goals for financial return and social impact.

LISC NYC Launches Impact Investment Fund to Support NYC's Creative Economy at SOCAP18 NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging the vitality of New York City's creative economy, LISC NYC is introducing the NYC Inclusive Creative Economy ...